U.S. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS ANNOUNCES HOUSE APPROVAL OF $7 MILLION IN ENERGY AND WATER PROJECTS FOR SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA

Projects include solar arrays for public buildings in Tucson, photovoltaic research at the University of Arizona and a study of the San Pedro River

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today announced that $7.2 million in federal funding for energy and water projects in Southeastern Arizona was approved by the House of Representatives.

“These critical investments will have a direct and positive impact on our quality of life in Southeastern Arizona,” said Giffords. “They represent a judicious use of taxpayer dollars at a time when we must keep a close eye on how every public penny is spent.”

The five projects for which Giffords requested funding are in the City of Tucson, Pima County, Cochise County, and at the University of Arizona. They include solar arrays for public buildings in Tucson, photovoltaic research at the University of Arizona, a study of the San Pedro River, and flood control in Pima County.

The funding was included in H.R. 3183, an appropriations bill for energy and water projects for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010. The bill was approved this afternoon in a 320 to 97 vote. The measure now goes before the Senate.

Representatives from the entities receiving the funds were pleased with today’s outcome.

“The University of Arizona truly appreciates Congresswoman Giffords’ leadership on energy issues,” said President Robert Shelton. “We value her support for bringing the University’s world-class resources to bear on challenges such as advanced solar energy technologies.”

Bruce Plenk, the City of Tucson’s Solar Energy Coordinator, said the funding is critical to the city’s  continued expansion of solar projects on City facilities. “With this infusion of federal dollars, our very limited funds will go further to install more solar panels. We’re glad that we can take advantage of Arizona’s greatest resource – sunshine – to help power two of our buildings. We appreciate Congresswoman Giffords’ help in making that possible.”

Holly Richter, chairperson of the executive committee of the Upper San Pedro Partnership and program director for The Nature Conservancy, expressed a similar view. “The feasibility study made possible by this funding will provide a roadmap for water management that meets the needs of both people and nature that rely on the San Pedro River,” she said. “We applaud Congresswoman Giffords on her support for this funding and her vision for the future of the San Pedro River.”

Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry commented that “continued funding to complete the construction of the Arroyo Chico project is vitally important to provide flood protection for private development and public infrastructure in the central core of Tucson, including the downtown area.” He added that “continuing support for the Tres Rios del Norte project will provide long term environmental restoration benefits for the Santa Cruz River while optimizing the use of available water resources.”

The projects are:

• $900,000 - Concentrator Photovoltaic Technology – University of Arizona. The project will continue research and development of new technology to make the cost of utility-scale solar electric power competitive with fossil fuel. The project furthers development of a new type of concentrator photovoltaic approach to solar power production. Research was started with a 2008 Department of Energy award and matching funds; funding so far has resulted in demonstration of the new reflector manufacturing technology. This second phase will prove the concept with a fully functioning 15 kW sun-tracker unit, designed for low-cost replication in very large quantities suitable for utility-scale electricity generation. This project is an important use of taxpayer funds because it will further develop technology that offers a new approach to harvesting solar energy at an affordable cost, thereby fostering economic growth, furthering energy independence, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

• $600,000 - Sierra Vista Subwatershed Augmentation Feasibility Study – Upper San Pedro Partnership. This funding is for a study of the feasibility of three different alternatives for augmenting water supplies in the Sierra Vista Subwatershed of Southern Arizona. The augmentation alternatives to be studied were identified by the Bureau of Reclamation in an appraisal report issued in June 2007. Due to a combination of persistent drought and increased groundwater pumping, aquifer levels are falling below the level necessary to maintain base flows in the San Pedro River.  This feasibility study is an important use of taxpayer funds because if the river were to run dry, it would threaten the viability of the riparian ecosystem, including at least one listed endangered species.  Absent water augmentation, mitigation measures to prevent the river from running dry could ultimately include curtailing or ceasing operations at nearby Fort Huachuca, which would deal a severe blow to the local economy.  The entire community has a vested interest in ensuring that the San Pedro continues to flow, so the entire community has an interest in exploring augmentation.
• $275,000 - Tres Rios del Norte – Pima County. This funding will be used to conduct Preliminary Engineering and Design on the restoration of the Santa Cruz River from Prince Road to Sanders Road, a river reach of over 18 linear miles.  This is an important use of taxpayer funds because it is an environmental restoration project that will provide flood control, groundwater recharge, and recreation.  It will achieve goals shared by Pima County, the Town of Marana, and the City of Tucson.  The Corps has been conducting a Feasibility Study with the three local sponsors - Pima County, the Town of Marana, and the City of Tucson.  The Feasibility Study is well underway and the Alternative Formulation Briefing on the recommended alternative is anticipated to be complete in calendar year 2010.

• $5,000,000 - Tucson Drainage Area Urban Flood Control Project – Pima County. This funding will allow the Army Corps of Engineers to advance flood control improvements along the Tucson Arroyo and Arroyo Chico Wash.  This is an important use of taxpayer funds because these improvements are critical for the protection of downtown Tucson, including residential neighborhoods and the downtown business district. The second and final phase of this project began in 2007. Congress increased authorization for the total project to $66,700,000 in recognition of a significant increases in costs for fuel and construction materials.

• $450,000 - Tucson Public Building Solar Arrays – City of Tucson. This funding will allow the City of Tucson to install 120 kilowatt solar demonstration on the roofs of two city buildings. One of the buildings houses a public library and a Tucson Police substation.  The second building is the Sun Van building, which provides transit-related services for physically impaired individuals.  Both buildings are heavily used and highly visible.  This is an important use of taxpayer funds because installing solar panels on these buildings will result in increased public awareness of the benefits of solar technology and energy efficiency, reduced utility costs, and reduced carbon emissions.  To further enhance public awareness the City will include a web-based monitoring system to allow students and the public to access solar production and other solar information.  Finally, the project would allow the City to continue its 10-year solar installation project that has been stalled due to the current budget crisis.