[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 179 (Monday, November 13, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H12146-H12147]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   EXTENDING FEDERAL POWER ACT DEADLINE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF AN OHIO 
                         HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

  Mr. SCHAEFER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1011) to extend the deadline under the Federal Power Act 
applicable to the construction of a hydroelectric project in the State 
of Ohio.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1011

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF DEADLINE.

       Notwithstanding the time limitations of section 13 of the 
     Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806) the Federal Energy 
     Regulatory Commission, upon the request of the licensee for 
     FERC Project No. 9423 (and after reasonable notice), is 
     authorized, in accordance with the good faith, due diligence, 
     and public interest requirements of such section 13 and the 
     Commission's procedures under such section, to extend the 
     time required for commencement of construction for the 
     project for up to a maximum of 3 consecutive 2-year periods. 
     This section shall take effect for the project upon the 
     expiration of the extension (issued by the Commission under 
     section 13) of the period required for commencement of 
     construction of such project.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Colorado [Mr. Schaefer] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pallone] will be recognized for 20 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado [Mr. Schaefer].
  Mr. SCHAEFER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. SCHAEFER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)

[[Page H 12147]]

  Mr. SCHAEFER. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1011 would extend the deadline for 
construction of a 1,500-megawatt pumped-storage project in Ohio for up 
to 6 years, which would extend the deadline to up to 10 years after the 
date the license was issued. The licensee is Summit Energy Storage, 
Inc., which has been unable to commence construction because they have 
not obtained a power sales contract necessary to finance construction. 
To date, the licensee has invested more than $20 million in project 
development. The bill was introduced by our colleague, Representative 
Sawyer of Ohio. The deadline for commencement of construction ran out 
on April 11, 1995, and the license is subject to termination by the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, so it is appropriate that we act 
on this bill today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, again, this bill, which relates to hydroelectric 
projects in Ohio, was reported out of the subcommittee and the full 
committee without a dissenting vote. I urge support for the 
legislation.
  Mr. SAWYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1011, a bill 
I introduced this year to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
the authority to grant an extension of as much as 6 extra years for the 
construction of the Summit Pumped Storage Project in Norton, OH. I 
appreciate the assistance of Chairman Schaefer and Ranking Member 
Pallone in bringing this legislation to the floor.
  If constructed, the Summit facility would be capable of producing as 
much as 1,500 megawatts of electricity during hours of peak energy 
demand. The project itself would burn no fossil fuels, relying instead 
on hydroelectric generation to provide peak-load power. A 2.8 billion-
gallon reservoir would partially empty into a network of abandoned 
limestone mines, passing through huge turbines on the way. The water 
would then be pumped back into the reservoir during the hours when 
electricity is cheapest.
  Without H.R. 1011, this unique hydroelectric project will never be 
built. FERC, which granted the original construction license and a 
subsequent 2-year extension, is unable under existing law to grant any 
further extensions. Passage of this legislation will allow FERC to 
consider up to three 2-year license extensions. This legislation does 
not relieve the Summit project from the statutory and regulatory 
requirements it has previously had to meet. The licensing standards 
remain the same, and FERC will have the final word on the Summit 
project's eligibility to qualify.
  Mr. Speaker, the Summit project enjoys strong support in northeastern 
Ohio, including the city of Norton, the mayor, and residents and 
businesses throughout the area. It is a project that will create 
hundreds of jobs for skilled workers throughout the region and will 
enhance ongoing economic development initiatives that are enormously 
important to Norton and the surrounding area.
  Again, I'd like to express my thanks to the subcommittee for its 
work. I urge passage of H.R. 1011.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCHAEFER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Colorado [Mr. Schaefer] that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1011.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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