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Hawesville, KY – Congressman Brett Guthrie, along with Hancock County Judge Executive Jack McCaslin and officials from American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP), visited the Cannelton Lock and Dam construction site in Hawesville, KY, on Wednesday, May 23, 2012. The hydroelectric power plant is currently being added and is set for completion in 2014.

Congressman Guthrie remarked that, “Projects like this are of critical importance to our long-term economic competitiveness. Not only do they create jobs now, but they have the benefit of producing affordable, reliable energy for future generations.” This is Guthrie’s third visit to the facility.

“As we speak, members of the Republican House Energy Action Team are all over the country visiting similar sites to deliver a clear message: we must use all of our available energy resources - whether it’s hydroelectric, coal, natural gas, or a technology unknown to us today - to maintain the competitive energy prices that attract businesses and grow our economy.”

Congressman Guthrie further remarked that there is much work left to be done so that future projects like the Cannelton facility can come to fruition. “One thing Congress can do to move us towards greater energy independence is to streamline the regulatory process. Projects like this one are subject to review by numerous federal agencies, frequently resulting in delays and increased cost before construction can even begin. We must reform the regulatory process, especially when it comes to the energy sector of our economy, or risk stalling a vital component in the engine of job creation.”

Guthrie serves as a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over our nation’s energy policy, including the Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

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