Water and Energy: Challenges and Opportunities in the Nexus

Hosted by the Center for Energy Studies, the Baker Institute conference on “Water and Energy: Challenges and Opportunities in the Nexus" advanced the conversation around leading developments in water and energy in the legal, international and industrial contexts. Speakers offered unique perspectives and deep knowledge in their respective areas, providing participants with multi-disciplinary insights on the challenges confronting today’s water-energy nexus.

Leading experts explored the changing legal landscape surrounding water and energy, including industry implications of the new rule on "Waters of the United States." They also discussed how other nations are thinking about problems in the water-energy nexus, as well as advances and challenges in recycling and reusing produced water from upstream oil and gas operations.

Join the conversation online with #BakerCESNexus and #waterenergynexus.

To view the all the panels, please click below:
Panel I
Panel II
Panel III

Please note that the keynotes addresses are not available to the public.

Agenda

8:00 am			Continental Breakfast
8:30 am			Welcome Kenneth B. Medlock, Ph.D. James A. Baker, III, and Susan G. Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and Senior Direct, Center for Energy Studies, Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy
8:45 am			Morning Keynote Two Sides of the Same Coin: The Energy-Water Nexus Kate Zerrenner Project Manager, Water-Energy Initiative, Environmental Defense Fund
9:30 am			Panel I – Structuring the Field of Play: The Legal Context of Water and Energy Moderator: Regina M. Buono, J.D., Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs, Baker Institute 316(b): Cooling Water Intake Strategies (pdf) Molly Cagle, J.D. Partner, Baker Botts LLP The Final Clean Water Rule and its Policy Considerations (pdf) Lowell Rothschild, J.D. Senior Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani LLP Water and Energy Implications of the Clean Power Plan (pdf) Gina Warren, J.D. Associate Professor of Law, Texas A&M University School of Law
10:45 am			Break
11:00 am			Panel II – What are Others Doing? Comparative Lessons on Water and Energy Moderator: Regina M. Buono, J.D. China (pdf) Libin Zhang, J.D. Partner, Broad & Bright Europe (pdf) Elena López-Gunn, Ph.D. Founder and Director, ICATALIST; Cheney Research Fellow, University of Leeds
Noon			Lunch
12:30 pm			Luncheon Keynote Introduction: Linda Capuano, Ph.D., Fellow in Energy Technology, Baker Institute Water, Crops and Biofuels Todd Werpy, Ph.D. Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Archer Daniels Midland Company Recipient, 2015 American Chemical Society Affordable Green Chemistry Award
1:30 pm			Panel III – Produced Water: Keeping it in Play Moderator: Linda Capuano, Ph.D. The Energy Water Initiative: Part of the Solution Roy Hartstein Vice President, Strategic Solutions, Southwestern Energy Produced Water in Oklahoma Michael Teague Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment Case Study: Water Treatment Company Navigates Australia and Start-up Process David Cam President and CEO, Hydrus Technology
2:45 pm			Break
3:00 pm			Afternoon Keynote Introduction: Linda Capuano, Ph.D. Progress in Texas Kathleen Jackson Member, Texas Water Development Board
3:45 pm			Closing Remarks Linda Capuano, Ph.D.
4:00 pm			Reception