House File 2336 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY KAUFMANN and REICHERT
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act directing the office of energy independence to conduct a
2 feasibility study regarding the establishment of low=head
3 hydropower energy production facilities, and providing an
4 effective date.
5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
6 TLSB 5536HH 82
7 rn/nh/8
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. LOW=HEAD HYDROPOWER == FEASIBILITY STUDY.
1 2 1. a. The office of energy independence shall conduct a
1 3 study assessing the feasibility of establishing one or more
1 4 low=head hydropower energy production facilities at one or
1 5 more of the following locations:
1 6 (1) Sites bordering the Mississippi river, including but
1 7 not limited to a federal lock and dam.
1 8 (2) Sites located on a river, stream, or reservoir within
1 9 this state, including but not limited to a lock and dam
1 10 erected in connection with the river, stream, or reservoir.
1 11 b. Prior to identifying potential facility locations, the
1 12 office shall, in coordination with the United States army
1 13 corps of engineers, the department of natural resources, or
1 14 any other federal or state agency or entity the office
1 15 determines appropriate, measure current and flow levels at
1 16 federal lock and dam locations bordering the Mississippi
1 17 river, and at rivers, streams, and reservoirs within this
1 18 state, to assess potential energy generation capacity.
1 19 2. For purposes of this study, a "low=head hydropower
1 20 energy production facility" means a facility designed and
1 21 constructed for energy extraction from flowing water where the
1 22 vertical distance through which the water falls is relatively
1 23 short. The office shall by rule establish distance
1 24 specifications for characterization of a proposed location as
1 25 low=head.
1 26 3. The office shall submit a report of its assessment,
1 27 including recommendations regarding potential energy
1 28 generation capacity derived from low=head hydropower
1 29 facilities, and a proposed number of such facilities and
1 30 potential locations, to the governor and the general assembly
1 31 by January 1, 2009. The report shall also contain
1 32 recommendations for establishing a pilot project involving
1 33 construction of a low=head hydropower energy production
1 34 facility, including a proposed location and timeline for
1 35 development of the facility.
2 1 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of
2 2 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
2 3 EXPLANATION
2 4 This bill directs the office of energy independence to
2 5 conduct a study assessing the feasibility of establishing one
2 6 or more low=head hydropower energy production facilities at
2 7 specified locations in this state. The office is also
2 8 directed to measure current and flow levels at federal lock
2 9 and dam locations bordering the Mississippi river, and at
2 10 rivers, streams, and reservoirs within this state, to assess
2 11 potential energy generation capacity, in coordination with the
2 12 United States army corps of engineers, the department of
2 13 natural resources, or other federal or state agencies prior to
2 14 identifying proposed locations for such facilities. The bill
2 15 provides that the office shall establish by rule distance
2 16 specifications for characterization of a proposed location as
2 17 low=head. The office is directed to submit a report,
2 18 including recommendations regarding potential energy
2 19 generation capacity derived from low=head hydropower
2 20 facilities, a proposed number of such facilities, potential
2 21 facility locations, and a pilot project proposal, to the
2 22 governor and the general assembly by January 1, 2009.
2 23 The bill takes effect upon enactment.
2 24 LSB 5536HH 82
2 25 rn/nh/8.1