Sen. Dorgan Investments In North Dakota Energy And Water Projects Clear Key Hurdle

October 1, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The annual appropriations bill written by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) containing key investments in North Dakota energy and water projects became one step closer to becoming law today. The bill includes funding that will give a boost to cutting-edge energy research in North Dakota, as well as much-needed flood control and water projects across the state.

Dorgan chairs the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations subcommittee in charge of funding the nation’s energy and water projects. Today the Senate and House conference committee approved the combined bill, which will next go to the House and Senate floors before being signed into law by the President.

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Flood Control

Included in the bill is $1.9 million to continue a study to determine potential flood control alternatives to protect Fargo/Moorhead from future flooding. Funding was also included to do a comprehensive water management study of the Missouri River Basin, and to study flood control options for the Sheyenne River Basin, the James River Basin, and for communities upstream of Fargo/Moorhead. Dorgan also secured $2,535,000 for final modifications to the permanent flood control project in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, Minn., and $5 million to continue work on the Minnesota side of the Wahpeton and Breckenridge, Minn., flood control project.

Energy Research

The bill will also benefit the Red River Valley Research Corridor by investing in energy research projects in the state. Dorgan included nearly $17 million in the bill for energy research at UND’s Energy and Environmental Research Center. This funding will be used for research into clean coal technology, renewable energy and hydrogen technology as well as to expand a UND research facility dedicated to renewable energy research. NDSU will receive $5 million to develop and test new nanomaterials that will improve energy efficiency, and $5 million for NDSU’s Center for High Performance Computing.

Water Projects

Dorgan continued his work to bring clean, reliable drinking water to rural North Dakota by securing funding for the Garrison Diversion, including the Northwest Area Water Supply, the Southwest Pipeline, the South Central Regional Water District and irrigation for the Standing Rock Reservation. In addition, Dorgan secured funding for infrastructure improvements for rural water districts across the state to provide a clean and reliable water service to thousands of North Dakota residents.

“This bill contains funding for important North Dakota projects that will advance flood control efforts, make investments in energy research at our world-class universities, and work to bring clean, reliable drinking water to many areas in rural North Dakota,” said Dorgan. “These projects improve the quality of life in our local communities, spurring economic development and creating jobs throughout the state. I am glad to be able to work with local leaders to move these initiatives forward.”

Source: Senator Byron Dorgan