WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, highlighted the economic benefits of the Toledo Bend Hydroelectric Project and underscored the importance of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) granting the project a new, 50-year license during a full committee hearing today on two FERC nominations..

“The Toledo Bend dam and reservoir was originally created for hydropower, but it is having enormously positive economic benefits for the region with much more promise,” Sen. Landrieu said. “It is important, that decisions continue to be made for that region to grow and to prosper as well as to generate the power that community needs.”

Sen. Landrieu also pressed the nominees to consider a new 50-year license for the project instead of a 30-year license to conclude a seven-plus year relicensing process that has cost the Sabine River Authority over $10 million.

“FERC can partially offset these costs by granting a longer 50-year term as I requested instead of a 30 year license,” Sen. Landrieu said. “I know that $10 million dollars might not seem like a lot by Washington standards, but in Sabine Parrish I can promise you that $10 million is an awful lot of money. I'm going to keep following up on this issue.”

Last weekend, Sen. Landrieu held a Committee Field Hearing highlighting the job-creating potential of the Toledo Bend Project.