[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 108 (Thursday, August 1, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S7940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FITZGERALD:
  S. 2872. A bill to reinstate and extend the deadline for commencement 
of construction of a hydroelectric project in the State of Illinois; to 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. President, I introduce a bill to reinstate a 
license surrendered to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that 
authorized the construction of a hydroelectric power plant in Carlyle, 
Illinois. In order to facilitate the construction of the hydroelectric 
power plant, the bill also contains a provision that extends the 
deadline for beginning construction of the plant.
  Carlyle, IL, is a small community of 3,406 people in Southwestern 
Illinois, fifty miles east of St. Louis. Carlyle is situated on the 
Kaskaskia River at the southern tip of Carlyle Lake, which was formed 
in 1967 when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed construction of 
a dam on the river. Carlyle Lake is 15 miles long and 3\1/2\ miles 
wide--the largest man-made lake in Illinois.
  When the Army Corps of Engineers constructed the dam, it failed to 
build a hydroelectric power plant to capitalize on the energy available 
from water flowing through the dam. A hydroelectric power facility in 
Carlyle would produce 4,000 kilowatts of power and provide a renewable 
energy source for surrounding communities. Furthermore, the 
environmental impact of adding a hydroelectric facility would be 
minimal, and such a facility, located at a site near the existing dam, 
would not produce harmful emissions.
  In 1997, Southwestern Electric Cooperative obtained a license from 
the FERC to begin work on a hydroelectric project in Carlyle. In 2000, 
Southwestern Electric Cooperative surrendered their license because 
they were unable to begin the project in the required time period. The 
City of Carlyle is interested in constructing the hydroelectric power 
plant and is seeking to obtain Southwestern Electric Cooperative's 
license.
  The bill I am introducing today is required for the construction of 
the facility. Legislation is necessary to authorize FERC to reinstate 
Southwestern Electric Cooperative's surrendered license. Because there 
is not enough time remaining on the license to conduct studies, produce 
a design for the facility, and begin construction of the project, the 
bill includes a provision that allows FERC to extend the applicable 
deadline.
  This legislation is an easy and environmentally safe approach to 
meeting the energy needs of Southwestern Illinois. Please join me in 
supporting this measure to provide a clean alternative energy source 
for this part of the Midwest.
  I ask unanimous consent that the bill be printed in the Record 
following the conclusion of my remarks.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2872

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

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF TIME FOR FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY 
                   COMMISSION PROJECT.

       Notwithstanding the time period specified in section 13 of 
     the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 806) that would otherwise 
     apply to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission project 
     numbered 11214, the Commission may, at the request of the 
     licensee for the project, and after reasonable notice, in 
     accordance with the good faith, due diligence, and public 
     interest requirements of that section and the Commission's 
     procedures under that section--
       (1) reinstate the license for the construction of the 
     project as of the effective date of the surrender of the 
     license; and
       (2) extend the time period during which the licensee is 
     required to commence the construction of the project for 3 
     consecutive 2-year periods beyond the date that is 4 years 
     after the date of issuance of the license.
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