Pasqualetti discusses water-energy nexus on KAET and at Tucson conference

Professor Mike Pasqualetti appeared on the local PBS affiliate KAET on Tuesday, August 25 to discuss the energy and water nexus in Arizona. Joining him on the broadcast were Kristine Mayes, Chair, Arizona Corporation Commission and Gary Yaquinto, Executive Director of the Arizona Investment Council.

Here is a link to the 15-minute segment: http://www.azpbs.org/horizon/play.php?vidId=1246.

Professor Pasqualetti also participated in an experts panel at Meeting Arizona's Water Needs Today & Tomorrow, a conference organized by the Arizona Investment Council. The conference took place in Tucson on Friday, August 28.

Mike emphasized the linkages between water and renewable energy in Arizona. Among the themes he discussed: increased need for solar desalination of the brackish water that is available in many of the basins in southern Arizona, the opportunities to save water by substituting solar power for agricultural on farmed land (thus reducing water use on that land parcel by 90%), and the construction of solar thermal plants as large water consumers compared to other types of power generation.

Joining Mike on the panel were Susan Bitter Smith, Central Arizona Project; Ed Fox, Arizona Public Service; and Bruce Hallin, Salt River Project. Several presentations from the meeting are available on the AIC website: http://www.arizonaic.org/.