The two U.S. Senators from Illinois sent a second letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission chairman last week after asking for a quick action from the agency to hear Quincy’s appeal of the Feb. 17 order dismissing the city’s preliminary permit and licensing application to develop a hydropower facility at Lock and Dam 21 in Quincy.
This is the second letter form Democrat Sen. Dick Durbin and Republican Sen. Mark Kirk asking for a quick action. Chairman Jon Wellinghoff replied to the first letter that the commission couldn’t act because the city had yet to file its request for a rehearing.
The senators once again asked that FERC review the appeal quickly. They argue that the city’s hydropower corporation, Mississippi River No. 21 Hydropower Co., and limited liability company, Great River Hydropower LLC, are arms of the city.
“In fact both Mississippi Hydropower and Great River are fully owned and controlled by the City of Quincy, and were formed, with encouragement from FERC, in order for the City to be able to access capital through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,” they wrote.
