Alliance for Water Efficiency News Update
Thursday, December 3, 2009
On Tuesday the House of Representatives approved by voice vote H.R. 3598, the Energy and Water Integration Act, which addresses the critical nexus between energy and water resources. The bill was introduced by Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) and directs the Department of Energy to better integrate water into existing federal research, technology and development efforts.
In a recent letter to Chairman Gordon, AWE President and CEO Mary Ann Dickinson wrote that, “the bill would provide a much-needed research focus on the connection between water and energy, requiring strategic examination of the critical energy-water connection. Water efficiency has historically received little attention in federal policy initiatives. H.R. 3598 changes that.”
The legislation directs DOE to advance energy efficiency technologies and practices that would minimize water consumption, increase water use efficiency, utilize nontraditional water sources, consider the effects climate change may have on water quality and quantity, and improve understanding of the energy required to provide water supplies and the water required to provide energy supplies. Two hundred forty million dollars of funding would be authorized between 2011 and 2015 for energy and water related research.
The Alliance will continue to monitor this legislation.
More information can be found on AWE’s Legislative Watch Page and on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology Press Release Page.