COMMITTEE APPROVES FUNDING FOR MISSISSIPPI WATER PROJECTS,
RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH PROJECTS
Cochran Highlights State Projects in FY2010 Energy & Water Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved the FY2010 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill, which U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) reports will continue important federal investments in Mississippi River management and university-based energy research.
“This legislation has some very important provisions that will continue critical investments in Mississippi. Over time, we have done a lot to alleviate flooding problems in the Mississippi Delta and this appropriations measure represents a continuation of those investments,” Cochran said.
Cochran, the ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, also noted energy-related projects in the bill that will support research conducted at Mississippi universities.
“Our universities are engaged in efforts to find new and more efficient ways to harness and use energy, and this legislation supports that work,” Cochran said. “I look forward to full Senate consideration of the legislation.”
The Energy and Water Appropriations Bill provides funding for the Department of Energy, Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and independent agencies like the Appalachian Regional Commission. The following are highlights of Mississippi projects funded in the bill passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday:
Water Projects
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Mississippi River Levee Construction & Maintenance -- $57.1 million for levee construction ($45.4 million) and maintenance ($11.7 million)
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Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway -- $25.0 million for operation and maintenance, in addition to $2.5 million for wildlife mitigation activities
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Mississippi Water and Wastewater Projects -- $10.0 million for water and wastewater projects authorized under the Water Resources Development Act/Section 592
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DeSoto County Regional Utility Authority -- $8.0 million to support the DeSoto County regional wastewater system
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Mississippi River Flood Control – More than $82.7 million directed to harbor and river projects in Mississippi
Department of Energy
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Sustainable Energy Research Center, Mississippi State University -- $10.0 million to support engineering and scientific research related to creating renewable transportation fuel industries
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Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Richton -- $30.0 million for engineering and site characterization
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Gulf of Mexico Hydrates Research Consortium, University of Mississippi -- $1.2 million to continue development and deployment of an integrated multi-sensor station for continuous monitoring of hydrates and the gas hydrate stability zone in the Gulf of Mexico
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Nanostructured Materials for Improved Photovoltaics, University of Southern Mississippi -- $1.0 million to develop photovoltaic devices for commercial renewable energy use
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High-Speed Wind Turbine Noise Model With Suppression, University of Mississippi -- $1.0 million to investigate blade modifications to control wind turbine noise
Independent Agencies
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