The House Science Committee on May 1 approved a bipartisan bill that would require the Energy Department (DoE) to consider the energy-water nexus in ongoing research.
Sponsored by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Tex.) the Energy and Water Research Integration Act (H.R. 34) would direct DoE to incorporate the consideration of water use and treatment into all of its relevant research, development, and demonstration programs. The bill also would instruct DoE to coordinate with other relevant agencies, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, states, and industry representatives to ensure that it gives adequate consideration and resources to energy and water interdependencies in the future.
The bill, which also has the backing of the top Republican on the committee, was approved with unanimous bipartisan support. It will now move on to consideration on the House floor, though no immediate timeframe for consideration has been announced.