§16198 Smart Energy and Water Efficiency Pilot Program

Summary

The Secretary must create and run a smart energy and water efficiency pilot program that gives competitive grants to 3 to 5 eligible entities. Eligible entities are utilities, cities or towns, water districts, Indian Tribes or Alaska Native villages, and other agencies that provide water, wastewater, or water reuse services. The grants must fund tests of advanced or new technology that improve the energy use of water systems, help save water and energy and cut costs, give real‑time data, and use internet‑connected tools (for example, sensors and smart gateways) to improve conservation, water quality, and predictive maintenance. Applicants must compete for grants and the Secretary will pick winners based on factors like energy and cost savings, how new and reliable the technology is, use of next‑generation sensors and analytics, cost‑effectiveness, ability to work in many regions and sizes of communities (including Tribal areas), past successful use, U.S. manufacturing, and whether the project can finish within 5 years. Applications must describe the project and technology, expected energy and water savings, a budget, lead and partners, number of users served, and how the project will meet performance measures. The Secretary must select recipients not later than 1 year after December 27, 2020, evaluate projects each year, post evaluations and best practices to the public, provide technical help on request, report results to Congress, and has $15,000,000 authorized to run the program, available until spent.