Desalination technology has historically been more widely embraced by countries with scarce water resources, such as the Middle East.

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Because solar power production makes the most sense in sunny, arid climates, this is precisely where consuming scarce water resources is most harmful to the environment.

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While large-scale desalination is not uncommon in those parts of the world where natural water resources are scarce -- such as Texas and Australia -- the UAE is by some margin, according to Iannelli, the industry's most active player.

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That's the demand by local golfers, after viewing the Masters on television, for conditions equally lush, even in places where water and other resources are scarce and their use may be environmentally unsound.

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But if they are sincere, it is probably because they believe they must plan for a world in which water and other natural resources are increasingly scarce.

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