Growing water supply needs for domestic and agricultural use have created worries that utilities will find it difficult to meet their own need for water to generate power, National Journal reported.

Legislation before Congress would have the National Academy of Sciences analyze energy's impact on water resources, and DOE was studying strategies to lessen water requirements for energy, especially carbon capture and sequestration systems. Stephen Bolze, President and CEO of the water and power unit at General Electric, recommended a 30-percent investment tax credit for technologies to conserve water. Other officials recommended a variety of policies for conserving water, including pricing industrial use of water at a higher rate than residential use.

National Energy Technology Laboratory head Carl Bauer noted: "Most Americans do not realize that they use more water turning on lights and running appliances each day than they do directly through washing their clothes and watering their lawns."

Full article at National Journal (subscription required)