WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today voted in support of passage of the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill. Rehberg is a member of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee.
"So much of Montana’s economy and quality of life depends upon energy production and clean drinking water," said Rehberg. "Serving on the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee gives Montana a pretty big seat at the table when it comes to funding these priorities."
The projects are listed below:
Rocky Boy/North Central Montana Water Project - $9 Million
The Rocky Boy’s/North Central Water Project is a municipal, rural and industrial water system proposed for an eight county area in north central Montana. It will serve the Rocky Boy’s Reservation and thirteen surrounding communities through a partnership between Montana’s Chippewa Cree Tribe and its non-Tribal Partners in the North Central Montana Regional Water Authority. Poor quality drinking water, major water supply constraints and the high costs for compliance with federal Safe Drinking Water Act regulations established a critical need for funding this project. In fact, some of the affected communities are already under federal mandate to improve their drinking water systems and others are on boil orders. The North Central Water Project will deliver water to roughly 30,000 Montanans. The project will also provide infrastructure to pipe water to the Rocky Boy’s Reservation.
"The Authority can’t thank Congressman Rehberg enough for his hard work on the Appropriations Committee and the fact that he again secured federal dollars for the construction of the Rocky Boy’s/North Central Montana Regional Water System," said Dan Keil, Chairman, North Central Montana Regional Water Authority. "Congressman Rehberg knows that many of the 23 communities that make up the North Central Montana Regional Water Authority need immediate help for their water systems and we are appreciative of his efforts to get this System built. Someday this water project will deliver clean and safe drinking water to over 30,000 Montanans who desperately need it."
Fort Peck/Dry Prairie Water Project - $8 Million
The funds will be used by the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes to complete their regional water treatment plant and extend the main transmission pipelines to Poplar and Wolf Point. Treated water that reaches Poplar will serve the third largest community in the project and replace existing water supplies threatened by Brine Plume contamination. The Project, as authorized by Congress in 2000, calls for the water to be diverted from the Missouri River at a single location south of Poplar, MT, to an intake system or an infiltration gallery. After treatment, it will serve both tribal and off-reservation communities that desperately need a clean water supply.
"Fort Peck/Dry Prairie is grateful for the FY 2010 funding mark supplied by Rep. Rehberg through his continued efforts as a member of the House Appropriations Committee on Energy and Water," said Clint Jacobs, General Manager for Dry Prairie. "The bulk of these funds will be applied toward completion of the main distribution pipelines from the project’s water treatment plant to the communities of Wolf Point and Poplar."
Milk River/St. Mary Diversion Rehabilitation - $3.5 Million
The St. Mary Rehabilitation Project serves the entire Milk River Basin with both irrigation and clean drinking water. Over 100 years ago, the United States government recognized the benefit of agriculture production in the region between western Glacier County and the lower Milk River after which the Bureau of Reclamation made significant investments in infrastructure along the St. Mary and Milk River Basins. However, 100 years have taken a toll on these facilities and the diversion is in serious need of modernization and rehabilitation.
"To say we’re elated is an understatement for what Congressman Rehberg has done for our efforts to keep the Saint Mary Diversion System operational," said Larry Mires, Executive Director for the Saint Mary Rehabilitation Working Group. "It’s been a long journey and this appropriation means we can continue to assure irrigation for 140,000 acres of land and clean water for 18,000 people in the 13 communities of the Milk River Basin. This project is the lifeline of the hi-line."
Center for Zero Emissions Research & Technology - $3 Million
In a coal producing state like Montana, the ability to monitor and validate deep geological carbon dioxide sequestration from coal is extremely important. New technologies hold great promise to significantly reduce emissions from fossil fuels, but the engineering, economic, and environmental viability of these zero emission fossil energy technologies must be confirmed.
"The continued funding resulting from Congressman Rehberg’s support for the Zero Emissions Research and Technology Center (ZERT) will allow us to continue development of key tools that benefit the carbon sequestration program," said Lee Spangler, Director of the Energy Research Institute and ZERT at Montana State University. "This includes development and testing of new detection technologies, improved simulation models, and biologically based methods of plugging leaky wells. It also helps Montana State continue a leadership role in carbon sequestration."
Sythesis of Renewable Biofuels from Biomass - $500,000
With these funds, the Montana Physical Sciences Foundation will work for the Department of Energy to develop technology to convert sources of rural biomass like wheat straw, wood and grass into renewable biofuel. Montana currently has 3 million tons of waste wheat straw and 2.8 million tons of wood mill waste and logging residue, which could be converted into approximately 1,044 million gallons of biofuel each year. Such technology would be scaled for location within the rural communities, at the source of the feedstock, creating locally-based jobs for rural Montanans.
"Thanks to Denny, this project will help develop advanced, renewable biofuels that will provide immediate research jobs as well as lead to new technologies that will help expand the alternative energy market right here in Montana," said Lawrence C. Farrar, President of Resodyn Corporation. "This funding is an example of Denny’s vision and commitment to the importance of a diversified domestic energy portfolio in Montana. He also understands how to get the most out of Montana’s resources - both natural and human. We are looking forward to undertaking the project and greatly appreciate the support of our Montana delegation."
Geothermal Development in Hot Springs Valley - $491,000
Hydrologists believe that a water source at the Lake County hot springs may be hot enough deep in the earth for geothermal power production. Geothermal energy is power extracted from heat stored in the earth. It’s an important, renewable source of energy that can be produced domestically. While cost-effective and environmentally friendly, it can only be tapped in very specific locations, which makes it important to locate hot spots.
"The Hot Springs area in Lake County, Montana is a proven source for geothermal. Shallow wells indicate that the source goes deeper," said Kenneth Sugden, General Manager for Flathead Electric Cooperative. "This project will allow Flathead Electric to continue drilling in shallow wells to verify the potential source of development. Geothermal power is a valuable source of distributed, renewable power for the area."
Yellowstone River Corridor - $519,000
The Yellowstone River Study is a grassroots project defining cumulative effects to the river and establishing the best management practices that local governments and private landowners can implement. The purpose of the project is to improve management of the Yellowstone River including both the waters and adjacent lands. The project assists with the removal of invasive plants such as the Russian olive and is a catalyst for fish passage projects and helps to improve irrigation infrastructures for endangered species like the pallid sturgeon. Additionally the Yellowstone River Corridor project considers how far the Yellowstone River channel is likely to migrate in the next 50 years so future species protection and irrigation infrastructure that involves higher costs will provide better planning. It is proving to be a model for economic sustainability while providing sensible environmental protection, eliminating costly spending on litigation and controversy.
"The Yellowstone River Conservation District Council would like to thank Congressman Denny Rehberg for his support of the Yellowstone River Corridor Comprehensive Study," said Nicole McClain, Coordinator of the Yellowstone River Conservation District Council. "The $200,000 will help complete the decade long study of the entire Yellowstone River system, which is aimed at developing the first citizen-based voluntary management plan on a river system of such national importance. We hope this study will serve as a model that demonstrates how to maintain and improve the health of river systems while simultaneously enhancing productivity."
Rural Montana Water Projects - $4,844,000
