Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Sen. Mark Kirk are becoming quite familiar with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jon Wellinghoff.
The two senators have sent two letters in support of a rehearing, following FERC’s Feb. 17 order dismissing the city of Quincy’s preliminary permit and licensing applications to develop a hydropower facility at Lock and Dam No. 21 in Quincy.
Following the senators’ March 24 letter, Wellinghoff responded April 7, saying their comments will be put in the record and that they will be considered in the Commission’s decision making process.
“In your letter, you request that the Commission grant the city of Quincy’s request for expedited rehearing,” Wellinghoff said. “I can assure you that we are processing the request as expeditiously as possible.”
Wellinghoff responded to an initial Feb. 23 letter on March 14. He said the Commission couldn’t move forward on the appeal because it had yet to be filed. It was filed March 18.
The deadline for FERC to act on the filing is Monday, though the commission could extend that. The next scheduled FERC meeting is April 21. The agenda for the meeting would be available on FERC’s website by Thursday.
