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October 15, 2009

Bennett Applauds Passage of Energy and Water Appropriations Bill

Says bill supports essential Utah energy and water projects

WASHINGTON D.C. - Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah), the leading Republican on the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee today applauded the passage of the Senate Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, which includes several Utah projects secured by the Utah senator.

This conference agreement provides $34.465 billion in gross budget authority which is $928 M below the President's request and $204 M above current year levels.  

 "As the lead Republican on this appropriations bill, it was my goal to craft legislation that would promote a balanced energy plan for our country while reining in spending in certain areas," said Bennett. "I am pleased that Chairman Dorgan and I were able to pass a bill that cuts spending by $928 million from what the president originally requested."

"This bill also signals Congress's recognition of Utah as a leader in energy research. Utah's universities continue to achieve attain great success in their ongoing search for creative, ground-breaking solutions for our energy needs."

Highlights of Utah projects requested by Bennett in the Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill are below.

 Moab Atlas Tailings Removal - $8.329 million

The bill provides funding for continued clean-up of the Moab Atlas Mill Tailings site, which contains over 11 million tons of contaminated mill tailings, debris, and groundwater in Moab. As the pile continues to leak contaminants to the river through the groundwater, there remain concerns over the potential impact on the environment and water users downstream. Bennett has secured nearly $118 million in federal dollars with these funds since 2000 for the remediation of the site. Bennett continues to advocate expediting the cleanup to reduce long-term risks. In March 2009, DOE announced that it completed the rail construction and transported the first tailings pile away from the site ahead of schedule.

 Utah State University (USU) - $10 million

This funding will be used to further efforts to develop technology focusing on energy-efficiency, renewable and alternative energy, carbon sequestration, and carbon-free energy sources. Not only will the funds help with energy research, but it will also establish long-term relationships with the Department of Energy (DOE) national labs and other research universities.

Utah Center for Ultra-Clean Coal Utilization at the University of Utah (U of U) - $8 million

The bill provides funding for the University of Utah (U of U) to utilize energy resources in the Uinta Basin and surrounding areas for the production of safe, clean fossil energy.

Unconventional and Renewable Energy Research Utilizing Computer Simulations at the University of Utah (U of U) - $3.5 million

This funding will be used to support the Energy and Geosciences Institute (EGI) at the University of Utah. EGI is working with various partners including the university's Department of Chemical Engineering and the Technology Commercialization Office, as well as private industry, to commercialize the generation of power using enhanced geothermal and solar heat by making use of high-powered computer simulations.

USU Intermountain Center for River Dynamics and Restoration - $600,000

The Intermountain Center for River Dynamics and Restoration at USU will work to integrate river science research to restore streams and rivers to their proper functioning conditions in Utah and the West. The funding will provide educational programs for natural resource scientists and managers in the public and private sector.

Shale Oil Upgrading Utilizing Ceramics - $1.75 million

Over one trillion barrels of oil shale reserves lay in a relatively small area known as the Green River Formation located in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. As the nation's dependence on foreign oil continues and the demand increases, development of domestic resources, such as oil shale reserves becomes more attractive. Ceramatec, Inc., a small business based in Salt Lake City, UT, is developing processes for upgrading oil shale, improving the quality of oil extraction and making it affordable. These funds will be used to assist in the development of technology to more effectively and efficiently extract oil from oil shale.

Utah Coal & Biomass to Fuel Pilot Plant - $2.5 million

This funding would go toward a pilot plant in Utah to develop technology to transform coal, forest residues, and other materials to sulfur-free diesel fuel and carbon dioxide free electricity. Viresco Energy and the University of California at Riverside have developed such technology and demonstrated it to be effective on a small scale. The Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has recommended that the next step in the commercialization process is the construction of this pilot plant that would produce up to 40 barrels of clean fuel per day. It is estimated that a full-scale commercial plant in the future could produce up to 7,000 barrels of diesel fuel per day.

Independent Energy Community Renewable Power System - $1 million

This project will demonstrate the value of harnessing clean and renewable energy sources and deploying the electricity in an innovative community model. Funding will be used to upgrade transmission grids to incorporate smart grid technology, which will allow for reduced consumption.  The project will also use diffused generation techniques that harness power in the city's existing water system.  This will be the first of its kind demonstration project in Utah that could be a model for other Utah communities. 

Bayview Energy Project - $1 million

This funding would help convert waste byproducts in the Bayview Landfill into a source of energy. The project would create short-term jobs in construction phase and long-term jobs to operate the equipment after construction. The power produced as either burnable gas or electricity would be green power, which would play a part in the protection of our environment.

Southern Utah University Science Center Energy Efficiency Modernization and Enhancement Project - $1 million

The funding for this project will modernize and equip classroom and lab space at SUU's new Science Center. Federal dollars will be used to ensure that the building makes use of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and green building strategies. Employing the use of energy efficient strategies in the building's modernization will help meet goals for energy conservation.

Westminster College Science Center Equipment and Energy Efficiency- $900,000

Westminster College has broken ground on a new science center that will bring new educational opportunities and research capabilities to the greater Salt Lake City metropolitan area and students from around the world. This funding will help the college purchase and equip the new Science Center with the most energy-efficient, Gold LEED-certified technology.

Rural Utah 595 Water Program - $20 million

This program will help a number of rural Utah communities with water infrastructure improvements. All cities and counties outside of the Wasatch Front and St. George are eligible for the program, which funds wastewater treatment facility renovations and construction, drinking water enhancements, and other water infrastructure improvements.

Bennett authored the 2003 legislation that formed the Utah Environmental Infrastructure and Resource Protection and Development Program and authorized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to use up to $25 million to help develop water systems in small communities. Bennett increased this authorization in the Fiscal Year 2010 bill to $100 million. Congress must approve funding for the program each year. The federal share of 75 percent is matched by a local share of 25 percent.

Rural Water Technology Alliance (RWTA) - $500,000

The RWTA installs low-cost, automated technology to monitor and control water levels. This technology has been installed in Duchesne County, Upper and Lower Sevier Water Districts, Bear River, and Emery County. The funding will be used to further develop technology to provide real-time monitoring, remote adjustments for canals and provide water level information online to the public. Last year Bennett secured $491,000 for this project. 

Arthur V. Watkins Dam Enlargement Feasibility Study - $1 million

Federal funds will be used to complete a feasibility study to enlarge the Arthur V. Watkins Dam. The structure of the dam needs to be updated and enlargement is needed to maximize water storage so the Weber Basin Project can continue to meet water supply needs along the Wasatch Front in Utah.

The bill also includes $42 million for the Central Utah Project (CUP). This funding supports ongoing projects of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District, the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission, and the Department of the Interior.

 The spending measure now heads to the president to be signed into law.

 

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