[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 531 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 531

  To provide for the conduct of an in-depth analysis of the impact of 
energy development and production on the water resources of the United 
                    States, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 5, 2009

 Mr. Bingaman (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To provide for the conduct of an in-depth analysis of the impact of 
energy development and production on the water resources of the United 
                    States, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Energy and Water Integration Act of 
2009''.

SEC. 2. ENERGY WATER NEXUS STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Energy (referred to in this Act as the 
``Secretary''), in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and 
the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall enter 
into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences under which 
the Academy shall conduct an in-depth analysis of the impact of energy 
development and production on the water resources of the United States.
    (b) Scope of Study.--
            (1) In general.--The study described in subsection (a) 
        shall be comprised of each assessment described in paragraphs 
        (2) through (4).
            (2) Transportation sector assessment.--
                    (A) In general.--The study shall include a 
                lifecycle assessment of the quantity of water withdrawn 
                and consumed in the production of transportation fuels, 
                or electricity, to evaluate the ratio that--
                            (i) the quantity of water withdrawn and 
                        consumed in the production of transportation 
                        fuels (measured in gallons), or electricity 
                        (measured in kilowatts); bears to
                            (ii) the total distance (measured in miles) 
                        that may be traveled as a result of the 
                        consumption of transportation fuels, or 
                        electricity.
                    (B) Scope of assessment.--
                            (i) In general.--The assessment shall 
                        include, as applicable--
                                    (I) the exploration for, and 
                                extraction or growing of, energy 
                                feedstock;
                                    (II) the processing of energy 
                                feedstock into transportation fuel;
                                    (III) the generation, 
                                transportation, and storage of 
                                electricity for transportation; and
                                    (IV) the conduct of an analysis of 
                                the efficiency with which the 
                                transportation fuel is consumed.
                            (ii) Fuels.--The assessment shall contain 
                        an analysis of transportation fuel sources, 
                        including--
                                    (I) domestically produced crude oil 
                                (including products derived from 
                                domestically produced crude oil);
                                    (II) imported crude oil (including 
                                products derived from imported crude 
                                oil);
                                    (III) domestically produced natural 
                                gas (including liquid fuels derived 
                                from natural gas);
                                    (IV) imported natural gas 
                                (including liquid fuels derived from 
                                natural gas);
                                    (V) oil shale;
                                    (VI) tar sands;
                                    (VII) domestically produced corn-
                                based ethanol;
                                    (VIII) imported corn-based ethanol;
                                    (IX) advanced biofuels (including 
                                cellulosic- and algae-based biofuels);
                                    (X) coal to liquids (including 
                                aviation fuel, diesel, and gasoline 
                                products);
                                    (XI) electricity consumed in--
                                            (aa) fully electric drive 
                                        vehicles; and
                                            (bb) plug-in hybrid 
                                        vehicles;
                                    (XII) hydrogen; and
                                    (XIII) any reasonably foreseeable 
                                combination of any transportation fuel 
                                source described in subclauses (I) 
                                through (XII).
            (3) Electricity sector assessment.--
                    (A) In general.--The study shall include a 
                lifecycle assessment of the quantity of water withdrawn 
                and consumed in the production of electricity to 
                evaluate the ratio that--
                            (i) the quantity of water used and consumed 
                        in the production of electricity (measured in 
                        gallons); bears to
                            (ii) the quantity of electricity that is 
                        produced (measured in kilowatt-hours).
                    (B) Scope of assessment.--The assessment shall 
                include, as applicable--
                            (i) the exploration for, or extraction or 
                        growing of, energy feedstock;
                            (ii) the processing of energy feedstock for 
                        electricity production; and
                            (iii) the production of electricity.
                    (C) Generation types.--The assessment shall contain 
                an evaluation and analysis of electricity generation 
                facilities that are constructed in accordance with 
                different plant designs (including different cooling 
                technologies such as water, air, and hybrid systems, 
                and technologies designed to minimize carbon dioxide 
                releases) based on the fuel used by the facility, 
                including--
                            (i) coal;
                            (ii) natural gas;
                            (iii) oil;
                            (iv) nuclear energy;
                            (v) solar energy;
                            (vi) wind energy;
                            (vii) geothermal energy;
                            (viii) biomass;
                            (ix) the beneficial use of waste heat; and
                            (x) any reasonably foreseeable combination 
                        of any fuel described in clauses (i) through 
                        (ix).
            (4) Assessment of additional impacts.--In addition to the 
        impacts associated with the direct use and consumption of water 
        resources in the transportation and electricity sectors 
        described in paragraphs (2) and (3), the study shall contain an 
        identification and analysis of any unique water impact 
        associated with a specific fuel source, including an impact 
        resulting from--
                    (A) any extraction or mining practice;
                    (B) the transportation of feedstocks from the point 
                of extraction to the point of processing;
                    (C) the transportation of fuel and power from the 
                point of processing to the point of consumption; and
                    (D) the location of a specific fuel source that is 
                limited to 1 or more specific geographical regions.
    (c) Report to Secretary.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the National Academy of Sciences shall submit 
to the Secretary a report that contains a summary of the results of the 
study conducted under this section.
    (d) Availability of Results of Study.--On the date on which the 
National Academy of Sciences completes the study under this section, 
the National Academy of Sciences shall make available to the public the 
results of the study.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out 
this section.

SEC. 3. POWER PLANT WATER AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

    (a) In General.--To protect water supplies and promote the 
efficient use of water in the electricity production sector, the 
Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall conduct a 
study to identify the best available technologies and related 
strategies to maximize water and energy efficiency in the production of 
electricity by each type of generation.
    (b) Generation Types.--The study shall include an evaluation of 
different types of generation facilities, including--
            (1) coal facilities, under which the evaluation shall 
        account for--
                    (A) different types of coal and associated 
                generating technologies; and
                    (B) the use of technologies designed to minimize 
                and sequester carbon dioxide releases;
            (2) oil and natural gas facilities, under which the 
        evaluation shall account for the use of technologies designed 
        to minimize and sequester carbon dioxide releases;
            (3) hydropower, including turbine upgrades, incremental 
        hydropower, in-stream hydropower, and pump-storage projects;
            (4) thermal solar facilities; and
            (5) nuclear facilities.
    (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report that contains a description of the 
results of the study conducted under this section.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out 
this section, to remain available until expended.

SEC. 4. WATER CONSERVATION AND ENERGY SAVINGS STUDY.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Major reclamation project.--The term ``major 
        Reclamation project'' means a multipurpose project authorized 
        by the Federal Government and carried out by the Bureau of 
        Reclamation.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of 
        Reclamation.
    (b) Study.--
            (1) In general.--In accordance with paragraph (2), to 
        promote the efficient use of energy in water distribution 
        systems, the Secretary shall conduct a study to evaluate the 
        quantities of energy used in water storage and delivery 
        operations in major Reclamation projects.
            (2) Elements.--In conducting the study, the Secretary 
        shall--
                    (A) with respect to each major Reclamation 
                project--
                            (i) assess and estimate the annual energy 
                        consumption associated with the major 
                        Reclamation project; and
                            (ii) identify--
                                    (I) each major Reclamation project 
                                that consumes the greatest quantity of 
                                energy; and
                                    (II) the aspect of the operation of 
                                each major Reclamation project 
                                described in subclause (I) that is the 
                                most energy intensive (including water 
                                storage and releases, water delivery, 
                                and administrative operations); and
                    (B) identify opportunities to significantly reduce 
                current energy consumption and costs with respect to 
                each major Reclamation project described in 
                subparagraph (A), including, as applicable, through--
                            (i) reduced groundwater pumping;
                            (ii) improved reservoir operations;
                            (iii) infrastructure rehabilitation;
                            (iv) water reuse; and
                            (v) the integration of renewable energy 
                        generation with project operations.
    (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report that contains a description of the 
results of the study conducted under this section.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out 
this section, to remain available until expended.

SEC. 5. BRACKISH GROUNDWATER NATIONAL DESALINATION RESEARCH FACILITY.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Facility.--The term ``facility'' means the Brackish 
        Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility, located in 
        Otero County, New Mexico.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
    (b) Duty of Secretary.--The Secretary shall operate, manage, and 
maintain the facility to carry out research, development, and 
demonstration activities to develop technologies and methods that 
promote brackish groundwater desalination as a viable method to 
increase water supply in a cost-effective manner.
    (c) Objectives; Activities.--
            (1) Objectives.--The Secretary shall operate and manage the 
        facility as a state-of-the-art desalination research center--
                    (A) to develop new water and energy technologies 
                with widespread applicability; and
                    (B) to create new supplies of usable water for 
                municipal, agricultural, industrial, or environmental 
                purposes.
            (2) Activities.--In operating, managing, and maintaining 
        the facility under subsection (b), the Secretary shall carry 
        out--
                    (A) as a priority, the development of renewable 
                energy technologies for integration with desalination 
                technologies--
                            (i) to reduce the capital and operational 
                        costs of desalination;
                            (ii) to minimize the environmental impacts 
                        of desalination; and
                            (iii) to increase public acceptance of 
                        desalination as a viable water supply process;
                    (B) research regarding various desalination 
                processes, including improvements in reverse and 
                forward osmosis technologies;
                    (C) the development of innovative methods and 
                technologies to reduce the volume and cost of 
                desalination concentrated wastes in an environmentally 
                sound manner;
                    (D) an outreach program to create partnerships with 
                States, academic institutions, private entities, and 
                other appropriate organizations to conduct research, 
                development, and demonstration activities, including 
                the establishment of rental and other charges to 
                provide revenue to help offset the costs of operating 
                and maintaining the facility; and
                    (E) an outreach program to educate the public on--
                            (i) desalination and renewable energy 
                        technologies; and
                            (ii) the benefits of using water in an 
                        efficient manner.
    (d) Authority of Secretary.--The Secretary may enter into contracts 
or other agreements with, or make grants to, appropriate entities to 
carry out this section, including an agreement with an academic 
institution to manage research activities at the facility.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section, to 
remain available until expended.

SEC. 6. ENHANCED INFORMATION ON WATER-RELATED ENERGY CONSUMPTION.

    Section 205 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 
7135) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(n) Water-Related Energy Consumption.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not less than once during each 3-year 
        period, to aid in the understanding and reduction of the 
        quantity of energy consumed in association with the use of 
        water, the Administrator shall conduct an assessment under 
        which the Administrator shall collect information on energy 
        consumption in various sectors of the economy that are 
        associated with the acquisition, treatment, or delivery of 
        water.
            ``(2) Required sectors.--An assessment described in 
        paragraph (1) shall contain an analysis of water-related energy 
        consumption for all relevant sectors of the economy, including 
        water used for--
                    ``(A) agricultural purposes;
                    ``(B) municipal purposes;
                    ``(C) industrial purposes; and
                    ``(D) domestic purposes.
            ``(3) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection affects the 
        authority of the Administrator to collect data under section 52 
        of the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 
        790a).''.

SEC. 7. ENERGY-WATER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a document to be known as the 
``Energy-Water Research and Development Roadmap'' to define the future 
research, development, demonstration, and commercialization efforts 
that are required to address emerging water-related challenges to 
future, cost-effective, reliable, and sustainable energy generation and 
production.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report describing the document described in subsection (a), 
including recommendations for any future action with respect to the 
document.
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