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Great Lakes Energy Water Nexus Initiative
The Great Lakes Energy-Water Nexus (GLEW) Initiative developed new metrics to measure aquatic resource impacts from water used for power generation and conducted analyses to inform potential changes in environmental impacts from different energy futures. GLEW also examined policies that govern electric energy markets, utilities, and power plant siting, to identify opportunities for better integrating environmental resource impacts into future energy policy and regulatory efforts.
With support from the Great Lakes Protection Fund, this 21-month effort was led by the Great Lakes Commission under guidance of a diverse Project Advisory Team. Principal project partners included: Cornell University, Sandia National Laboratories, the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, and the Environmental Law and Policy Center.
News Release: New study evaluates impacts of power plants on Great Lakes water resources (November 1, 2011)
Energy and Environment Journal article summarizing results of GLEW study
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Additional project materials
Final Results Webinar – April 12, 2012
- Examining Future Energy Alternatives and Potential Water Resource Impacts in the Great Lakes Basin (PDF)
Briefing/Webinar – September 7-8, 2011, Racine, WI
- Measuring Watershed Vulnerabilities and Vulnerable Watersheds, Cassie Bradley, Great Lakes Commission
- Great Lakes Basin Future Power Generation Scenarios, Vince Tidwell, Sandia National Laboratories
- Power Facility Siting and Water Resources, Nick Schroeck, Great Lakes Environmental Law Center
- Electric Power Planning, Regulations and Water Resources, John Moore, Environmental Law and Policy Center
- Briefing Wrap-up, Victoria Pebbles, Great Lakes Commission
Background Reports
- Energy and Water in the Great Lakes (V. Tidwell and B. Moreland, Sandia National Laboratories)
- Environmental Rules to Classify Basins for Sensitivity from Future Energy Development (M. Bain, Cornell University)
- The Confluence of Power and Water: How Regulation of the Electric Power Grid Affects Water and Other Natural Resources (J. Moore, Environmental Law and Policy Center)
- Great Lakes Energy Facility Siting (N. Schroeck, Great Lakes Environmental Law Center)
Issue Briefs
- GLC Energy-Water Nexus Issue Brief April 2009
Static Maps
The following maps display hydrologically sensitive HUC-8 watersheds within the Great Lakes basin.
- Low-Flow Vulnerability
- Coldwater Resource Threat
- Water Quality Threat
- Groundwater Withdrawal Stress
- Great Lakes HUC-8 watersheds with multiple vulnerabilities