{"id":4748,"date":"2013-08-08T15:28:27","date_gmt":"2013-08-08T15:28:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/?p=4748"},"modified":"2026-04-06T11:33:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T15:33:04","slug":"energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2013\/08\/08\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\/","title":{"rendered":"Energy And Water Are Running Out In Texas, But It\u2019s Not Too Late"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/38\/files\/2013\/05\/Kate-Zerrenner.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-4193\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/38\/files\/2013\/05\/Kate-Zerrenner-200x300.jpg\" width=\"140\" height=\"210\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/38\/files\/2013\/05\/Kate-Zerrenner-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/38\/files\/2013\/05\/Kate-Zerrenner-685x1024.jpg 685w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 140px) 100vw, 140px\" \/><\/a>As we\u2019ve highlighted in <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/texascleanairmatters\/2013\/07\/11\/its-time-our-policies-reflect-the-fact-that-energy-and-water-are-fundamentally-intertwined\/\">previous posts<\/a>, water and energy regulators often make decisions in silos, despite the inherent connection between these two sectors. Texas is no exception.<\/p>\n<p>Two very important and intertwined events are happening in Texas right now.<\/p>\n<p>First, the state is in the midst of an <a href=\"http:\/\/www.edf.org\/energy\/texas-energy-crunch\">energy crunch<\/a> brought on by a dysfunctional electricity market, drought, population growth and extreme summer temperatures. An energy crunch signifies that the available supply of power barely exceeds the projected need (or demand) for electricity. Texas\u2019 insufficient power supply makes the whole electricity system vulnerable to extreme weather events. An especially hot day (with thousands of air conditioning units running at full blast) could push the state over the edge and force the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the institution charged with ensuring grid reliability, to issue rolling blackouts.<\/p>\n<p>Second, Texas is still in the midst of <a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/2013\/07\/19\/texas-drought-forecast-to-continue-perhaps-for-years\/\">a severe, multi-year drought<\/a>, forcing state agencies to impose strict water restrictions throughout the state. The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tceq.texas.gov\/assets\/public\/response\/drought\/drought-map.jpg\">drought has already had a devastating impact on surface water<\/a> and many communities are facing critical water shortages.<\/p>\n<p>Although Texas has always had to deal with extreme weather events, we can anticipate even more intense weather as climate change advances. The new climate \u2018normal\u2019 makes extreme heat waves, like the historic 2011 Texas summer, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.noaanews.noaa.gov\/stories2012\/20120710_stateoftheclimatereport.html\">20 times more likely to occur<\/a>. These extreme weather events heighten the urgency of the energy-water nexus.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>As of July 31<sup>st<\/sup>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tceq.texas.gov\/drinkingwater\/trot\/droughtw.html\">ten municipalities<\/a> were identified as \u2018emergency\u2019 areas, meaning they could run out of water within 45 days or less. At the same time, regulators are concerned <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2013\/07\/25\/where-is-all-of-the-water-going-a-look-at-which-energy-resources-are-gulping-down-our-water\/\">that water-intensive conventional electricity generators<\/a> (i.e. coal, natural gas and nuclear facilities) may not have enough water to feed our energy needs.<\/p>\n<p>The energy and water shortages go hand-in-hand, but that doesn\u2019t mean ERCOT and the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), the state agency charged with keeping Texans\u2019 faucets running, are talking to each other. Texas needs to move quickly to assess future energy and water \u2018co-management\u2019 plans (\u2018<em>co<\/em>-management\u2019 is the key term here!).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Water\u2019s energy needs<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4753\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4753\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/38\/files\/2013\/08\/drought-map.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4753 \" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/38\/files\/2013\/08\/drought-map-300x231.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/38\/files\/2013\/08\/drought-map-300x231.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/38\/files\/2013\/08\/drought-map-1024x791.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4753\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Source: TCEQ)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>TWDB\u2019s water plan, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.twdb.state.tx.us\/publications\/state_water_plan\/2012\/2012_SWP.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Water for Texas 2012<\/em><\/a>, recognizes that a significant supply of energy will be required to provide the state with enough water. Water treatment and wastewater management are extremely energy-intensive, consuming the amount of electricity used by around 100,000 people annually.\u00a0 Here\u2019s another way to think about it &#8211; drinking water systems, including waste water plants, can account for up to <a href=\"http:\/\/aceee.org\/sector\/local-policy\/toolkit\/water\">one-third of a city\u2019s total energy bill<\/a>. <a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/2013\/07\/19\/texas-drought-forecast-to-continue-perhaps-for-years\/\">If the drought continues<\/a>, Texas\u2019 water plan estimates that annual economic losses from not meeting the state\u2019s water needs could result in as much as $11.9 billion annually and $115.7 billion annually by 2060 \u2013 and over one million jobs lost.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Energy\u2019s water needs<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In 2009, EDF and the University of Texas <a href=\"http:\/\/www.edf.org\/sites\/default\/files\/Energy_Water_Nexus_in_Texas_1.pdf\">published a study<\/a> revealing that Texas\u2019 power plants consumed roughly 157 billion gallons of water annually \u2013 enough to meet the needs of over three million people each year. \u00a0In 2010, fossil fuel power generation consumed roughly 4% of the state\u2019s water supply and consumption is projected to increase to 7.4% by 2060.<\/p>\n<p>As the population of Texas rises and the drought persists, meeting the energy and water needs of cities and power plants becomes harder and harder. This is an economic issue for the state that demands serious attention from its leaders in a more comprehensive way.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Solutions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s the solution? Well, it may be as simple as prioritizing water and energy efficient technologies. \u00a0Better coordination, and possibly integration, of energy and water planning could lessen some of the vulnerabilities we\u2019re facing in Texas\u2014vulnerabilities heightened by our reliance on water-intensive energy sources and our state\u2019s largely independent electric grid.<\/p>\n<p>EDF\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.edf.org\/sites\/default\/files\/energy_crunch_report_with_title_page.pdf\">State of the Energy Crunch in Texas<\/a> report identifies several water-free solutions to the energy supply problem. Customer, or demand-side, resources \u2013 such as demand response, energy efficiency and rooftop solar panels \u2013 can help Texas address both energy use and water consumption.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2012\/01\/12\/demand-response-a-key-component-in-texas%E2%80%99-electricity-market-why-aren%E2%80%99t-we-taking-advantage-of-it\/\">Demand response<\/a>, which rewards those who reduce electricity during peak times, is a zero-water resource that addresses the energy crunch and the state\u2019s fragile water supply. It enables customers to control their energy use and decide whether they want to reduce energy use during <a href=\"http:\/\/nest.com\/blog\/2013\/07\/18\/our-first-rush-hour-rewards-results\/\">high, or peak, energy demand and expensive times<\/a> (like 6:00 pm when everyone heads home and powers up their oven, TV, water heater, etc.).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.edf.org\/energy\/energy-efficiency-resources\">Energy efficiency<\/a> is another viable solution. By reducing the amount of energy homes, commercial buildings and industrial facilities consume, overall electricity and water use is reduced at the same time.\u00a0 On top of that, energy efficiency makes our electricity more reliable, decreases our dependence on costly, and often foreign, fossil fuels and reduces the impact of harmful pollution from power plants.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to implementing new technologies, ERCOT and TWDB must collaborate to co-manage Texas\u2019 energy and water needs.<\/p>\n<p>Texas electricity planners are already studying how prolonged drought might affect the state\u2019s electric grid. Together with electricity planners from across the West, ERCOT worked with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop <a href=\"http:\/\/energy.sandia.gov\/wp\/wp-content\/gallery\/uploads\/Drought-Analysis-Report-Final.pdf\">a report<\/a> that looks at how water shortages might affect the electric system. Through its ongoing work with ERCOT and others, the DOE hopes to <a href=\"http:\/\/energy.sandia.gov\/?page_id=1741\">develop a tool<\/a> that will help electricity planners understand how drought affects long-term electricity planning.<\/p>\n<p>ERCOT\u2019s work with the DOE is a great first step, but it\u2019s a two-way street. TWDB and ERCOT\u2019s forecasts should be developed in coordination to create plans that are inclusive of both the energy and water sectors. It\u2019s imperative that decision-makers ensure communities and ecosystems are not deprived of adequate freshwater supplies as the drought and energy crunch persist.<\/p>\n<p>Simply put, Texas has the potential to adopt technologies and policies that will significantly cut down on water use, reduce the need for fossil fuel power plants and help Texans save \u2013 and even earn \u2013 money. By lining up the incentives to enable novel energy and water savings, we can make sure Texas\u2019 lights\u2014and faucets\u2014stay on through the next record-setting summer.<\/p>\n<p><em>This is one of a group of posts that examines the energy-water nexus, Texas\u2019 current approach to energy and water policy and what Texans can learn from other places to better manage its vital resources.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As we\u2019ve highlighted in previous posts, water and energy regulators often make decisions in silos, despite the inherent connection between these two sectors. Texas is no exception. Two very important and intertwined events are happening in Texas right now. First, the state is in the midst of an energy crunch brought on by a dysfunctional &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7471,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[439,38678,254,735,177,181,27600],"tags":[84856,224,84843,38677,663],"coauthors":[114222],"class_list":["post-4748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-climate","category-demand-response","category-energy-efficiency","category-energy-water-nexus","category-renewable-energy","category-texas","category-utilities","tag-demand-response","tag-energy","tag-energy-efficiency","tag-texas-energy-crunch","tag-water"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Energy And Water Are Running Out In Texas, But It\u2019s Not Too Late - Energy Exchange<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2013\/08\/08\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Energy And Water Are Running Out In Texas, But It\u2019s Not Too Late - Energy Exchange\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As we\u2019ve highlighted in previous posts, water and energy regulators often make decisions in silos, despite the inherent connection between these two sectors. Texas is no exception. Two very important and intertwined events are happening in Texas right now. First, the state is in the midst of an energy crunch brought on by a dysfunctional ...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2013\/08\/08\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Energy Exchange\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2013-08-08T15:28:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-06T15:33:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/38\/files\/2013\/05\/Kate-Zerrenner-200x300.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kate Zerrenner\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@KateZerrenner\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kate Zerrenner\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/2013\\\/08\\\/08\\\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/2013\\\/08\\\/08\\\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Kate Zerrenner\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/c9edbe68edc1e8b42a706ed32dc3a3f2\"},\"headline\":\"Energy And Water Are Running Out In Texas, But It\u2019s Not Too Late\",\"datePublished\":\"2013-08-08T15:28:27+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-06T15:33:04+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/2013\\\/08\\\/08\\\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1059,\"commentCount\":4,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/2013\\\/08\\\/08\\\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/wp-content\\\/blogs.dir\\\/38\\\/files\\\/2013\\\/05\\\/Kate-Zerrenner-200x300.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Demand Response\",\"energy\",\"Energy Efficiency\",\"Texas Energy Crunch\",\"Water\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Climate\",\"Demand Response\",\"Energy Efficiency\",\"Energy-Water Nexus\",\"Renewable Energy\",\"Texas\",\"Utility Business Models\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/2013\\\/08\\\/08\\\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/2013\\\/08\\\/08\\\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/2013\\\/08\\\/08\\\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\\\/\",\"name\":\"Energy And Water Are Running Out In Texas, But It\u2019s Not Too Late - Energy Exchange\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/2013\\\/08\\\/08\\\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/2013\\\/08\\\/08\\\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/wp-content\\\/blogs.dir\\\/38\\\/files\\\/2013\\\/05\\\/Kate-Zerrenner-200x300.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2013-08-08T15:28:27+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-06T15:33:04+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/c9edbe68edc1e8b42a706ed32dc3a3f2\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/2013\\\/08\\\/08\\\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/2013\\\/08\\\/08\\\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/2013\\\/08\\\/08\\\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/wp-content\\\/blogs.dir\\\/38\\\/files\\\/2013\\\/05\\\/Kate-Zerrenner-200x300.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"http:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/wp-content\\\/blogs.dir\\\/38\\\/files\\\/2013\\\/05\\\/Kate-Zerrenner-200x300.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/2013\\\/08\\\/08\\\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Energy And Water Are Running Out In Texas, But It\u2019s Not Too Late\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/\",\"name\":\"Energy Exchange\",\"description\":\"Accelerating the clean energy revolution\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/c9edbe68edc1e8b42a706ed32dc3a3f2\",\"name\":\"Kate Zerrenner\",\"description\":\"Senior Manager, Energy-Water Initiatives Kate Zerrenner develops and implements strategies to promote energy and water efficiency and climate change solutions in Texas, as well as leads EDF\u2019s multi-year campaign to influence and enact state and national energy and water efficiency policy, including breaking down financial, regulatory and behavioral barriers. Follow Kate on Twitter \u00bb\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/www.edf.org\\\/people\\\/kate-zerrenner\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/KateZerrenner\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blogs.edf.org\\\/energyexchange\\\/author\\\/kzerrenner-2\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Energy And Water Are Running Out In Texas, But It\u2019s Not Too Late - Energy Exchange","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2013\/08\/08\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Energy And Water Are Running Out In Texas, But It\u2019s Not Too Late - Energy Exchange","og_description":"As we\u2019ve highlighted in previous posts, water and energy regulators often make decisions in silos, despite the inherent connection between these two sectors. Texas is no exception. Two very important and intertwined events are happening in Texas right now. First, the state is in the midst of an energy crunch brought on by a dysfunctional ...","og_url":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2013\/08\/08\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\/","og_site_name":"Energy Exchange","article_published_time":"2013-08-08T15:28:27+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-04-06T15:33:04+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/38\/files\/2013\/05\/Kate-Zerrenner-200x300.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"Kate Zerrenner","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@KateZerrenner","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Kate Zerrenner","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2013\/08\/08\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2013\/08\/08\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\/"},"author":{"name":"Kate Zerrenner","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/#\/schema\/person\/c9edbe68edc1e8b42a706ed32dc3a3f2"},"headline":"Energy And Water Are Running Out In Texas, But It\u2019s Not Too Late","datePublished":"2013-08-08T15:28:27+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-06T15:33:04+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2013\/08\/08\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\/"},"wordCount":1059,"commentCount":4,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2013\/08\/08\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/38\/files\/2013\/05\/Kate-Zerrenner-200x300.jpg","keywords":["Demand Response","energy","Energy Efficiency","Texas Energy Crunch","Water"],"articleSection":["Climate","Demand Response","Energy Efficiency","Energy-Water Nexus","Renewable Energy","Texas","Utility Business Models"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2013\/08\/08\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2013\/08\/08\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\/","url":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2013\/08\/08\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\/","name":"Energy And Water Are Running Out In Texas, But It\u2019s Not Too Late - Energy Exchange","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2013\/08\/08\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2013\/08\/08\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/38\/files\/2013\/05\/Kate-Zerrenner-200x300.jpg","datePublished":"2013-08-08T15:28:27+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-06T15:33:04+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/#\/schema\/person\/c9edbe68edc1e8b42a706ed32dc3a3f2"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2013\/08\/08\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2013\/08\/08\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2013\/08\/08\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\/#primaryimage","url":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/38\/files\/2013\/05\/Kate-Zerrenner-200x300.jpg","contentUrl":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/38\/files\/2013\/05\/Kate-Zerrenner-200x300.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2013\/08\/08\/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Energy And Water Are Running Out In Texas, But It\u2019s Not Too Late"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/#website","url":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/","name":"Energy Exchange","description":"Accelerating the clean energy revolution","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/#\/schema\/person\/c9edbe68edc1e8b42a706ed32dc3a3f2","name":"Kate Zerrenner","description":"Senior Manager, Energy-Water Initiatives Kate Zerrenner develops and implements strategies to promote energy and water efficiency and climate change solutions in Texas, as well as leads EDF\u2019s multi-year campaign to influence and enact state and national energy and water efficiency policy, including breaking down financial, regulatory and behavioral barriers. Follow Kate on Twitter \u00bb","sameAs":["http:\/\/www.edf.org\/people\/kate-zerrenner","https:\/\/x.com\/KateZerrenner"],"url":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/author\/kzerrenner-2\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4748","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7471"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4748"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4748\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24762,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4748\/revisions\/24762"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4748"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=4748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}