House File 2644 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE (SUCCESSOR TO HF 2336) 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, in 2 conjunction with the Iowa energy center, to conduct a 3 feasibility study regarding the establishment of low=head 4 hydropower energy production facilities, and providing an 5 effective date. 6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 7 TLSB 5536HV 82 8 rn/nh/8 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. LOW=HEAD HYDROPOWER == FEASIBILITY STUDY. 1 2 1. a. The office of energy independence, in conjunction 1 3 with the Iowa energy center, shall conduct a study assessing 1 4 the feasibility of establishing one or more low=head 1 5 hydropower energy production facilities at one or more of the 1 6 following locations: 1 7 (1) Sites bordering the Mississippi river, including but 1 8 not limited to a federal lock and dam. 1 9 (2) Sites located on a river, stream, or reservoir within 1 10 this state, including but not limited to a lock and dam 1 11 erected in connection with the river, stream, or reservoir. 1 12 b. Prior to identifying potential facility locations, the 1 13 office or the Iowa energy center shall, in coordination with 1 14 the United States army corps of engineers, the department of 1 15 natural resources, or any other federal or state agency or 1 16 entity the office or the Iowa energy center determines 1 17 appropriate, measure current and flow levels at federal lock 1 18 and dam locations bordering the Mississippi river, and at 1 19 rivers, streams, and reservoirs within this state, to assess 1 20 potential energy generation capacity. 1 21 2. For purposes of this study, a "low=head hydropower 1 22 energy production facility" means a facility designed and 1 23 constructed for energy extraction from flowing water where the 1 24 vertical distance through which the water falls is relatively 1 25 short. The office shall by rule establish distance 1 26 specifications for characterization of a proposed location as 1 27 low=head. 1 28 3. The office shall submit a report of its assessment, 1 29 including recommendations regarding potential energy 1 30 generation capacity derived from low=head hydropower 1 31 facilities, and a proposed number of such facilities and 1 32 potential locations, to the governor and the general assembly 1 33 by January 1, 2009. The report shall also contain 1 34 recommendations for establishing a pilot project involving 1 35 construction of a low=head hydropower energy production 2 1 facility, including a proposed location and timeline for 2 2 development of the facility. 2 3 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of 2 4 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment. 2 5 EXPLANATION 2 6 This bill directs the office of energy independence, in 2 7 conjunction with the Iowa energy center, to conduct a study 2 8 assessing the feasibility of establishing one or more low=head 2 9 hydropower energy production facilities at specified locations 2 10 in this state. The office or the center is also directed to 2 11 measure current and flow levels at federal lock and dam 2 12 locations bordering the Mississippi river, and at rivers, 2 13 streams, and reservoirs within this state, to assess potential 2 14 energy generation capacity, in coordination with the United 2 15 States army corps of engineers, the department of natural 2 16 resources, or other federal or state agencies prior to 2 17 identifying proposed locations for such facilities. The bill 2 18 provides that the office shall establish by rule distance 2 19 specifications for characterization of a proposed location as 2 20 low=head. The office is directed to submit a report, 2 21 including recommendations regarding potential energy 2 22 generation capacity derived from low=head hydropower 2 23 facilities, a proposed number of such facilities, potential 2 24 facility locations, and a pilot project proposal, to the 2 25 governor and the general assembly by January 1, 2009. 2 26 The bill takes effect upon enactment. 2 27 LSB 5536HV 82 2 28 rn/nh/8