Clean Coal Panel
The Obama administration announced that it plans on committing over a billion dollars in new spending for a new clean coal plant in Illinois. The plan was a big win for coal companies after the project had been put on hold by the Bush Administration, citing that the costs had risen higher than expected.
Most of the money is coming from the $3.4 billion that was guaranteed in Obama's economic stimulus package. The stimulus package calls for investments in clean coal technology. President Obama has been a supporter of the FutureGen Project since he was a senator in Illinois.
The United States has an abundance of coal resources but the use of coal has gone down because of the environmental impact. Clean coal technology is a bright spot in the DOE's fight for energy independence.
Originally, the project called for a 90% capture of the polluting carbon dioxide emissions, but that number has been lowered to 60% due to prices and feasibility.
"For each percent you increase CO2 removal you are also decreasing output of the plant," said Jim Childress, the executive director of the Gasification Technologies Council.
Childress notes that clean coal isn't a magical technology that will solve global warming, but it looks promising. Stephen Chu, Obama's energy secretary is optimistic about clean coal and said that the money is an investment in our future.
Comments
What a waste of money!
Lowered to 60%? And this is supposed to be a good thing?
GREENWASHING.
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