Limits to Alternative Energy Development?

50% of all the water we use in this country, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, goes to energy production. So whenever we develop more energy, we use more water--a lot more water. But I had no idea that "alternative energy" sources, such as solar power, were so water intensive. But at least according to this story, solar energy plants use 2-3 times as much water as traditional coal-fired plants! So our growing energy demands are leading inevitably to a growing water crisis. This crisis will manifest itself dramatically in the coming decades, regardless of whether global warming turns out to be the threat that Al Gore et. al. claim or not. So why isn't it being taken more seriously?