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July 22, 2010

Senate Committee Approves Over $68 Million Bennett Requests for Utah Energy and Water Projects

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water today approved $68 million for Utah projects requested by Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah) in the Senate Fiscal Year 2011 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill.

“I think there are a great deal of positive things in this bill for Utah, but I remain concerned that Congress has failed to put any restraints on the total appropriations bills in the way American people are demanding,” said Bennett, ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water. “I continue to hope that we will be able to reach an agreement on overall federal spending.

“I commend Chairman Dorgan for the way he has worked with me in crafting this legislation and have always appreciated the manner in which we have been able to work together on this committee.”

In the bill, Utah State University (USU) is allotted $10 million to further efforts to develop technology focusing on energy-efficiency, and renewable and unconventional energy sources. Additional funding includes $10.4 million for the University of Utah to continue clean coal and heavy oil research, and demonstration and commercialization of energy technologies.

The bill also provides $50 million for the continued clean-up efforts of the Moab Atlas Tailings, which contains over 11 million tons of contaminated mill tailings, debris, and groundwater in Moab. Bennett has secured nearly $168 million in federal dollars with these funds since 2000 for the remediation of the site.

Highlights of other Utah projects requested by Bennett in the Fiscal Year 2011 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill are below.

USU, Interdisciplinary Alternative and Unconventional Energy R&D – $10 million

This request continues the process started in Fiscal Year 2010 of coalescing separate energy research programs at USU and the Utah State University Research Foundation (USURF) into a nationally-recognized, interdisciplinary energy enterprise focused on transformational energy R&D.

USU, Nuclear Engineering Research Center – $500,000

Funding would be used to assemble a collection of equipment and manpower resources to secure USU's long-term position as a competitive contributor in nuclear energy research.

U of U, Utah Center for Energy Innovation and Commercialization – $3.4 million

Funds will be used to demonstrate viable and commercially innovative energy technologies. This center will work with a selected number of past DOE participants and their private sector investors while bringing the R&D and business development resources of the university to assist these start-up and new technologies. The program will focus on closing the respective gaps in research, commercialization and marketing.

U of U, Utah Center for Ultra-Clean Coal Utilization and Heavy Oil Research – $7 million

The Utah Center serves as a research Center of Excellence with a national and international focus to determine the validity and commercialization of various unconventional and clean energy technologies. Taxpayers will benefit from an impressive multiplier effect as unconventional fossil energy technologies make previously undeveloped energy resources technologically and economically feasible, potentially producing billions in federal royalties and taxes as this fledgling industry evolves.

Natural Gas Fueling Station – $300,000

The funds will be used to construct a natural gas refueling station allowing the citizens of Uintah County to utilize a cleaner, alternative, readily available source of automobile fuel and to convert 25 county vehicles to use natural gas.

Rural Utah, Army Corps of Engineers – $25 million

These funds are used by the Army Corp of Engineers to assist rural communities in Utah for water infrastructure and environmental assistance. The federal share of 75 percent is matched by a local share of 25 percent.

Rural Water Technology Development Project – $500,000

The funds for this project will be used to provide funding for the Rural Water Technology Alliance to continue the implementation of low-cost, remote-sensing and automated technology units that increase water conservation and decrease conflict among rural water user groups.

Salem City Solar Energy Project – $300,000

Funds will be used to design and construct a solar energy grid to produce approximately 1.5 mW of electrical power.

South Jordan NGV Fleet Implementation Program – $300,000

Funding will help implement several new energy efficiency objectives. The city has assembled a host of strategies that will help reduce energy consumption and environmental impacts, and will also result in cost savings to the city. Of particular importance is the strategy to reduce fuel use and emissions in its vehicle fleet. This will ultimately save city funds, reduce energy consumption, and lower emissions in the Salt Lake Valley. Funds will be used to defray costs associated with a new natural gas fueling station and vehicle retrofits.

South Utah County Electric District Crab Creek Small Hydropower Facility – $1 million

Funds would be used to design and construct a small hydropower plant of an existing water pipeline to generate clean and renewable power to supply. The issue of climate change is a significant public policy issue, but also is likely to result in new technological developments and industries. The project is shovel- ready with all permits in place.

Summit County Water Supply – $500,000

This project will conduct studies and engineering designs of water development and water importation projects for Summit County, Utah from the Weber Basin.

The bill will now be placed on the Senate calendar where it will be considered at a later date.

 

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