Sen. Levin, Stabenow: $88 Million in Funding for Michigan and the Great Lakes in Energy and Water Funding Bill

October 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Senators Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., announced today that Michigan and the Great Lakes will receive $88,606,000 in the FY 2010 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

The funding includes more than $24 million for energy research, advanced technology development, and other energy projects, and more than $64 million in water infrastructure projects to improve Michigan’s navigational system, protect aquatic ecosystems, upgrade wastewater systems, provide flood control, and help restore the Great Lakes ecosystem. The Senate approved the conference report for the energy and water development funding bill today by a vote of 80-17. The House passed the conference report on October 1, and it now goes to the president for his signature.

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The legislation includes $12 million for research and development, conceptual design and engineering for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) to be built at Michigan State University. The U.S. Department of Energy plans call for engineering and initial design work on the FRIB to continue in FY 2011 and 2012 with construction of the facility to begin in FY 2013.

“Inclusion of $12 million for the FRIB is critical to moving this facility forward at Michigan State, an institution renown in the field of rare isotopes and nuclear physics,” Levin said. “This legislation also includes funding for several vital energy projects in Michigan such as advanced batteries, plug-in hybrid vehicles, wind energy, biomass and energy efficiency. I’m also pleased several programs that help restore and protect the Great Lakes will receive crucial funding, and that the bill ensures that dredging and other maintenance projects for several Michigan harbors and waterways will be undertaken this year by the Army Corps of Engineers.”

“These are important investments in Michigan’s energy and water infrastructure,” said Stabenow. “From funding of innovative research to restoring and protecting our Great Lakes and waterways, these funds are critical to our state. I am particularly pleased to see that the Army Corp of Engineers will undertake long overdue projects throughout many of our harbors and waterways.”

Source: Senators Carl Levin