[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 130 (Friday, October 7, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11315-S11317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DOMENICI (for himself, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Frist, and Mr. 
        Alexander):
  S. 1860. A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to improve 
energy production and reduce energy demand through improved use of 
reclaimed waters, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, nearly every form of energy production 
requires the use of large quantities of water. Electricity production, 
oil and gas production, and certain renewable energy sources are all 
dependent on having adequate access to water. Because water 
availability, particularly for human consumption, is an increasingly 
important international and domestic issue, it is important for us to 
ensure that we use our water resources in the most efficient manner in 
the production of energy. As the world's population grows and stores of 
fresh water are depleted, finding additional sources of fresh water is 
vital to meeting our energy needs and ensuring peace and security 
domestically and abroad. For this reason, developing cost-effective 
technologies that allow us better access to water for human use and 
energy production is of great significance.

[[Page S11316]]

  Electricity production is entirely dependent on the availability of 
water, regardless of fuel source. Much of our fossil fuel energy 
production is entirely dependent on having adequate access to water. 
Sandia National Laboratories estimates that for every barrel of oil 
produced, ten gallons of water are required. For this reason, ensuring 
an adequate supply of water, coupled with efficient use of that water 
supply in our energy processes, is critical to the United States' 
energy portfolio. Similarly, making water available to our citizens is 
largely dependent on energy. Transportation, distribution, acquisition 
and purification of water require large amounts of energy.
  Providing water to meet population growth will become increasingly 
important in the coming years. Nearly 1.2 billion people, roughly one 
fifth of the world's population, live without reliable access to water. 
It is estimated that by 2025, roughly one-third of the world will have 
inadequate access to water. By 2030 there will be an additional 3 
billion people. By 2025, it is estimated that the population of the 
Arab world will reach 600 million, twice the population of 2000. At the 
World Economic Forum this summer, experts testified that most of the 
countries in the Arab world had exhausted their water resources and 
that the only way to provide water is the expensive prospect of 
desalination. At the forum, former Jordanian water minister told those 
in attendance ``We are not secure about water supplies. Supplies are 
simply not enough . . . This is a scary issue.'' He went on to estimate 
that the water deficit in the Arab world will grow by more than 600 
percent by 2025.
  The need for renewed Federal investment to develop technologies that 
will ensure efficient use of scarce water resources in energy 
production is critically important for domestic growth and prosperity. 
A study by the Governmental Accountability Office stated that ``water 
managers in thirty-six States anticipate shortages in localities, 
regions, or state-wide in the next 10 years.'' In the West, the 
competing demands of population growth, drought, energy resources 
development, agricultural needs, environmental needs, and tribal 
interests have resulted in a paucity of available water. Unbridled 
population growth in the western U.S. has stretched water resources 
even thinner. The U.S. Census Bureau recently estimated that by 2030 
Nevada will have more than four million residents, twice as many as in 
2000. In a region already critically short of water and subject to the 
unpredictable nature of an already over-allocated Colorado River, even 
a mild drought could stymie growth and economic development. For this 
reason, we need to investigate new technologies that allow us to access 
additional water, and just as importantly, to use water in the most 
efficient ways, particularly in the production of all forms of energy.
  While stories are legion about the deleterious effects of the 
prolonged drought in the West, including my home State of New Mexico, 
the availability of water is an increasingly critical issue in the 
eastern United States. Usable supplies of water in the east coast have 
been stretched thin. Despite receiving substantially more rainfall than 
the western U.S., much of the east coast is facing water shortages. For 
example, Boston, Atlanta and much of Florida are nearing the end of 
readily available water. Just as with our current oil and natural gas 
energy crisis, the answer for our looming water crisis is not just to 
produce more, but to foster new technologies that will both aid in more 
production, and just as significantly, reduce the amount of water 
required for energy production and other needs.
  I rise today to introduce the Energy-Water Efficiency Technology 
Research, Development, and Transfer Program Act of 2005. The emphasis 
of this program is to address the inextricable relationship between 
energy and water. Large amounts of water are required for electric 
generation and oil and gas production. Additionally, large amounts of 
energy are required for reclaiming and transporting water. Water 
shortages impair our ability to meet our energy needs and conversely, 
energy shortages impair our ability to provide adequate supplies of 
water. The bill would establish an ambitious program within the 
National Laboratories to develop, transfer and demonstrate in real 
world applications energy and water efficiency technologies to meet the 
increased demand for water internationally and domestically. The bill 
establishes a merit-based competitive grant program for research 
grants, provides that a set percentage of funding received by the 
program be used to demonstrate promising technologies, and provides for 
research undertaken by our National Laboratories. Our National 
Laboratories have shown an ability to push the state of the art 
forward, furthering technologies such as highspeed computing, nano-
technology, and advanced engineering and science. Federal investment in 
these areas has resulted in thousands of new technologies that benefit 
humanity. We now have the opportunity to direct a portion of this 
immense capability to solve our water and related energy issues. I have 
no doubt that this legislation would help to push the state of the art 
forward to ensure that the world has access to this life sustaining 
resource for years to come.
  For the reasons I have articulated, renewed Federal investment in 
this area is of critical importance both domestically and abroad. I 
thank Senator Bingaman, ranking member of the Energy and Natural 
Resources Committee, Majority Leader Frist and Senator Alexander for 
being original co-sponsors of this legislation.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1860

       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-Water Efficiency 
     Technology Research, Development, and Transfer Program Act of 
     2005''.

     SEC. 2. ENERGY-WATER EFFICIENCY AND SUPPLY TECHNOLOGY 
                   RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND TRANSFER PROGRAM.

       The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58; 119 Stat. 
     594) is amended by inserting after section 111 the following:

     ``SEC. 112. ENERGY-WATER EFFICIENCY AND SUPPLY TECHNOLOGY 
                   RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND TRANSFER PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Advisory panel.--The term `Advisory Panel' means the 
     Energy-Water Efficiency and Supply Technology Advisory Panel 
     established under subsection (f).
       ``(2) Energy-water efficiency and supply technology.--The 
     term `energy-water efficiency and supply technology' means--
       ``(A) technologies for--
       ``(i) reducing the amount of energy required to provide 
     adequate water supplies;
       ``(ii) reducing water consumption in the production or 
     generation of energy;
       ``(iii) the reclamation of previously unusable water;
       ``(iv) water reuse;
       ``(v) agricultural, industrial, and municipal efficiency 
     and conservation; and
       ``(vi) water monitoring and systems analysis; and
       ``(B) any other technologies identified by the Secretary as 
     necessary to carry out the program.
       ``(3) Lead laboratory.--The term `lead laboratory' means 
     each of the program lead laboratories designated under 
     subsection (d)(1).
       ``(4) Program.--The term `program' means the energy-water 
     efficiency and supply technology research, development, and 
     transfer program established under subsection (b).
       ``(b) Establishment.--In accordance with this section, the 
     Secretary shall establish a National Laboratories energy-
     water efficiency and supply technology research, development, 
     and transfer program that provides for the conduct of 
     research on, and the development, demonstration, transfer, 
     and commercialization of, economically viable and cost-
     effective energy-water efficiency and supply technologies 
     to--
       ``(1) promote the sustainable use of water for energy 
     production activities, including--
       ``(A) developing less water-intensive electric generation 
     sources; and
       ``(B) developing and implementing systems analyses to 
     balance energy and water demands;
       ``(2) facilitate the widespread commercialization of newly 
     developed energy-water efficiency and supply technologies for 
     use in real-world applications, including the conduct of an 
     assessment of economic factors relating to the introduction 
     and adoption of energy-water efficiency and supply 
     technologies in practical applications;
       ``(3) facilitate collaboration among Federal agencies to 
     provide for the integration of research on, and disclosure of 
     information relating to, energy-water efficiency and supply 
     technologies;
       ``(4) reclaim and improve access to previously unusable and 
     nontraditional water resources; and
       ``(5) increase the amount of water available for human use.

[[Page S11317]]

       ``(c) Other Agreements.--The Secretary may enter into any 
     grant, contract, cooperative agreement, interagency 
     agreement, or other transaction, as the Secretary determines 
     to be necessary to carry out this section.
       ``(d) Program Lead Laboratories.--
       ``(1) In general.--The program shall be carried out by 
     Sandia National Laboratory, New Mexico, Oak Ridge National 
     Laboratory, Tennessee, and Lawrence Livermore National 
     Laboratory, California.
       ``(2) Selection of university partners.--Each of the lead 
     laboratories, in consultation with the Advisory Panel, shall 
     select at least 1 university partner to assist in carrying 
     out the program.
       ``(e) Water Supply Technology Assessment.--
       ``(1) Assessment duties.--In consultation with the 
     Secretary of Agriculture, the Administrator of the 
     Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of Defense, 
     the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration, the Director of the National Science 
     Foundation, the Secretary of the Interior, and other 
     appropriate Federal agencies, the Secretary, acting through 
     the lead laboratories, shall--
       ``(A) assess energy-water efficiency and supply technology 
     research being performed;
       ``(B) assess the annual amount of Federal funding levels 
     and authorizations for energy-water efficiency and supply 
     technology research;
       ``(C) assess the scope of the energy-water efficiency and 
     supply technology research performed by other agencies;
       ``(D) assess whether and to what extent Federal energy-
     water efficiency and supply technology research is 
     duplicative;
       ``(E) identify energy-water efficiency and supply 
     technology research and development priorities; and
       ``(F) develop a technology roadmap to identify critical 
     energy-water efficiency and supply technology research, 
     development, demonstration and commercialization activities 
     to guide program activities.
       ``(2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of this section, the Secretary, acting through the 
     lead laboratories, shall submit to the Committee on Energy 
     and Natural Resources of the Senate, the Committee on 
     Resources of the House of Representatives, and the Committee 
     on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a 
     detailed report on the assessment conducted under paragraph 
     (1).
       ``(f) Advisory Panel.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish an 
     advisory panel, to be known as the `Energy-Water Efficiency 
     and Supply Technology Advisory Panel', to advise the 
     Secretary on the activities carried out under this section.
       ``(2) Membership.--Members of the Advisory Panel shall--
       ``(A) have expertise in--
       ``(i) energy-water efficiency and supply technology; or
       ``(ii) legal or regulatory issues associated with adopting 
     energy-water efficiency and supply technologies in real-world 
     applications; and
       ``(B) be representative of institutions of higher 
     education, industry, State and local governments, 
     international energy-water efficiency and supply technology 
     institutions, Federal agencies, and nongovernmental 
     organizations.
       ``(3) Duties.--The Advisory Panel shall--
       ``(A) periodically assess the performance of energy-water 
     efficiency and supply technology research being carried out 
     under this section;
       ``(B) advise the Secretary on research priorities to be 
     carried out under this section;
       ``(C) make recommendations to the Secretary for awarding 
     research grants and demonstration project grants; and
       ``(D) identify legal, policy, or regulatory barriers to 
     implementing energy-water efficiency and supply technologies 
     in real-world applications.
       ``(g) Program Grants.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide competitive 
     grants to entities with expertise in the conduct of energy-
     water efficiency and supply technology research, development, 
     and demonstration projects.
       ``(2) Requirements.--The grants under paragraph (1) shall 
     be provided--
       ``(A) in consultation with the Advisory Panel;
       ``(B) in coordination with the research, development, 
     demonstration, and commercialization activities conducted by 
     the lead laboratories; and
       ``(C) consistent with the technology roadmap developed 
     under subsection (e)(1)(F).
       ``(3) Limitation.--Of amounts made available for grants 
     under subsection (j)(2)(C), not more than 25 percent shall be 
     provided to National Laboratories and Federal agencies.
       ``(4) Criteria.--The Secretary shall establish criteria for 
     the submission and review of grant applications and the 
     provision of grants under paragraph (1).
       ``(h) Program Review.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall enter into an 
     arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct 
     periodic peer reviews of the program.
       ``(2) Requirements.--In conducting a review under paragraph 
     (1), the National Academy of Sciences shall--
       ``(A) review the technology roadmap, technical milestones, 
     and plans for technology transfer developed under the 
     program; and
       ``(B) assess the progress of the program in achieving the 
     technical milestones and plans for technology transfer.
       ``(i) Report to Congress.--Not later than 3 years after the 
     date of enactment of this section and each year thereafter, 
     the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources of the Senate, the Committee on Resources 
     of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Energy 
     and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that 
     describes the activities carried out under this section, 
     including the activities carried out under subsection 
     (f)(3)(D).
       ``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     to the Secretary to carry out this section, including the 
     completion of the roadmap under subsection (e)(1)(F)--
       ``(A) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
       ``(B) such sums as are necessary for each fiscal year 
     thereafter.
       ``(2) Allocation.--Of amounts made available under 
     paragraph (1) for fiscal year 2007 and each fiscal year 
     thereafter--
       ``(A) at least 30 percent shall be distributed equally 
     between the lead laboratories for the conduct of activities 
     under the program;
       ``(B) at least 10 percent shall be provided to the lead 
     laboratories to carry out subsection (b)(2);
       ``(C) at least 40 percent shall be made available for 
     program grants under subsection (g)(1); and
       ``(D) not more than 15 percent shall be used to pay the 
     administrative costs of carrying out the program, including 
     costs to support the activities of the Advisory Panel.''.
                                 ______