Earmarks: Energy & Water Development

Wind Turbine Research
Purpose: For research and development related to improved controls for Wind turbines, materials and production strategies related to building larger turbines.
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Amount Currently Pending: $750,000
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Recipient: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Taxpayer Interest: The Department of Energy has set a national target of 20% of electricity production from wind energy by 2030. The next generation wind turbine will be a mega-turbine, able to take advantage of the more than 60 percent increase in available wind power. This funding would facilitate research and development to address the challenges to utilizing these turbines including issues related to control and onsite production.
Letter requesting the earmark:
• JB Milliken, President, University of Nebraska
Letters in support of the earmark:
• Dan Witt, Valmont Structures
• Bruce Merrill, P.E. Vice President, Power Supply, Lincoln Electric System
• Norman Newhouse, Vice President, Technology, Lincoln Composites
• Dan McGuire, Chief Executive, American Corn Growers Foundation
• Wallace Davis, President & CEO, Dempster Industries LLC

Research Center for Solar Energy
Purpose: For the expansion of the Research Center for Solar Energy, and expansion of its energy technology training program and solar panel project.
Amount Requested: $1,225,000
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Recipient: Creighton University
Taxpayer Interest: This funding would increase the research and educational capacity at Creighton University to support the development of renewable energy development and practices which fits within the mission of the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office at the U.S. Department of Energy.
Letter requesting the earmark:
• Father John Schlegel, Creighton University
Letter in support of the earmark:
• W. Gary Gates, President and CEO, Omaha Public Power District 

Lower Platte South NRD
Purpose: For reimbursement costs to the Lower Platte South NRD as consistent with the Project Partnership Agreement entered into with the Army Corps of Engineers.
Amount Requested: $315,000
>Amount Currently Pending: $315,000
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Recipient: Lower Platte South Natural Resource District
Taxpayer Interest: This project provides flood damage reduction to the area east of downtown Lincoln as part of the multi-purpose Antelope Valley Project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractually agrees to specific reimbursement levels as part of the Project Partnership Agreement entered into with the Lower Platte South NRD. The funding requested would complete the federal government’s agreed upon reimbursement level for this project.
Letter requesting the earmark:
• General Managers of Nebraska's Natural Resource Districts

Watershed Management in Lower Platte
Purpose: For the planning and implementation of a comprehensive watershed management program to preserve, restore and protect watershed resources for water supply and water quality in the Lower Platte basin of Nebraska. 
Amount Requested: $500,000
Amount Currently Pending: $0
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Recipient: Lower Platte South Natural Resource District
Taxpayer Interest: This funding would facilitate planning for this comprehensive watershed management project to preserve, restore and protect watershed resources in the Lower Platte River basin of Nebraska including water supplies available to and serving Lincoln and Omaha.
Letter requesting the earmark:
• General Managers of Nebraska's Natural Resource Districts

Papillion Watershed
Purpose: To complete comprehensive flood plain remapping of the Big Papillion Creek and Little Papillion Creek basins of the Papillion Watershed.
Amount Requested: $500,000
Amount Currently Pending: $430,000
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Recipient: Papio-Missouri Natural Resource District
Taxpayer Interest: Accurate flood plain maps are a critical requirement for correctly administering the Federal Flood Plain Insurance Program and for local government zoning, subdivision and other development controls to protect homes, businesses and other property.
Letter requesting the earmark:
• General Managers of Nebraska's Natural Resource Districts

Western Sarpy-Clear Creek Flood Damage Reduction Project
Purpose: Improving 16 miles of levees along the Lower Platte in Saunders and Sarpy County in Nebraska.
Amount Requested: $2,689,000
Amount Currently Pending: $2,470,000
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Recipient: Papio-Missouri Natural Resource District
Taxpayer Interest: This project provides flood damage reduction benefits to the Lower Platte to protect vital infrastructure such as the Lincoln and Omaha drinking water well-fields, and farmland.
Letter requesting the earmark:
• General Managers of Nebraska's Natural Resource Districts

Nanomaterial Research
Purpose: To further develop “smart”-coating nanomaterials that can improve the efficiency, economy, and durability of commercial, medical and industrial components.
Amount Requested: $2,250,000
Amount Currently Pending: $500,000
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Recipient: University of Nebraska Medical Center
Taxpayer Interest: Developing smart coating technology can lead to significant energy conservation and increased fuel efficiency by reducing friction on engine components and surfaces susceptible to wear or corrosion. These versatile coatings are showing benefits for a wide range of industrial applications, commercial products, and mission areas of federal agencies, particularly in the energy sector.
Letter requesting the earmark:
• JB Milliken, President, University of Nebraska
Letter in support of the earmark:
• S. Thevuthasan, Staff Scientist Ph.D, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
• William Weber, Ph.D, Chair, Council of Fellows, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
• Eric Hass, Project Manager, Geothermal Technologies Program, Department of Energy
• Charles Blatchley, Chairperson, Pittsburg State University

Deadmans Run Watershed
Purpose: For the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct at feasibility study to assess the flood threat in the Deadmans Run Watershed in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Amount Requested: $100,000
Amount Currently Pending: $0
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Recipient: Lower Platte South Natural Resources District
Taxpayer Interest: Deadmans Run is subject to periodic flooding in an older residential part of Lincoln, placing at risk 982 buildings with an estimated flood damage of approximately $2.2 million annually. Flood damage reduction is inherently a public agency function at the Natural Resources District level in Nebraska and the Corps of Engineers mission includes the preparation of such studies to determine whether a feasibility study is appropriate under the Corps mission to plan, design and construct flood damage reduction projects as authorized by Congress.
Letters requesting the earmark:
• Chris Beutler, Mayor of Lincoln
• General Managers of Nebraska's Natural Resource Districts

Updated: October 2010