Water-Energy Technology Demonstration and Deployment Act

To provide for the demonstration and deployment of water-energy technologies, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Water-Energy Technology Demonstration and Deployment Act 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Center The term Center (2) Eligible desalination project The term eligible desalination project (A) to which the Bureau of Reclamation holds title; (B) that is operated by the Bureau of Reclamation; or (C) with respect to which the Bureau of Reclamation is providing financial assistance. (3) Eligible energy efficiency project The term eligible energy efficiency project (4) Eligible reuse project The term eligible reuse project (5) National Laboratory The term National Laboratory 42 U.S.C. 15801 (6) Program The term program (7) Reclamation State The term Reclamation State 43 U.S.C. 390b Public Law 114–322 (8) Secretary The term Secretary (9) Selected project The term selected project 3. Water-energy technology deployment pilot program (a) Establishment (1) In general To advance Federal energy-water nexus research, technology development, policy, and other goals by combining the resources of the Department of the Interior and Department of Energy, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall establish within the Bureau of Reclamation a pilot program that provides for the participation of the Secretary of Energy in selected projects, in accordance with paragraph (2). (2) Participation of secretary of energy in selected projects The Secretary of Energy shall participate in a selected project by— (A) identifying research and programs at the Department of Energy (including the National Laboratories) applicable to the selected project; (B) contributing funds to carry out the selected project; or (C) carrying out modeling, planning, designing, or construction activities with respect to the selected project. (3) Agreement The Secretary and the Secretary of Energy shall enter into an agreement describing the responsibilities of the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy, respectively, with respect to, and the sources of funding for, each selected project. (4) Required consultation The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Energy with respect to any activities carried out by the Secretary of Energy under the program. (b) Selection of Projects for program (1) Eligible desalination projects (A) In general The Secretary shall select not fewer than 2, but not more than 5, eligible desalination projects for the program that the Secretary determines would— (i) benefit from the participation of the Secretary of Energy; and (ii) advance the objectives of existing research and development, technology commercialization, or grant programs being carried out by the Secretary of Energy (including at the National Laboratories) by— (I) lowering energy costs; (II) increasing the amount or efficiency of salt removal; (III) reducing salt discharge into waterways; (IV) improving water supply reliability; or (V) demonstrating a new technology or process. (B) Inclusions Of the eligible desalination projects selected under subparagraph (A)— (i) not less than 1 shall be an eligible desalination project conducted in the upper Colorado River Basin that— (I) is authorized under the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1571 (II) uses zero liquid discharge technology to remove naturally occurring salinity from entering a Colorado River Tributary; and (ii) not less than 1 shall be an eligible desalination project conducted in the lower Colorado River Basin that— (I) (aa) is authorized under the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1571 (bb) processes water to remove salt and returns the water to the main-stem of the Colorado River; or (II) would provide similar amounts of water to support Colorado River drought contingency operations, consistent with the Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan Authorization Act ( Public Law 116–14 (2) Eligible energy efficiency projects The Secretary shall select not more than 5 eligible energy efficiency projects for the program that the Secretary determines would— (A) benefit from the participation of the Secretary of Energy; and (B) advance the objectives of existing research and development, technology commercialization, or grant programs being carried out by the Secretary of Energy (including at the National Laboratories) by— (i) improving the efficiency of existing surface or groundwater pumps; (ii) developing or improving a surface water conveyance that reduces surface or groundwater pumping; (iii) reducing energy use needed for water treatment; (iv) demonstrating a new technology or process; or (v) incorporating energy generation into water conveyance systems. (3) Eligible reuse projects The Secretary shall select not more than 5 eligible reuse projects for the program that the Secretary determines would— (A) benefit from the participation of the Secretary of Energy; and (B) advance the objectives of existing research and development, technology commercialization, or grant programs being carried out by the Secretary of Energy (including at the National Laboratories) by— (i) lowering energy costs; (ii) improving water supply reliability; or (iii) demonstrating— (I) a new technology or process; or (II) a combination of new and existing technologies or processes. (4) Submission of list of selected projects As soon as practicable after the date of completion of the selection process under paragraphs (1) through (3), the Secretary shall submit a list of the selected projects to— (A) the Secretary of Energy; (B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; (C) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and (D) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate. (c) Funding (1) Use of existing funds Out of any amounts made available to the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy that are not otherwise obligated, the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy, respectively, shall use such sums as are necessary to carry out this section. (2) Treatment of funds contributed by the Secretary of Energy Amounts contributed by the Secretary of Energy to a selected project under paragraph (1) shall be nonreimbursable. (3) Treatment of funds contributed by Secretary Amounts contributed by the Secretary to a selected project under paragraph (1) shall be reimbursed in accordance with any applicable contract or agreement. (d) Effect Nothing in this section— (1) creates, impairs, alters, or supersedes a Federal or State water right or interstate compact; or (2) affects or modifies any authorized purpose of a selected project. 4. Western Water Resilience Center (a) Establishment Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy shall enter into a partnership with 1 or more institutions of higher education to establish a center to conduct research on the development, commercialization, and deployment of innovations in water and energy technologies, to be known as the Western Water Resilience Center (b) Authorized activities The Center shall conduct research on— (1) data collection, modeling, and advanced data analytics of precipitation, runoff, and water resources at the regional level; (2) the development of technology and systems that improve management and assist in the development of water infrastructure; (3) addressing— (A) Tribal water supply and quality; and (B) any other factors that affect the reliable access of Indian Tribes to water resources; and (4) the establishment of a, or a partnership with an existing, water technology accelerator that— (A) would bring water innovations to market by addressing multiple phases of technology development, including validation, development, startup, and scaling; and (B) has an emphasis on binational collaboration between the United States and Middle Eastern countries, such as Israel. (c) Priority In entering into a partnership under subsection (a), the Secretary and the Secretary of Energy shall give priority to a partnership with an institution of higher education that— (1) has experience conducting research on water scarcity issues; (2) is located in a Reclamation State; (3) has an established background of coordinating with Indian Tribes on water issues; and (4) is located in a State that has an established presence in Israel for the promotion of trade.

Summary: Water-Energy Technology Demonstration and Deployment Act This bill directs the Department of the Interior and the Department of Energy (DOE) to partner with at least one institution of higher education to form the Western Water Resilience Center to research the development, commercialization, and deployment of water and energy technologies. Interior shall also establish a pilot program within the Bureau of Reclamation to allow DOE participation in certain projects.