WASHINGTON   –  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today issued the following statement about the settlement between the State of Missouri and Ameren regarding the Taum Sauk Hydroelectric facility:

"I'm glad this settlement, which represents thousands of hours of negotiations, will help advance the plan to reconstruct the Taum Sauk hydroelectric facility and restore the Johnson Shut-Ins, both of which are critical to Reynolds County and Iron County.  As an advocate for the clean energy we produce in rural America, I support Taum Sauk as an efficient provider of electricity.  At the same time, the Johnson Shut-Ins are a resource of unparalleled natural beauty in our state that brings visitors from all over the region.  They play different, but vital, roles in our local economy.  Returning each of them to their fully operational state is the ultimate goal of overcoming this disaster," said U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson.