Tester, Baucus secure more than $77 million for Montana water and energy

Senators praise much-needed funding for state

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Montana will receive more than $77 million thanks to a funding bill passed by a key Senate panel, Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus announced today.

The $77,559,000 million is part of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Bill passed by Senator Jon Tester and his colleagues on the influential Senate Appropriations Committee.

“This is an investment in Montana’s clean water and renewable energy development,” said Tester, who as a member of the energy and water subcommittee, secured Montana’s funding in the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill.  “Upgrading our water infrastructure will pay off for generations, just like developing renewable energy technologies will also pay off for generations. I'm proud to support these projects."

“These are great projects for Montana. This is a lot of money for worthwhile projects that will make a real difference for folks," said Senator Max Baucus, who worked closely with Tester in securing Montana’s funding.  “I'll always do my part to make sure essential projects get funding so that Montanans can have access to clean water."

The bill now goes to the full Senate for approval.  It must then be approved by the U.S. House of Representatives and signed into law by the President.

The St. Mary Project in north central Montana will receive $4 million help address water supply, use, and management-related water issues in north central Montana. This money will start the much-overdue process to begin rehabilitation of the canal.

Fort Peck-Dry Prairie Rural Water System will receive $14 million.  The rural water system serves the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, as well as Valley, Daniels, Sheridan and Roosevelt counties.  Once completed, project will deliver treated water from the Missouri River through 3,200 miles of pipeline to 31,000 people in northeast Montana.

The Rocky Boy's-North Central Montana Regional Water Authority will receive $16 million to deliver clean, safe drinking water to more than 50,000 people who live across north-central Montana.  The project will eventually deliver treated water from Lake Elwell to the Chippewa Cree Tribe and 22 public water systems.  Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation is currently experiencing severe shortages of clean water.

The Montana Wind Turbine Development project at Montana State University will receive $1 million to research and develop wind turbine technology for electricity production. The Montana Algal BioDiesel Initiative, also at Montana State University, will receive $500,000 to develop technology to turn algae into biodiesel.  Montana State University-Northern in Havre will receive $2.25 million to support the bio-energy industry in Montana through research and education.

Below is a list of Montana projects secured by Tester and Baucus in the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Bill:

Montana projects secured by Tester and Baucus
Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Bill

MONTANA TOTAL:  $77,559,000

St. Mary Project: $4 million

Montana State University:

• $500,000 for the Montana Algal BioDiesel Initiative to develop technology to turn algae into biodiesel.
• $1 million for the Montana Wind Turbine Development project to research and develop wind turbine technology for electricity production.

Montana State University-Northern: $2.25 million for the Bio-Energy Center for Excellence support the bio-energy industry in Montana through research.

Rocky Boy's-North Central Montana Regional Water Authority: $16 million

Fort Peck-Dry Prairie Rural Water System: $14 million

Rural Montana Water Projects:  $5 million for projects around the state.

Bureau of Reclamation Projects:

• Montana Investigations Program: $140,000
• Huntley Water Project: $56,000
• Lower Yellowstone Project: $547,000
• Milk River Project: $1.8 million
• Sun River Project: $378,000
• Fort Peck Dam and Lake: $6.361 million to upgrade dam and area infrastructure
• Hungry Horse Dam Project: $1.865 million to upgrade the dam.

Army Corps of Engineer Projects:

• Nashua Flood Risk Assessment: $55,000
• Jordan Flood Mitigation: $80,000
• Libby Dam: $1.948 million
• Inspection of Completed Works: $115,000
• Scheduling Reservoir operations: $145,000
• Missouri River: $18 million to repair the Intake Dam on the Yellowstone River.

Fort Peck Cabin Conveyance: $1.869 million to continue assessments, surveys, and appraisals to transfer cabin sites to the Army Corps of Engineers.

Yellowstone River Study: $200,000 for a restoration study.

Baucus also included $1.25 million for the Crow Tribe’s Coal to Liquid Demonstration project.