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