This is a very interesting point. I'm glad you followed up and gave us the citation to Scientific American because as I was reading the Top 9 list of predictions, the comment about non-ICE vehicles using more water jumped out at me.

I agree with the other person's comments that much of the water "used" by the electrical industry is in fact let back into the system. We know that utilities use large hydro plants to generate water but as the plants spill out the water, often it ends up back in the rivers and streams, albeit disrupting the ecosystem.

However, this is a good point: large hydro dams are NOT "renewable" for the purposes of satisfying the renewable portfolio standard requirements, and we do need to continue transitioning our power grids off of these non-renewable sources of power.

John Corcoran
Attorney, Renewable Energy and Clean Tech Consultant
Omni Law Group, LLP
Campbell, CA
http://www.omnillp.com