Funding is Part of the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C.- U.S. Senators Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) today announced final approval of federal funding for several Pennsylvania energy and water projects as contained in the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill.
“I am pleased that my colleagues have recognized the importance of these projects throughout Pennsylvania,” Senator Specter said. “This federal funding will maintain and build the infrastructures that are vital to the local economies and safety of our communities.”
“I am grateful Congress approved funding for these important projects throughout the Commonwealth,” said Senator Casey. “This money will go a long way to help build and maintain infrastructures, create energy development and help with flood control.”
Funding has been approved for the following Pennsylvania projects:
*House Members that also supported a project are indicated in parentheses
$25.8 million for the Emsworth Locks and Dam on the Ohio River in Allegheny County for rehabilitation of the Emsworth Locks and Dam. (Altmire, Doyle, Murtha)
$15.9 million for the Locks and Dams 2, 3, and 4 on the Lower Monongahela River in Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties for rehabilitation of locks that are nearly a century-old and structurally unstable. (Doyle, Tim Murphy, Murtha)
$17.43 million for the Philadelphia to the Sea maintenance dredging project on the Delaware River in Philadelphia and Delaware Counties. The dredging project will maintain commercial and military vessels' access to Delaware River ports.
$23.843 million in Allegheny County for maintenance funds for the Dam at Elizabeth (#3) and the Gates at Charleroi (#4) on the Monongahela River.
$3.828 million for the Delaware River Main Channel Deepening Project in Philadelphia County to deepen the existing 40 foot channel to 45 feet in order to enhance the efficient movement of vessels through the ports along the Delaware River.
$4.576 million for the Lackawanna River Flood Control Project in Lackawanna County to support construction of a flood protection project for the City of Scranton. (Kanjorski)
$4.015 million for the Upper Ohio River Navigation Study at Emsworth, Dashields and Montgomery Locks and Dams in Allegheny, Beaver and Washington Counties to study the condition of the Upper Ohio River Locks and Dams and recommend future alternatives to repair or replace them. (Altmire, Tim Murphy)
$3.074 million for maintenance at Raystown Lake in Huntingdon County, which serves central Pennsylvania through flood protection, recreation and hydroelectric power.
$1.187 million for the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising project in Luzerne County for flood control projects on the Susquehanna River, including modifications to the dam at Toby Creek, mitigating adverse impacts of the project in downstream communities and supporting project?related riverfront development activities in Wilkes?Barre. (Kanjorski)
$2.326 million for the Schuylkill River maintenance dredging project in Philadelphia County to maintain navigational channel depths on the Schuylkill River.
$1.903 million for Siemens Power Generation in Pittsburgh, in collaboration with Pennsylvania State University, to develop alternative fuels processing capabilities for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell power systems. By enabling Solid Oxide Fuel Cell power systems to operate on alternative and renewable fuels, this program helps meet future electricity demand with domestic renewable resources and produces electricity with near zero emissions.
$933,000 for sand replenishment at Presque Isle Peninsula in Erie County for beach maintenance, periodic repair and replenishment of beach sand. (English)
$1,189,375 for PPG Industries in Pittsburgh for an Integrated Solar Energy Windows initiative. This program will support the development of new technologies to improve the efficiency and lower the cost of photovoltaic transparent glass units leading to wide?spread commercial and residential use. This will help reduce the need for additional power plants and increase building efficiency to meet energy needs while improving the environment. (Altmire, Doyle)
$951,500 for Ben Franklin Technology Partners in Harrisburg for a Clean Technology Commercialization initiative which will support the development and commercialization of clean and alternative energy technologies. The initiative will evaluate promising technologies developed through Pennsylvania's university?based research and development programs and/or the private sector and accelerate their commercialization. (Dent)
$587,000 for Francis E. Walter Dam in Carbon County for operations and maintenance.
$696,000 for the Philadelphia to Trenton maintenance dredging project on the Delaware River in Philadelphia and Bucks Counties for maintenance of a channel that provides commercial and military vessels' access to Delaware River ports. (Patrick Murphy)
$430,000 for the Bloomsburg Local Flood Protection Project in Columbia County to execute a flood control project in the town of Bloomsburg, which is subject to severe flooding from both the Susquehanna River and Fishing Creek. (Kanjorski)
$475,750 for Penn State University in Centre County to study carbon capture and sequestration as part of its C02 Capture/Sequestration Research project. This technology may be the key to the future use of coal, both in the U.S. and in developed and developing nations, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions to combat global climate change.
$300,000 for Southeast PA flood plain management services in Chester, Delaware, Philadelphia, Montgomery and Bucks Counties. (Dent)
$119,000 for a study on utilizing dredged materials from the Delaware River in Philadelphia County, including the transfer, transport, drying and re?handling of dredged material as it relates to watershed management, ecosystem restoration, navigation, water quality, abandoned mine reclamation and cover material for landfills.
$96,000 for a Western Pennsylvania Flood Study. After major rainfall events in 2004 coupled with remnants of Hurricanes Francis and Ivan caused major economic damage as well as loss of life in western Pennsylvania, local officials have requested further investigation of flood damage reduction measures. (Altmire)
$2,365,000 for Mid-Atlantic River Commissions. Funding will support the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Delaware River Basin Commission and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin to enable the commissions to implement critically important water resources management projects and activities. (Brady, Dent, Gerlach, Holden, Schwartz)
$713,625 for a Juniata Hybrid Locomotive Project in Blair County. This project is a joint effort by Pennsylvania State University and Norfolk Southern Corporation to reduce emissions through the design and building of low emissions “road switcher” locomotives. These locomotives would be 40% more fuel efficient, emit up to 80% less nitrous oxide and 80% less particulate matter into the atmosphere. (Shuster)
$951,500 for Air Products in Lehigh County to research and further develop ceramic membrane systems which can be integrated into coal gasification systems. These systems produce synthesis gas to generate advanced electric power, hydrogen, or other clean fuels, while enabling the economic capture of carbon dioxide to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (Dent)
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