U.S. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS SUPPORTS BILL THAT WILL FUND LOCAL FLOOD CONTROL, SOLAR PROGRAMS

Bipartisan legislation includes $6.8 million for five projects in Southeastern Arizona

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today joined with a strong bipartisan majority in the House to pass a sweeping appropriations bill that will help pay for a major flood control project in Tucson and solar research at the University of Arizona.

“These projects represent a wise use of taxpayer dollars,” said Giffords. “They demonstrate a commitment to our community’s safety, environment and quality of life. I am particularly pleased with the funding aimed at expanding the use of solar energy – our state’s most abundant natural resource.”

The House of Representatives approved the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act this afternoon in a 308 to 114 vote. The conference agreement includes funding for $33.5 billion in projects nationwide and now goes to the Senate and President Obama for his signature.

The legislation includes $6,9723,000 for five projects in Southeastern Arizona.

Most of those funds – $5 million – are for completion of flood control work by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers along Arroyo Chico Wash, also known as the Tucson Arroyo. The work is needed to protect downtown Tucson, including neighborhoods and the downtown business district, from flooding.

Congress now has appropriated a total of $66.7 million for the entire project, which started in the early 1990s. It encompasses about 6 miles of the Arroyo Chico from South Alvernon Way to its confluence with the Santa Cruz River near St. Mary’s Road.

Included were detention basins on the Dell Urich Golf Course in Randolph Park and the Cherry Field Detention Basin along South Kino Boulevard, where athletic fields have been built.

The bill approved today also includes $900,000 for the University of Arizona to continue development on new technology for solar power production.

Giffords applauded a provision of the bill that calls for the federal government to invest in the creation of “energy innovation hubs” for the research and development of energy efficient buildings systems and fuels from solar technologies.

Southern Arizona projects included in the bill are:

• Tucson Drainage Area Urban Flood Control Project – Pima County – $5 million: This will allow the Army Corps of Engineers to advance flood control improvements along the Arroyo Chico Wash. The second and final phase of this project began in 2007. Congress increased authorization for the total project to $66.7 million because of a significant increase in costs for fuel and construction materials.

• Concentrator Photovoltaic Technology – University of Arizona – $900,000: Continues research and development of new technology to make the cost of utility-scale solar electric power competitive with fossil fuel. The project furthers development of a new type of concentrator photovoltaic approach to solar power production. Previous federal funding resulted in demonstration of the new reflector manufacturing technology. This second phase will prove the concept with a fully functioning 15 kilowatt sun-tracker unit, designed for low-cost replication in very large quantities suitable for utility-scale electricity generation.

• Tucson Public Building Solar Arrays – City of Tucson – $450,000: Will  allow the city of Tucson to install 120 kilowatt solar panels on the roofs of two city buildings. One building at 9640 E. Golf Links Road, houses the Miller-Golf Links Branch of the Pima County Public Library as well as a Tucson Police Department substation. The second building houses Sun Van, which provides transit-related services for physically impaired people. As part of the project, the city will include a web-based monitoring system to allow students and the public to access solar production and other solar information.

• Sierra Vista Subwatershed Augmentation Feasibility Study – Upper San Pedro Partnership – $289,000: Funds a study of three alternatives for augmenting water supplies in the Sierra Vista area. Due to a combination of persistent drought and increased groundwater pumping, aquifer levels are falling below the level necessary to maintain base flows in the San Pedro River. If the river were to run dry, it would threaten the viability of the riparian ecosystem, including at least one listed endangered species. If the water supply is not augmented, measures to prevent the river from running dry could include curtailing or ceasing operations at nearby Fort Huachuca.

• Tres Rios del Norte – Pima County – $233,000: Money will be used to conduct preliminary engineering and design on the restoration of more than 18 miles of the Santa Cruz River, from Prince Road to Sanders Road. This environmental restoration project will provide flood control, groundwater recharge and recreation.