Agency denies permit for Quincy hydroelectric plant

QUINCY, Ill. — City officials in Quincy have learned that a federal agency has denied a license and permit for the city's proposed plan to build a hydroelectric power plant at Lock and Dam 21 on the Mississippi River.

Quincy' Director of Planning and Development Chuck Bevelheimer says the city learned of the denial Friday in an e-mail notification system from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Bevelheimer and Mayor John Spring tell The Quincy Herald-Whig that they aren't sure what the next steps are, although there is a 30-day process to appeal the denial.

The news of the denied permits came shortly after Spring, Bevelheimer and other city staff met with a Marion County, Mo., official about a proposed change in the Missouri tax structure to lessen the hydropower plant's tax liability.