Hydrogen and CCS in Texas face a water problem the state plan ignores

The 2027 Texas State Water Plan projects demand will outstrip supply by 16% by 2030 and says $174 billion is needed by 2080. But that plan does not include water demand from recently announced hydrogen, CCS, direct air capture, or data center projects. These facilities use large amounts of water, mostly for cooling, and Texas heat and humidity make the numbers worse. An IEEFA report argues that hydrogen and CCS backers are counting on low gas prices and the federal 45V and 45Q credits, but they still face weak offtake, uncertain subsidy politics, and community opposition over air quality, pipelines, and storage. The water angle is the missing piece, and it could put these projects in direct conflict with residents, farmers, and ranchers in areas already short on water. For anyone tracking the real economics of low-carbon hydrogen, this is a useful reminder that water access is a siting risk, not an afterthought. The article links to the original IEEFA source for those who want the full numbers.