As energy and water supplies undergo transition to adapt to climate change and sustainability challenges, the “water-energy nexus” is gaining attention. New infrastructures and strategies are being proposed to augment energy and water supplies for sustainability, resilience, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. While offered as solutions, these “green” projects have often encountered controversy, including accusations of environmental injustice and disputes over land and water. Infrastructures and extractive activities at the water-energy nexus often have impacts on the hydrosocial cycle, including threatening surface and groundwater quality and quantity. They can also unevenly impact communities: even if some will benefit, others might be left more vulnerable. In this research, we examine the hydrosocial dynamics and environmental justice (EJ) issues associated with water-energy nexus transitions.
(1) How are frontline communities constituted and activated in relation to water-energy supply projects intended to mitigate/adapt to climate change, and associated changes to hydrosocial dynamics?
(2) What are the convergences and divergences between the ways that frontline communities, policy actors, and project proponents imagine hydrosocial change and EJ in relation to infrastructures for water-energy transitions?
(3) How are claims of environmental (in)justice adjudicated, incorporated and operationalized by public natural resource agencies, environmental groups, courts, community organizations, Tribal governments, and other actors involved in governance of water-energy supply transitions?
To answer these questions, we use a mix of qualitative, participatory, and Q methodologies to examine key case studies of proposed energy and water supply projects in the Western U.S., including pumped hydropower, two different methods of lithium extraction (open pit mining and geothermal brine extraction); and desalination. Each represents a growing water-energy nexus sector with potential hydrosocial and EJ impacts.
Contact PI Alida Cantor at acantor@pdx.edu to get more information on the project