In her research, Margaret examined the impacts of water scarcity, economics, and policy on water use in the oil and gas industry including the use of water trading between water user groups to solve water scarcity issues in Texas. Under certain political and economic conditions, the high purchasing price for water for use in hydraulic fracturing could encourage more efficient water use in the oil and gas sector, as well as in other water use sectors intending to trade their water rights.
Margaret's research as part of the Energy-Water Nexus also focused on the effects of droughts and heat waves on thermoelectric power generation and fuel extraction. Recent droughts and heat waves have revealed the vulnerability of some power plants to effects from higher temperature intake water for cooling. To analyze this impact, Margaret has modeled plants that might have the greatest risk of de-rating due to thermal discharge limits and higher temperatures.
While in graduate school, Margaret worked in Texas Legislature under Chairman Drew Darby, in the Office of Policy and International Affairs at the Department of Energy, at Apache Corp. in the Special Projects Department studying economics of produced water treatment, and at Austin Energy in the Environmental Services Department looking at the impact of thermal discharge at one of the city's power plants. Margaret also enjoys volunteering in K-12 outreach programs at local schools.
