Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Pending water resources legislation
The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on issues related to the Bingman-Murkowski Energy-Water Integration Act (S. 531), 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.
Witnesses
Panel 1- Carl Bauer, Director of the National Energy Technology Laboratory, US Department of Energy
- Stephen Bolze, GE Power & Water
- Dr. Michael Webber, The University of Texas at Austin
- Dr. Peter Gleick, Pacific Institute
- Dr. Lon House, Water and Energy Consulting
The Energy and Water Integration Act of 2009 contains the following:
- National Academy Energy-Water Study – Requires a study to assess water use associated with developing fuels in the transportation sector, and the water consumed in different types of electricity-generation.
- Power Plant Water and Energy Efficiency– directs DOE to identify best available technologies and other strategies maximize water and energy efficiency in producing electricity.
- Reclamation Water Conservation & Energy Savings Study – directs the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to evaluate energy use in storing and delivering water from Reclamation projects, and identify ways to reduce such use through conservation, improved operations, and renewable energy integration.
- BOR Brackish Groundwater Desalination Facility– Organic legislation to establish research priorities for this existing Facility, including renewable energy integration with desalination technologies.
- EIA Energy Use for Water Assessment – a requirement for EIA to continually report on the energy consumed in water treatment and delivery activities.
- Energy-Water Roadmap – directs the Secretary of Energy to develop an Energy-Water Research and Development Roadmap to address water-related challenges to sustainable energy generation and production.