H.F. 516 Section 1. HYDROELECTRIC ENERGY POTENTIAL —— STUDY. The 1 utilities board of the utilities division of the department 2 of commerce shall conduct a study assessing the potential 3 for the development of new hydroelectric energy production 4 facilities. The assessments shall be conducted at sites 5 bordering the Mississippi river, including but not limited to 6 a federal lock and dam, and at sites bordering the Des Moines 7 river. In conducting the study, the board, in coordination 8 with the United States army corps of engineers, the department 9 of natural resources, and any other federal or state agency or 10 entity the board determines appropriate, shall measure current 11 and flow levels at designated locations along the rivers to 12 assess potential energy generation capacity. The board shall 13 submit a report of its assessment, including a proposed number 14 of hydroelectric energy production facilities and potential 15 locations, to the general assembly by January 1, 2016. 16 EXPLANATION 17 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 18 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 19 This bill directs the Iowa utilities board to conduct a 20 study assessing the potential for the development of new 21 hydroelectric energy production facilities at sites bordering 22 the Mississippi river, including but not limited to a federal 23 lock and dam, and at sites bordering the Des Moines river. 24 The bill states that in conducting the study, the board, in 25 coordination with the United States army corps of engineers, 26 the department of natural resources, and any other federal or 27 state agency or entity the board determines appropriate, shall 28 measure current and flow levels at designated locations along 29 the rivers to assess potential energy generation capacity. The 30 bill requires the board to submit a report of its assessment, 31 including a proposed number of hydroelectric energy production 32 facilities and potential locations, to the general assembly by 33 January 1, 2016. 34 -1- LSB 2538YH (1) 86 rn/nh 1/ 1