posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 12:15 PM
by
Tracy Davis
Seven States Vie to Host FutureGen Alliance "Clean Coal" Power Plant
Seven states have reportedly submitted bids to host a proposed zero-emissions coal-fueled generation facility, the developer FutureGen Industrial Alliance announced on May 9. The proposed 275 MW plant would burn gasified coal to produce electricity and transportation-grade hydrogen for use in fuel cells. Carbon dioxide waste generated by the plant, normally vented into the air, would either be sequestered or stored underground. See Alliance Starts Site Selection for Zero-Emissions Coal Plant. FutureGen reported that Illinois, Ohio, Texas, Kentucky, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming all submitted bids; some of the states submitted bids for more than one site, bringing the total number of sites under consideration up to twelve. FutureGen indicated it would review the proposals, come up with a short list of candidates by this summer, and make a final site determination by late summer 2007.
A poster child for the Bush administration's energy policy, the project will receive significant funding from the federal government. In 2004, Congress appropriated up to $700 million to build and operate the plant through 2018 and to sequester its carbon emissions. Further financial support will be provided by a coalition of industry participants, including two foreign-owned companies, representing Australian and Chinese coal interests. The governments of India and China also have each agreed to provide $10 million for the development of the prototype. Both countries are desperately in need of energy, and are hoping their investment will pay dividends in the form of relatively clean future coal plants in their respective countries.