Energy and Water Appropriations Act includes funding for river restoration, pennycress development and Illinois Community Colleges
Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) voted for the Conference Report on H.R. 3183, the Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Development Act, when it passed the House by a vote of 308 to 114. This legislation includes $24.15 million for Illinois, including funding for pennycress development, Illinois and Mississippi River projects, and the Illinois Community College Sustainability Network.
“Pennycress-based biodiesel is a new and exciting opportunity for Midwest farmers and an excellent example of government and industry working together to address our energy challenges,” said Schock. “This appropriation is a move towards ensuring that Illinois drivers can fuel their vehicles with diesel produced in their own backyard.”
Additionally, Congressman Schock helped to secure funding for U.S. Army Corps of Engineer Programs on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Specifically, this funding was aimed at the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program, funding to design the modernization of the locks on these rivers (officially called the Upper Mississippi River—Illinois Waterway System) and the Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan.
In April, Schock spearheaded a letter signed by 10 of his colleagues to Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Peter Visclosky and Ranking Member Rodney Frelinghuysen to request $20 million for environmental restoration and $45 million for lock modernization.
“By funding for these important ecosystem, lock modernization and flood control projects Congress will provide for simultaneous improves in the ecological and economic health of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers while also protecting riverside communities from devastating flooding,” said Schock.
FY 10 Energy and Water Appropriations include:
· UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER RESTORATION: $16,470,000 – Funding will be used for the construction, design and evaluation of environmental restoration projects, along the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will also use the funding to conduct long-term resource monitoring and a Public Involvement program.
· ILLINOIS RIVER BASIN RESTORATION: $336,000 – Funding will be used to continue the design and planning of critical ecosystem restoration projects along the Illinois River.
· EMIQUON FLOODPLAIN RESTORATION: The funding would be used to restore the Illinois River floodplain to its natural state within the Thompson Drainage and Levee District.
· SPUNKY BOTTOMS RESTORATION: This funding will provide for a fish passage structure through a levee, thereby allow fish to move between bottomland lakes and the Illinois River.
· PEORIA RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT: $45,000 – Goal of the project is to enhance aquatic habitat in Peoria Lake by dredging approx. 200 acres and constructing three islands.
· DEMONSTRATION PLANT FOR BIODIESEL FROM LOW-IMPACT CROPS: $500,000 – Fund construction of a biodiesel plant using pennycress as a feedstock, this crop contains twice the oil content as soybeans, enabling this project to make more oil from fewer acres. Additionally, pennycress is a winter crop; allowing producers to insert pennycress into their crop rotation.
· UPPER MISS RIVER COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: $269,000 – Funding will be used to complete plans for a comprehensive flood control system along the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.
· UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER—ILLINOIS WW SYSTEM: $6,276,000 – The funding will be used to continue Pre-Construction Engineering and Design for new locks along the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.
· ILLINOIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE SUSTAINABILITY NETWORK $250,000 – The Illinois Community College Sustainability Network (ICCSN) strengthens Illinois community colleges’ capacity to promote and provide energy education and sustainable practices across Illinois.
