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US energy dept gives $51 mln for clean coal technology |
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| USA: October 18, 2001 | ||
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WASHINGTON - The U.S. Energy Department will spend $51 million to begin testing cleaner-burning technologies at eight coal-fired power plants to reduce emissions, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said yesterday.
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In addition to the federal spending, private companies will contribute another $61 million for so-called "clean coal technology" pilot program to cut emissions, increase reliability and improve waste removal. Abraham said the projects will show coal plants can effectively generate low cost electricity with minimal damage to water and air quality. There are more than 600 coal-burning generators that produce half of all U.S. electricity each year. The DOE aims to cut emissions from power plants by 50 percent to 70 percent in 2005, and to reduce emissions by 90 percent in 2010. The technology will be implemented in power plants based in Ohio, Florida, New York, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Kansas and Virginia. The plants are owned by companies including Alliant Energy Corp. , CONSOL Energy Inc. and Tampa Electric Co. , unit of TECO Energy Inc. The projects will be funded under the "Power Plant Improvement Initiative" program approved by Congress last year following high natural gas prices and electricity shortages in California. Coal is an alternative to natural gas or petroleum in fueling power plants. "Our National Energy Plan recognizes that America cannot generate the electricity it needs without coal," Abraham said in a statement. Clean coal technology was a central component of President George W. Bush's broad national energy plan announced in May. Bush proposed investing $2 billion in clean coal technologies over the next decade, and offering tax incentives to promote research.
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REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
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