42 USC 16183 - Energy and water for sustainability

View all text of Subchapter IX [§ 16181 - § 16378]

§ 16183. Energy and water for sustainability

(a) Nexus of energy and water for sustainability

(1) DefinitionsIn this section:

(A) Department

(B) Energy-water nexusThe term “energy-water nexus” means the links between—

(i) the water needed to produce fuels, electricity, and other forms of energy; and

(ii) the energy needed to transport, reclaim, and treat water and wastewater.

(D) Nexus of Energy and Water Sustainability RD&D Office; NEWS RD&D Office

(E) RD&D

(F) Secretary

(2) Statement of policy

(3) Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee

(A) Establishment

(B) Administration

(i) Chairs

(ii) Membership; staffing

(i) serve as a forum for developing common Federal goals and plans on energy-water nexus RD&D activities, in coordination with the National Science and Technology Council;

(ii) not later than 1 year after December 27, 2020, and biennially thereafter, issue a strategic plan on energy-water nexus RD&D activities, priorities, and objectives pursuant to subparagraph (D), which shall be developed in consultation with relevant State and local governments;

(iii) convene and promote coordination of RD&D activities of relevant Federal departments and agencies on energy-water nexus;

(iv)(I) coordinate and develop capabilities and methodologies related to RD&D activities for data collection, data communication protocols (including models and modeling results), data management, and dissemination of validated data and results related to energy-water nexus RD&D activities to requesting Federal departments and agencies; and(II) promote information exchange between Federal departments and agencies—(aa) to identify and document Federal and non-Federal RD&D programs and funding opportunities that support basic and applied RD&D proposals to advance energy-water nexus related science and technologies;(bb) to leverage existing RD&D programs by encouraging joint solicitations, block grants, and matching programs with non-Federal entities; and(cc) to identify opportunities for domestic and international public-private partnerships, innovative financing mechanisms, and information and data exchange with respect to RD&D activities;

(v) identify ways to leverage existing RD&D programs, including programs at the State and local level;

(vi) make publicly available the results of RD&D activities on the energy water nexus;

(vii) with regard to RD&D programs, recommend improvements and best practices for the collection and dissemination of federal water use data and the use of monitoring networks; and

(viii) promote coordination on RD&D with non-Federal interests by—(I) consulting with representatives of research and academic institutions, State, local, and Tribal governments, public utility commissions, and industry, who have expertise in technologies, technological innovations, or practices relating to the energy-water nexus; and(II) considering conducting technical workshops.

(D) Strategic planIn developing the strategic plan pursuant to (C)(ii), the Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee shall—

(i) to the maximum extent possible, avoid duplication with other Federal RD&D programs, and projects, including with those of the National Laboratories;

(ii) consider inclusion of specific research, development and demonstration needs, including—(I) innovative practices, technologies and other advancements improving water efficiency, treatment, recovery, or reuse associated with energy generation, including cooling, and fuel production;(II) innovative practices, technologies and other advancements associated with energy use in water collection, supply, delivery, distribution, treatment, or reuse;(III) innovative practices, technologies and other advancements associated with generation or production of energy from water or wastewater systems; and(IV) modeling and systems analysis related to energy-water nexus; and

(iii) submit the plan to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, Energy and Commerce, and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.

(E) Rules of construction

(i) Nothing in this section grants to the Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee the authority to promulgate regulations or set standards.

(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, nothing in this section shall be construed to require State, Tribal, or local governments to take any action that may result in an increased financial burden to such governments.

(F) Additional participation

(G) Review; reportAt the end of the 5-year period beginning on the date on which the Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee and NEWS RD&D Office are established, the NEWS RD&D Office shall—

(i) review the activities, relevance, and effectiveness of the Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee; and

(ii) submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, Energy and Commerce, and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report that—(I) describes the results of the review conducted under clause (i); and(II) includes a recommendation on whether the Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee should continue.

(4) Crosscut budgetNot later than 30 days after the President submits the budget of the United States Government under section 1105 of title 31, the co-chairs of the Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee (acting through the NEWS RD&D Office) shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, Energy and Commerce, and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, an interagency budget crosscut report that displays at the program-, project-, and activity-level for each of the Federal agencies that carry out or support (including through grants, contracts, interagency and intraagency transfers, and multiyear and no-year funds) basic and applied RD&D activities to advance the energy-water nexus related science and technologies, including—

(A) the budget proposed in the budget request of the President for the upcoming fiscal year;

(B) expenditures and obligations for the prior fiscal year; and

(5) Termination

(A) In general

(B) Effect

(b) Integrating energy and water researchThe Secretary shall integrate the following considerations into energy RD&D programs and projects of the Department by—

(1) advancing RD&D for energy and energy efficiency technologies and practices that meet the objectives of—

(A) minimizing freshwater withdrawal and consumption;

(B) increasing water use efficiency; and

(2) considering the effects climate variability may have on water supplies and quality for energy generation and fuel production; and

(3) improving understanding of the energy-water nexus (as defined in subsection (a)(1)).

(Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title I, § 1010, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2438.)