SEC. 2. INTEGRATING ENERGY AND WATER RESEARCH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy shall in-
tegrate water considerations into energy research, develop-
ment, and demonstration programs and projects of the 
Department of Energy by— 
(1) advancing energy and energy efficiency 
technologies and practices that meet the objectives 
of— 
(A) minimizing freshwater withdrawal and 
consumption; 
(B) increasing water use efficiency; and 
(C) utilizing nontraditional water sources 
with efforts to improve the quality of the water 
from those sources; 
(2) considering the effects climate variability 
and change may have on water supplies and quality 
for energy generation and fuel production; and 
(3) improving understanding of the energy- 
water nexus. 
(b) STRATEGIC PLAN.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall develop a strategic plan identifying the 
research, development, and demonstration needs for 
Department programs and projects to carry out sub-
section (a). The strategic plan shall include technical 
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milestones for achieving and assessing progress to-
ward the objectives of subsection (a)(1). 
(2) SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing 
the strategic plan, the Secretary shall consider— 
(A) new advanced cooling technologies for 
energy generation and fuel production tech-
nologies; 
(B) performance improvement of existing 
cooling technologies and cost reductions associ-
ated with using those technologies; 
(C) innovative water reuse, recovery, and 
treatment technologies in energy generation and 
fuel production; 
(D) technology development for carbon 
capture and storage systems that utilize effi-
cient water use design strategies; 
(E) technologies that are life-cycle cost ef-
fective; 
(F) systems analysis and modeling of 
issues relating to the energy-water nexus; 
(G) technologies to treat and utilize waste-
water and produced waters discharged from oil, 
natural gas, coalbed methane, and any other 
substance to be used as an energy source; 
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(H) advanced materials for the use of non-
traditional water sources for energy generation 
and fuel production; 
(I) biomass production and utilization and 
the impact on hydrologic systems; 
(J) technologies that reduce impacts on 
water from energy resource development; 
(K) energy efficient technologies for water 
distribution and collection systems; 
(L) technologies for energy generation 
from water distribution and collection systems; 
and 
(M) any other area of the energy-water 
nexus that the Secretary considers appropriate. 
(3) COLLABORATION AND NONDUPLICATION.— 
In developing the strategic plan, the Secretary shall 
coordinate and avoid duplication— 
(A) with other Federal agencies operating 
related programs, if appropriate; and 
(B) across programs and projects of the 
Department, including with those of the Na-
tional Laboratories. 
(4) 
RELEVANT
INFORMATION
AND
REC-
OMMENDATIONS.—In developing the strategic plan, 
the Secretary shall consider and incorporate, as ap-
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propriate, relevant information and recommenda-
tions, including those of the National Water Avail-
ability and Use Assessment Program under section 
9508(d) of the Omnibus Public Land Management 
Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 10368(d)). 
(5) NONGOVERNMENTAL
PARTICIPATION.—In 
developing the strategic plan, the Secretary shall 
consult and coordinate with a diverse group of rep-
resentatives from research and academic institutions 
and industry who have expertise in technologies and 
practices relating to the energy-water nexus. 
(6) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 
9 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary shall submit to Congress the strategic 
plan. 
(7) UPDATING
THE
STRATEGIC
PLAN.—Not 
later than 3 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, and at least once every 5 years thereafter, 
the Secretary shall— 
(A) utilize relevant information produced 
by Federal Government agencies, academia, and 
industry to update the strategic plan; 
(B) include in the updated strategic plan a 
description of the changes from the previous 
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strategic plan and the rationale for such 
changes; and 
(C) submit the updated strategic plan to 
Congress. 
(c) PROGRESS REPORTS.—Not less frequently than 
once every 2 years, the Secretary shall transmit to Con-
gress a report on the progress the Department has made 
toward the milestones outlined in the strategic plan. 
(d) ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary may 
provide for such additional research, development, and 
demonstration activities as appropriate to integrate water 
considerations into the research, development, and dem-
onstration activities of the Department as described in 
subsection (a). 
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for car-
rying out this section $60,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
years 2013 through 2017. 
SEC. 3. ENERGY-WATER ARCHITECTURE COUNCIL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in coordination 
with other relevant Federal agencies, shall establish an 
Energy-Water Architecture Council to promote and enable 
improved energy and water resource data collection, re-
porting, and technological innovation. The Council shall 
consist of— 
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