CONGRESS GIVES FINAL APPROVAL TO INVESTMENTS IN ENERGY RESEARCH, WATER PROJECTS IN NORTH DAKOTA
Bill includes funding for Fargo flood study, other critical water projects in the state
Thursday, October 15, 2009
CONTACT: Justin Kitsch
or Brenden Timpe
PHONE: 202-224-2551
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) --- U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Congressman Earl Pomeroy announced today that Congress has given final approval to an appropriations bill that will invest in flood control studies for Fargo and communities in the Sheyenne and James river valleys, support energy research projects in North Dakota, and boost efforts to strengthen and expand water systems that serve our rural communities.
Senator Dorgan, as Chairman of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, wrote the Senate version of the bill and played a key role in merging it with the House version. The Energy and Water Appropriations bill now goes to the President’s desk for signature.
“North Dakota has the capacity to lead our nation toward energy independence, and we have significant water needs in all parts of the state. This bill will give a boost to our efforts in both of those areas,” the delegation said in a joint statement.
A full list of North Dakota projects in the bill is below.
Fargo Moorhead Metro Flood Control Study
$1,900,000
This project will be used to continue a study to determine potential flood control alternatives to protect the cities of Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota, from future flooding of the Red River of the North.
Red River Valley Digital Elevation Data Project
$750,000
This project will refine hydrology and hydraulic models of the basin using recently captured high-resolution digital elevation images that will be used to help plan for and respond to future flooding of the Red River. The elevation data will be made available on the Internet for policymakers, land owners and others.
Fargo-Moorhead Upstream Flood Control Study
$200,000
The U.S. Corps of Engineers will continue a multiple-purpose study to evaluate alternatives to reduce flood stages and restore aquatic ecosystems in the Red River Basin upstream of Fargo and Moorhead.
Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Flood Control
$2,535,000
This investment will be used for final modifications of a permanent flood control project to protect the cities of Grand Forks, N.D., and East Grand Forks, Minn., which are located at the confluence of the Red River of the North and Red Lake River.
Wahpeton and Breckenridge Flood Control
$5,000,000
This project will continue construction of a flood control project to help protect the cities of Wahpeton, N.D. and Breckenridge, Minn. These funds will be used to continue work on the Minnesota side. The Wahpeton and Breckenridge projects are being built concurrently to help protect the two cities.
Missouri River Basin Study
$4,483,000
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will continue a five-year study to analyze and determine whether changes are needed to the various authorized activities in the Missouri River Basin.
Sheyenne River Basin Study
$150,000
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will study flood control alternatives to help protect Valley City and other communities in the Sheyenne River Basin from future flooding. The region suffered this spring from severe flooding of the Sheyenne River.
James River Basin Study
$150,000
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will study flood control alternatives to help protect Jamestown and other communities in the James River Basin from future flooding. The region suffered this spring from severe flooding of the James River.
UND EERC Center for Biomass Utilization
$7 million
This investment will be used by EERC’s Center for Biomass Utilization for a research facility addition and to continue development of new conversion and processing technologies that can produce electricity, heat, transportation fuels and value-added byproducts from clean renewable biomass. Biofuels made from abundant, renewable biomass feedstocks can help improve our national energy security, increase economic growth, and improve our environment.
UND EERC Fossil Fuel Research and Development
$6.5 million
This investment will be used by UND’s Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) to continue its collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy on national energy research, including the development and commercialization of technologies to reduce fossil energy emissions, sequester carbon, and integrate the production and use of hydrogen as a practical fuel.
UND EERC National Center for Hydrogen Technology
$3 million
UND’s Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) will continue research and development of hydrogen, including its generation, separation, purification, transportation, dispensing and utilization.
UND Antibodies & Vaccine Research
$3 million
This investment will be used for a collaborative project between the University of North Dakota, Mayo Clinic and Avianax to research and develop therapeutic antibodies and vaccines to treat pandemic cases, including H1N1, Avian Influenza, and West Nile Virus, that offer faster development time, broader protection and higher survival rates.
Red River Valley Research Corridor Coordinating Center
$300,000
This project will support the Red River Valley Research Corridor Coordinating Center to help promote and advance the research, development and commercialization activities occurring in the state’s Red River Valley Research Corridor. North Dakota is one of the fastest-growing regions for high-tech research in the nation.
NDSU Center for Nanoscale Energy-Related Materials
$5 million
This investment will be used by North Dakota State University to develop new nanoscale energy materials to help improve energy efficiency and reduce the nation’s reliance on foreign sources of energy. Through the project, researchers are developing catalysts to convert plant-derived oils to products currently derived from petroleum, and new solar cells that can increase the life of solar panels and boost the amount of electricity generated from the sun.
NDSU Center for High Performance Computing
$5 million
This investment will be used to increase computing power and staff at North Dakota State University’s Center for High Performance Computing to accelerate the material discovery and technology development cycle of energy technologies. Researchers rely on computing power and simulations and modeling applications to help analyze theories and validate experiments that are dangerous, expensive or impossible to conduct.
North Dakota Energy Workforce Development
$1,900,000
This investment will be used to complete a collaborative project between Dickinson State University, Williston State College, Minot State University and Bismarck State College to address the growing need for skilled energy workers, particularly due to the rapid energy production expansion in the Williston Basin.
Great Plains Energy Corridor Office
$325,000
The Great Plains Energy Corridor Coordinating Office in Bismarck promotes and helps advance the region’s energy industry through education, outreach, research and development. The Energy Corridor will work with energy researchers and industry to develop new and innovative ways to increase production, invest in the region’s energy infrastructure, enhance electricity reliability, and develop new energy sources specific to the Northern Great Plains.
Mosquito Control
$200,000
This will be used to help control mosquitoes in the city of Williston and the Trenton Indian Service Area. Corps of Engineers work in the area has led to a mosquito problem that presents a potential threat to public health.
Garrison Diversion Unit
$70 million
This investment will support Garrison Diversion and fund several municipal, rural and industrial (MR&I) water projects authorized by Congress to compensate North Dakota for the loss of land due to the dam’s construction as well as to meet the state’s contemporary water needs. The MR&I projects funded through this action will benefit communities and tribes across North Dakota, including:
• Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS)
$8 million
This will be used to continue the Northwest Area Water Supply project, which will provide water from Lake Sakakawea to the city of Minot and a number of rural northwestern North Dakota communities. The funding will start construction of the transmission pipeline to serve Minot Air Force Base, Upper Souris Water District, All Seasons Water Users District and communities north of Minot.
• Southwest Pipeline
$9 million
This will be used for the Southwest Water Authority (SWA) Pipeline expansion into Oliver, Mercer and northern Dunn counties. Specifically, the funds will complete the main transmission lines to serve Hazen, Stanton and Zap and start rural distribution to over 270 rural and industrial users.
• South Central Regional Water District
$9 million
This will be used by the South Central Regional Water District to continue expansion into Emmons, Kidder and Logan counties. The funds will be used to begin construction on the system’s rural distribution and service to Hague, Braddock, and State Line Water Cooperative.
• Standing Rock Indian Irrigation
$3 million
This will be used to help complete the remaining 1,550 acres of the 2,380-acre Standing Rock Indian Irrigation project as authorized under the Garrison Diversion Unit Reformulation Act. The irrigation systems are used to grow value-added and biomass crops that bring new revenue and add new jobs to the reservation.
Traill Rural Water District
$7.9 million
This will be used by the Traill Rural Water District to help provide a clean and reliable water source for the communities of Mayville and Hillsboro, as well as rural users in the region. The funding will be used for well field development and construction of a water treatment plant in Hillsboro.
North Central Rural Water Consortium
$3 million
This will be used to bring drinking water to rural users in Wells, Kidder, Pierce and McHenry counties. The project would include booster station upgrades and installation of water mains, and would connect approximately 140 rural users in the project area.
Barnes Rural Water District
$950,000
This will be used by the Barnes Rural Water District to upgrade the existing regional water treatment plant, add storage to expand capacity and improve quality, and add equipment to protect against failure. The district serves 1,400 users in the Valley City region.
Williams Rural Water District
$750,000
This will be used by Williams Rural Water District to construct a new storage reservoir and pipeline to expand service around rural Williston to serve more than 200 new users.
Langdon Rural Water District
$600,000
This will be used by the Langdon Rural Water District to add new booster stations near Nekoma and pipeline near Cando to address water shortage issues and expand service in the region. The Langdon Rural Water District is located in north-central North Dakota and supplies water to 930 rural users and several small communities, including Edmore, Nekoma, Fairdale, Adams, Munich and Hampden.
North Prairie Rural Water District
$425,000
This will be used to improve service to the community of Surrey, located in Ward County. This would include booster station upgrades and installation of a larger water main to improve available flow to the growing community and would be the supply for the future Deering Project.
Greater Ramsey Water District
$375,000
This will be used by the Greater Ramsey Water District to construct 6.5 miles of pipeline to expand service to new users in northeastern Benson County.
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