Study: More Georgians Connecting Drought Conditions With Energy Policies
A new survey shows more Georgians are connecting energy policies with drought conditions and water shortages.
According to a national survey sponsored by the Civil Society Institute, a think tank based in Massachusetts, Georgians, more than other Americans, are tying drought conditions with water-intensive energy sources, like coal, nuclear, and natural gas.
Eighty-two percent of Georgians – compared to 75 percent in other states – support a greater focus on alternative sources of energy that use less water.
“The overall message shows that whether or not you believe climate change is causing the drought, the vast majority of Georgians, and also across the country, believe that water and energy are connected and we need to move to less water-intensive energy sources,” said Heather White of Environmental Working Group.
According to the survey’s accompanying report, nearly half the water withdrawn in the U.S. is used for cooling power plants and the generation of steam for power.
White says the dramatic rise over the last decade in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, for natural gas hasn’t helped matters. The drilling process involves shooting thousands of gallons of water far underground to extract shale gas.
More than half the country is currently experiencing severe drought. Most counties in Georgia are currently classified as disaster areas due to the water shortages. Farmers and ranchers in 148 of the state’s 159 counties are eligible for federal aid, including emergency loans.
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