[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 106 (Wednesday, July 15, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1779]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 15, 2009

  Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, I submit the following:
  Project Name: Auburn University, Biomass to Liquid Fuels and Electric 
Power Research
  Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner
  Bill Number: H.R. 3183
  Account: Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Auburn University
  Address of Requesting Entity: 102 Samford Hall, Auburn, Alabama 36849
  Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $1,500,000 to help 
solve our energy and security needs by creating renewable options for 
electrical power and liquid transportation fuel. Approximately, 
$375,000 [or 25%] of the funding will be used to provide laboratory 
analytical equipment; $375,000 [or 25%] will be used for laboratory 
personnel; $750,000 [or 50%] will be used for operations and 
maintenance expenses for conducting feedstock research, operation of 
fractionation, gasification, and gas-to-liquids production studies. The 
total project cost is $13,750,000; this particular phase will cost a 
total of $4,000,000. The Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts has 
recently commissioned several unique research facilities dedicated to 
processing biomass feedstocks and converting them into liquid fuels, 
electrical power, and higher value chemicals. This proposed initiative 
will capitalize on this infrastructure investment by using systems-
based approaches to develop bioenergy solutions based primarily on 
forest residues, previously unmarketable small-diameter trees, and 
other underutilized woody biomass feedstocks. Alabama has been a leader 
in the nation in biomass fuel and this project will allow the continued 
research and development of this renewable fuel source.
  Project Name: Western Baldwin County, AL Grid Interconnection
  Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner
  Bill Number: H.R. 3183
  Account: Department of Energy, Electricity Delivery and Energy 
Reliability
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Utilities Board of the City of 
Foley, AL
  Address of Requesting Entity: 413 East Laurel Avenue, Foley, AL 36535
  Description of Request: Provide an earmark of $500,000 to this public 
utility to construct a new interconnection point to the transmission 
grid for the purpose of providing additional electric capacity and 
increased reliability to a rapidly growing section of southwest 
Alabama. $500,000 [or 100%] will be used to purchase transformers, 
arresters, breakers, regulators and other equipment. The total 
estimated cost of this project is $2,500,000 and the Utilities Board of 
the City of Foley will provide approximately 80 percent of required 
funding. Project will provide stability and recovery of the electric 
system in the event of a natural disaster and will employ at least 20--
30 contract employees.
  Project Name: Alabama River Lakes, AL
  Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner
  Bill Number: H.R. 3183
  Account: Operations & Maintenance
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: U.S. Corps of Engineers
  Address of Requesting Entity: Mobile District, Mobile, AL 36602
  Description of Request: Provide an earmark (which was also requested 
by The President in his FY 2010 annual Corps priorities) in the amount 
of $16,785,000 to the U.S. Corps of Engineers to fund annual operations 
and maintenance at Alabama River Lakes including the old Alabama-Coosa, 
Millers Ferry Lock and Dam, Robert F. Henry Lock and Dam, the Claiborne 
Lock and Dam, and 315 miles of navigational channels. $16,785,000 [or 
100%] of funding will be used to provide dredging of the Alabama River 
navigation channel to its authorized depths of nine feet deep and 200 
feet wide. These dimensions will allow the waterways to accommodate 
fully-loaded barges of 1500 tons per barge or greater. A lack of 
dredging reduces the efficiency of a tow as silt reduces channel depths 
reducing the loading capacity of barges which in turn increases the 
costs of transportation. Funding will be used to ensure the economic 
viability of the waterways will accommodate economic development 
projects along the waterways in Alabama.
  Project Name: Mobile Harbor, AL
  Requesting Member: Congressman Jo Bonner
  Bill Number: H.R. 3183
  Account: Operations & Maintenance
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: U.S. Corps of Engineers
  Address of Requesting Entity: Mobile District, Mobile, AL 36602
  Description of Request: Provide an earmark (which was also requested 
by The President in his FY 2010 annual Corps priorities) in the amount 
of $23,996,000 to the U.S. Corps of Engineers to fund annual operations 
and maintenance of the Mobile Harbor. $23,996,000 [or 100%] will be 
used for dredging of the channels in keeping with the Corps of 
Engineers' requirements to ensure depth is adequate for ships that 
utilize the harbor. The Mobile Harbor will help support economic 
development of the entire state of Alabama, Florida panhandle, southern 
half of Mississippi and western Tennessee through increased 
international trade and support. Current vessel traffic supports a new 
container terminal, McDuffie Coal Terminal, and two raw material 
terminals supporting Alabama's steel production. Funding will assist in 
keeping the harbor dredged and operational not only to large ships from 
the Gulf of Mexico but also for the barges that utilize the waterways 
north of Mobile, Alabama. Post hurricane-Katrina, the Alabama State 
Port has become the tenth largest port in the United States.

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