U.S. Senator: Water/Energy Integration "Increasingly Vital"

As promised, I have begun tracking down the expert testimonies on the Energy/H2O Bill that was introduced to the senate on March 5th of this year. First, i thought I'd post Senator Bingaman's statement at the hearing. Senator Bingaman hails from New Mexico and as a cosponsor of this bill, he clearly understands the importance of the water-energy nexus.

Although Senator Bingaman's statement at the hearing was brief, he nonetheless had some important things to say. On the topic of water efficiency, Bingaman knows that there is a lot of potential for multiple benefits:

Acquiring, treating, and delivering water consumes a large amount of energy. Improving water use efficiencies, may yield multiple benefits in the form of reduced water demand during times of shortage, and reduced energy consumption with attendant cost-savings that result from reduced energy production.

Bingaman goes on to place the water-energy nexus in the context of population growth, climate change and other environmental concerns:

Developing new policies that integrate energy and water solutions will become increasingly vital as populations grow, environmental needs increase, and a changing climate continues to affect our energy and water resources.

It's good to know that this issue is being addressed at the highest levels of government. Judging by Bingaman's statement I'd even venture so far as to say that the issue is surprisingly well understood by the highest levels of government, but before I can say that we'll have to see if the bill gets passed. Below is Senator Bingaman's full statement:

Bingaman Hearing Statement: “Energy-Water Integration Act”

“As most everyone is aware, this meeting is a continuation of our series of energy-related hearings. The subjects addressed in previous hearings involved matters that have come before the Committee before. Today’s focus, however, is on a new subject that involves issues likely to intensify in the coming years.

“Energy production requires substantial amounts of water - this is of course a resource becoming increasingly scarce in several parts of the country. Whether it involves electricity generation or fuel production, the choice of fuel stock can dramatically influence the amount of water needed as part of the process of producing that energy. That nexus is starting to emerge in permitting decisions across the country.

“Similarly, acquiring, treating, and delivering water consumes a large amount of energy. Improving water use efficiencies, may yield multiple benefits in the form of reduced water demand during times of shortage, and reduced energy consumption with attendant cost-savings that result from reduced energy production.

“Given the importance of these issues and the need to highlight the relationship between water and energy, Senator Murkowski and I introduced S.531, the Energy and Water Integration Act of 2009. I believe this bill is a good first step towards integrating energy and water policy. We may need to do more, and I look forward to today’s testimony to help inform our understanding in these areas. Developing new policies that integrate energy and water solutions will become increasingly vital as populations grow, environmental needs increase, and a changing climate continues to affect our energy and water resources.

“We’re lucky to have a group of well-qualified witnesses here today to give their views on the bill, and to discuss the energy-water nexus in general. We appreciate their in being here.”