Energy and water are the world’s most vital and interdependent resources. Thirst for Power delves into the critical relationship between water and energy, shedding light on how our reliance on one resource can expose vulnerabilities in the other. From the engineering marvels of ancient Roman aqueducts to the colossal infrastructure of modern hydroelectric power stations, filmmaker Mat Hames embarks on a global journey with renowned author and professor Dr. Michael E. Webber. Together, they uncover the often-overlooked links between energy and water, offering a thought-provoking exploration of how these forces shape our past, present, and future.
Dr. Michael E. Webber is the Sid Richardson Chair in the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the John J. McKetta Centennial Energy Chair in the department of mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. In addition to his role as a faculty member, from August 2021 to September 2024, Webber served as CTO of Energy Impact Partners, a $5 billion venture fund focused on investments in cleantech and climate tech startups. Furthermore, from September 2018 to August 2021, Webber was based in Paris, France where he served as the Chief Science and Technology Officer at ENGIE, one of the world’s largest energy companies. Webber’s expertise spans research and education at the convergence of engineering, policy, and commercialization on topics related to innovation, energy, and the environment. His book, Power Trip: The Story of Energy was published in 2019 by Basic Books with an award-winning 12-part companion TV series spread out over two seasons. In 2024 Webber was selected for the Energy Thought Leader: Higher Education award by the American Energy Society and a three-year term as a Fulbright Technical Specialist by the U.S. State Department. He was selected in 2014 as a Fellow of ASME (the American Society of Mechanical Engineers), in 2018 as a member of the 4th class of the Presidential Leadership Scholars, and in 2022 for the Rockefeller Foundation’s prestigious writer’s residency in Bellagio, Italy. He was honored as an American Fellow of the German Marshall Fund and on four separate occasions by the University of Texas for exceptional teaching.
Mat Hames is an acclaimed documentary filmmaker known for exploring history and memory, with his work featured on Independent Lens, Amazon Prime, AppleTV, HBO, SundanceTV, Netflix, and Kanopy. He co-founded Alpheus Media, an Austin-based production company creating documentaries and commercial content for global brands. Knighted by King Albert II of Belgium for Last Best Hope, his WWII film on the Belgian Resistance, Hames has earned numerous accolades, including an Emmy nomination for Fossil Country and an IDA nomination for When I Rise, which premiered at SXSW. His PBS series Power Trip: The Story of Energy spans 12 hours and was filmed globally with support from the Sloan and Rockefeller Foundations. Other notable works include What Was Ours (Independent Lens), A State of Mind (four regional Emmys), The Art of Home, and Fighting Goliath, narrated by Robert Redford. Hames directs national TV commercials alongside his documentary work and oversees the staff of Alpheus Media. He lives in Austin with his wife, Beth, and their two sons, Luke and Jackson.
Beth Hames is an award-winning producer of documentaries, non-profit films, animated explainer videos, and commercials. Her focus on documentary production began 25 years ago with a sweeping project aimed at capturing hundreds of cancer survivor stories for the Livestrong Foundation, helping to pioneer the genre of online, nonprofit storytelling. Later, Beth produced Last Best Hope, 13-part series State of Tomorrow, When I Rise, and A Fighting Chance all for PBS. In 2016, her second Independent Lens film, What Was Ours, aired. What Was Ours received prestigious CPB funding from ITVS Open Call and Native American Public Telecommunications. Beth produced ten films for Rooster Teeth Docs from 2016 through 2018. Each RT Doc is a standalone feature film that focuses on various aspects of Internet culture such as gaming conventions and cosplay, screen addiction, and memes. Beth’s recent projects include the PBS series Power Trip: The Story of Energy, A State of Mind, Thirst for Power, The Art of Home, and Fossil Country. Fossil Country and A State of Mind won four regional Emmys in July of 2023. Fossil Country was nominated for a National Emmy in 2024.
Juan Garcia is an award-winning producer, educator, and content creator who believes storytelling is a powerful tool for change. His two decades of experience spans broadcast television, documentary film, and interactive learning, with a focus on creating content that educates and inspires critical conversations about sustainability, energy, and the environment. Juan has previously worked with organizations such as National Geographic, Discovery Education, Apple, Disney, and Adobe to develop innovative digital learning initiatives used in classrooms around the world. He is a producer of the award-winning PBS series Power Trip: The Story of Energy, which began airing nationally in 2020 and is now streaming on PBS and Amazon Prime, reaching over 30 million viewers in 37 countries. In addition to documentary work, Juan develops interactive learning experiences and digital campaigns that promote sustainability and energy literacy. Juan’s human-centered approach turns data into stories and issues into action. His work continues to spark curiosity and empower audiences to be part of the solution.
Although it is widely understood that energy and water are the world’s two most critical resources, their vital interconnections and vulnerabilities are less often recognized. This farsighted book offers a new, holistic way of thinking about energy and water—a big picture approach that reveals the interdependence of the two resources, identifies the seriousness of the challenges, and lays out an optimistic approach with an array of solutions to ensure the continuing sustainability of both.
“A highly accessible and engaging overview of one of humanity’s most pressing problems and opportunities. How we manage energy and water will shape the twenty-first century and with guides like Dr. Webber, we can use policy, technology, and economics to craft cleaner, more efficient solutions.”
Philip Mezey, President and CEO, Itron, Inc.
“A wide-ranging, nuanced view of difficult but important issues that require serious consideration at every level, from policymakers, opinion shapers, and educators down to everyday citizens.”
Kirkus Reviews
“Few, if any, issues are more important to humanity’s wellbeing over the next half century than the transition to cleaner energy and access to abundant, safe and clean water. Michael Webber’s well-researched and detailed, yet highly readable, new book takes the reader on a journey of the water-energy nexus, and lays out concrete and actionable technical and policy solutions. This book provides a valuable roadmap for how to protect our most critical resources for future generations.”
Jason Bordoff, Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy
“Webber makes a compelling case for pursuing both technological and non-technical solutions for managing the water-energy nexus. He observes that ‘in the end, the most important innovation we need is a new way of thinking about energy and water so that we make better decisions about these precious resources’ and lays out the case for why and how to do that. This is an important and deeply readable book.”
Susan Tierney, Analysis Group
“Michael Webber describes in clear prose the complex and often-surprising relationship between humanity’s most important, scarce resources—water and power. An important book for both citizens and specialists.”
Bill White, former mayor of Houston and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy
Thirst for Power is available from IndieBound, yalebooks.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Powell’s
248 pp.; 18 b/w illustrations; Cloth ISBN: 978-0-300-21246-4 $30.00
