Springfield, Branson secure environmental funding

A clean energy project in Springfield and a water supply project in Branson were among several to receive funding Thursday from the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee.

U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., who is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured $243.8 million in federal funding in the fiscal 2010 Energy and Water Development spending bill.

Among the projects:

• $2.4 million for the Shallow Carbon Sequestration Pilot Demonstration in Springfield. City Utilities of Springfield is evaluating the feasibility of carbon sequestration in shallow geologic formations beneath individual power plants, intended to reduce cost by eliminating the need to transport emissions hundreds of miles to regional storage facilities.

• $7.2 million for Table Rock Lake in Branson. This money will allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Little Rock District to work on flood risk management, hydropower, environmental stewardship, recreation and water supply issues. The project supports nearly 1,200 area jobs and prevented $38 million in flood damages in 2008, according to a news release.

"These funds will make critical investments in clean energy technologies, flood protection and river projects," Bond said in the release.[[In-content Ad]]