---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 16183"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "16183"
heading: "Energy and water for sustainability"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/16183"
units:
  - "Chapter 149 — National Energy Policy and Programs"
  - "Subchapter IX — Research and Development"
---

# §16183. Energy and water for sustainability

- (a) **Nexus of energy and water for sustainability—**
  - (1) **Definitions—** In this section:
    - (A) **Department—** The term “Department” means the Department of [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7).
    - (B) **Energy-water nexus—** The term “energy-water nexus” means the links between—
      - (i) the water needed to produce fuels, electricity, and other forms of [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7); and
      - (ii) the [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) needed to transport, reclaim, and treat water and wastewater.
    - (C) **Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee—** The term “Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee” means the Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee on the Nexus of [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) and Water for Sustainability (or the “NEWS [RD&D](#a-1-E) Committee”) established under [paragraph (3)(A)](#a-3-A).
    - (D) **Nexus of Energy and Water Sustainability RD&D Office; NEWS RD&D Office—** The term “Nexus of Energy and Water Sustainability RD&D Office” or the “NEWS [RD&D](#a-1-E) [Office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1)” means an [office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1) located at the [Department](#a-1-A) and managed in cooperation with the [Department](#a-1-A) of the Interior pursuant to an [agreement](/usc/42/1320b–8.md?p=a-3-A) between the 2 agencies to carry out leadership and administrative functions for the [Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee](#a-1-C).
    - (E) **RD&D—** The term “RD&D” means research, development, and demonstration.
    - (F) **Secretary—** The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7).
  - (2) **Statement of policy—** Recognizing [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f)’ primacy over [allocation](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=2) and administration of water resources (except in specific instances where preempted under Federal law) and the siting of [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) infrastructure within [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) boundaries on non-Federal lands, it is the national policy that the Federal government, in all [energy-water nexus](#a-1-B) management activities, shall maximize coordination and consultation among Federal agencies and with [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) and [local governments](/usc/42/8401a.md), and disseminate information to the public in the most effective manner.
  - (3) **Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee—**
    - (A) **Establishment—** Not later than 180 days after December 27, 2020, the [Secretary](#a-1-F) and the [Secretary](#a-1-F) of the Interior shall establish the joint NEWS [RD&D](#a-1-E) [Office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1) and [Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee](#a-1-C) on the Nexus of [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) and Water for Sustainability (or the “NEWS [RD&D](#a-1-E) Committee”) to carry out the duties described in [subparagraph (C)](#a-3-C).
    - (B) **Administration—**
      - (i) **Chairs—** The [Secretary](#a-1-F) and the [Secretary](#a-1-F) of the Interior shall jointly manage the NEWS [RD&D](#a-1-E) [Office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1) and serve as co-chairs of the [Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee](#a-1-C).
      - (ii) **Membership; staffing—** Membership and staffing shall be determined by the co-chairs.
    - (C) **Duties—** The [Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee](#a-1-C) shall—
      - (i) serve as a forum for developing common Federal goals and plans on [energy-water nexus](#a-1-B) [RD&D](#a-1-E) activities, in coordination with the National Science and Technology [Council](/usc/42/300f.md?p=9);
      - (ii) not later than 1 year after December 27, 2020, and biennially thereafter, issue a strategic plan on [energy-water nexus](#a-1-B) [RD&D](#a-1-E) activities, priorities, and objectives pursuant to [subparagraph (D)](#a-3-D), which shall be developed in consultation with relevant [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) and [local governments](/usc/42/8401a.md);
      - (iii) convene and promote coordination of [RD&D](#a-1-E) activities of relevant Federal [departments](#a-1-A) and agencies on [energy-water nexus](#a-1-B);
      - (iv)
        - (I) coordinate and develop capabilities and methodologies related to [RD&D](#a-1-E) activities for data collection, data communication protocols (including models and modeling results), data management, and dissemination of validated data and results related to [energy-water nexus](#a-1-B) [RD&D](#a-1-E) activities to requesting Federal [departments](#a-1-A) and agencies; and
        - (II) promote information [exchange](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-21) between Federal [departments](#a-1-A) and agencies—
          - (aa) to identify and document Federal and non-Federal [RD&D](#a-1-E) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and funding opportunities that support basic and applied [RD&D](#a-1-E) proposals to advance [energy-water nexus](#a-1-B) related science and technologies;
          - (bb) to leverage existing [RD&D](#a-1-E) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) by encouraging joint solicitations, block grants, and matching [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) with non-Federal entities; and
          - (cc) to identify opportunities for domestic and international public-private partnerships, innovative financing mechanisms, and information and data [exchange](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-21) with respect to [RD&D](#a-1-E) activities;
      - (v) identify ways to leverage existing [RD&D](#a-1-E) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), including [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) at the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) and local level;
      - (vi) make publicly available the results of [RD&D](#a-1-E) activities on the [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) water nexus;
      - (vii) with regard to [RD&D](#a-1-E) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), recommend improvements and best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) for the collection and dissemination of federal [water use](/usc/42/6291.md?p=31-A) data and the use of monitoring networks; and
      - (viii) promote coordination on [RD&D](#a-1-E) with non-Federal interests by—
        - (I) consulting with [representatives](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=5) of research and academic institutions, [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local, and [Tribal governments](/usc/42/804.md?p=d-3), public utility [commissions](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1), and industry, who have expertise in technologies, technological innovations, or [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) relating to the [energy-water nexus](#a-1-B); and
        - (II) considering conducting technical workshops.
    - (D) **Strategic plan—** In developing the strategic plan pursuant to (C)(ii), the [Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee](#a-1-C) shall—
      - (i) to the maximum extent possible, avoid duplication with other Federal [RD&D](#a-1-E) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), and [projects](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20), including with those of the [National Laboratories](/usc/42/15801.md?p=3);
      - (ii) consider inclusion of specific research, development and demonstration needs, including—
        - (I) innovative [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19), technologies and other advancements improving water efficiency, [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11), recovery, or reuse associated with [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) generation, including cooling, and fuel production;
        - (II) innovative [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19), technologies and other advancements associated with [energy use](/usc/42/6291.md?p=4) in water collection, supply, delivery, distribution, [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11), or reuse;
        - (III) innovative [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19), technologies and other advancements associated with generation or production of [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) from water or wastewater systems; and
        - (IV) modeling and systems analysis related to [energy-water nexus](#a-1-B); and
      - (iii) submit the plan to the Committee on [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) and [Commerce](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7), and Natural Resources of the House of [Representatives](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=5).
    - (E) **Rules of construction—**
      - (i) Nothing in this section grants to the [Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee](#a-1-C) the authority to promulgate regulations or set [standards](/usc/42/1320d.md?p=7).
      - (ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, nothing in this section shall be construed to require [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), Tribal, or [local governments](/usc/42/8401a.md) to take any action that may result in an increased financial burden to such governments.
    - (F) **Additional participation—** In developing the strategic plan described in [subparagraph (C)(ii)](#a-3-C-ii), the [Secretary](#a-1-F) shall consult and coordinate with a diverse group of [representatives](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=5) from research and academic institutions, industry, public utility [commissions](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1), and [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) and [local governments](/usc/42/8401a.md) who have expertise in technologies and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) relating to the [energy-water nexus](#a-1-B).
    - (G) **Review; report—** At the end of the 5-year period beginning on the date on which the [Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee](#a-1-C) and NEWS [RD&D](#a-1-E) [Office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1) are established, the NEWS [RD&D](#a-1-E) [Office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1) shall—
      - (i) review the activities, relevance, and effectiveness of the [Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee](#a-1-C); and
      - (ii) submit to the Committee on [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) and [Commerce](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7), and Natural Resources of the House of [Representatives](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=5) a report that—
        - (I) describes the results of the review conducted under [clause (i)](#a-3-G-i); and
        - (II) includes a recommendation on whether the [Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee](#a-1-C) should continue.
  - (4) **Crosscut budget—** Not later than 30 days after the President submits the budget of the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) Government under [section 1105 of title 31](/usc/31/1105.md), the co-chairs of the [Interagency RD&D Coordination Committee](#a-1-C) (acting through the NEWS [RD&D](#a-1-E) [Office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1)) shall submit to the Committee on [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) and [Commerce](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7), and Natural Resources of the House of [Representatives](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=5), an interagency budget crosscut report that displays at the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4)-, [project](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20)-, and activity-level for each of the Federal agencies that carry out or support (including through grants, contracts, interagency and intraagency transfers, and multiyear and no-year [funds](/usc/42/12854.md?p=3)) basic and applied [RD&D](#a-1-E) activities to advance the [energy-water nexus](#a-1-B) related science and technologies, including—
    - (A) the budget proposed in the budget request of the President for the upcoming fiscal year;
    - (B) expenditures and obligations for the prior fiscal year; and
    - (C) estimated expenditures and obligations for the current fiscal year.
  - (5) **Termination—**
    - (A) **In general—** The authority provided to the NEWS [RD&D](#a-1-E) [Office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1) and NEWS [RD&D](#a-1-E) Committee under this subsection shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after December 27, 2020.
    - (B) **Effect—** The termination of authority under [subparagraph (A)](#a-5-A) shall not affect ongoing interagency planning, coordination, or other [RD&D](#a-1-E) activities relating to the [energy-water nexus](#a-1-B).
- (b) **Integrating energy and water research—** The [Secretary](#a-1-F) shall integrate the following considerations into [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) [RD&D](#a-1-E) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and [projects](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20) of the [Department](#a-1-A) by—
  - (1) advancing [RD&D](#a-1-E) for [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) and [energy efficiency](/usc/42/6291.md?p=5) technologies and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) that meet the objectives of—
    - (A) minimizing freshwater withdrawal and consumption;
    - (B) increasing [water use](/usc/42/6291.md?p=31-A) efficiency; and
    - (C) utilizing nontraditional water sources;
  - (2) considering the effects climate variability may have on water supplies and quality for [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) generation and fuel production; and
  - (3) improving understanding of the [energy-water nexus](#a-1-B) (as defined in [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1)).
- (c) **Additional activities—** The [Secretary](#a-1-F) may provide for such additional [RD&D](#a-1-E) activities as appropriate to integrate the considerations described in [subsection (b)](#b) into the [RD&D](#a-1-E) activities of the [Department](#a-1-A).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title I, § 1010, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2438.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Energy Act of 2020, and not as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 which comprises this chapter.