Sec. 1802. Smart energy and water efficiency program
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In this section: The term eligible entity means— a municipality; a water district; and any other entity that provides water, wastewater, or water reuse services, including a joint water and power authority. The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy. The term smart energy and water efficiency program or program means the program established under subsection (b). The Secretary shall establish and carry out a smart energy and water efficiency program in accordance with this section.
In carrying out the smart energy and water efficiency program, the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to carry out projects that implement advanced and innovative technology-based solutions that will improve the energy or water efficiency of water, wastewater, or water reuse systems to— help eligible entities make significant progress in conserving water, conserving energy, or reducing the operating costs of such systems; support the implementation of innovative processes or the installation of advanced automated systems that provide real-time data on energy and water; or improve predictive maintenance of water, wastewater, or water reuse systems through the use of Internet-connected technologies, such as sensors, intelligent gateways, or security embedded in hardware.
The Secretary shall make competitive, merit-reviewed grants under the program to not fewer than 3, but not more than 5, eligible entities. In selecting an eligible entity to receive a grant under the program, the Secretary shall consider— energy and cost savings anticipated to result from the project; the innovative nature, commercial viability, and reliability of the technology to be used; the degree to which the project integrates innovative sensors, software, hardware, analytics, and management tools; the anticipated cost-effectiveness of the project in terms of energy savings, water savings or reuse, and infrastructure costs averted; whether the technology can be deployed in a variety of geographic regions and the degree to which the technology can be implemented on a smaller or larger scale, including whether the technology can be implemented by other types of eligible entities; and whether implementation of the project will be complete within 5 years.
Subject to clause (ii), an eligible entity seeking a grant under the program shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary determines to be necessary. An application under clause
(i)shall, at a minimum, include— a description of the project; a description of the technology to be used in the project; the anticipated results, including energy and water savings, of the project; a comprehensive budget for the project; and the number of households or customers that are served by the eligible entity and will benefit from the project. Not later than 300 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall select grant recipients under this section. The Secretary shall annually for 5 years carry out an evaluation of each project for which a grant is provided under this section that— evaluates the progress and effects of the project; and assesses the degree to which the project can be replicated in other regions, systems, and situations. On the request of a grant recipient, the Secretary shall provide technical assistance to the grant recipient to carry out the project. The Secretary shall make available to the public— a copy of each evaluation carried out under subparagraph (B); and a description of any best practices identified by the Secretary as a result of those evaluations. Not later than the date on which the Secretary completes the last evaluation required under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of each evaluation carried out under such subparagraph. There is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 to carry out this section, to remain available until expended.