New DOE carbon capture project announced

Like we’ve said: clean coal technology projects are happening all around us.

Alstom Power* and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that they’ll team up to test a type of carbon capture technology that will help purify, compress and transport carbon dioxide emissions from coal-based power plants for sequestration. 

The capture of CO2, made possible by “oxyfuel technology,” has also indicated the ability to cost-effectively lower large-scale CO2 emissions—encouraging news for commercial use at large plants.

The demonstration will begin in mid-2009 and take place at an Alstom facility in Windsor, Conn., and is part of the DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy’s Existing Plants – Emissions and Capture program (EPEC). The EPEC is just one arm of the public sector committed to the research, development and deployment of clean coal technologies, including carbon capture and safe storage.

Read more about the new project, and check out the other clean coal projects underway all across the country.

*Alstom Power is an ACCCE member.

Comments

[John]

"Clean Coal" another oxymoron such as "Government Intelligence" and "American Business Ethics".

[Megan from ACCCE]

John:
How so? Clean coal technologies have made coal 77 percent cleaner in terms of emissions currently regulated under existing Clean air Act programs per unit of energy produced! See for yourself.

[Clean Coal Technology Program]

The natural resources renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power have presented themselves as possible alternatives to oil and coal.

[Jerret]

The keyword in that sentence is "cleaner." It's not going to catch all those CO2 emissions. I will be shocked if anyone who cares about the environment actually supports this. Oh by the way thank for telling us that based on polls that “climate change” is an issue that is the least of concern to Americans today. That’s a really nice hint that this so called “clean coal” is going have some sort of effect on the climate.
More importantly this is a limited resource and it is not a renewable energy. Anything not renewable is a 0% investment in the long run. So like John was saying Business ethics – this will be a great way for the coal industries and those involved to turn a nice big "short-run profit," while everyone suffers in the long-run.

[Tom]

What about mountain top removal for coal extraction? Is that clean coal? When will there be completely CO2 free, mercury free combustion of coal?

[Julius]

Jerret I fully agree. This is a classic case of large institutions trying to protect the status-quo in order to turn some short term profits. Clean Coal and Ethanol are facades put up by Big-Business. Let no one be deceived, this is lip-stick on a pig at best.

[RON BROBST]

There is more pollution in land fills than coal creates, just as there is more natural seepage of oil than is by human error. The green goreniks are the problem stopping America from progress and using our own natural resources. I say using our own will stop our enemies from getting rich and empower America with jobs and energy we already have, balony on clean coal resaarch, they are just trying to control us and get rich doing so

[barry]

Ron, posing those who are trying to review and push for environmental change that will benefit all americans and all of the globe as green goreniks (sic) is sad. The environment is the environment and there are no such things as clean coal. Mis-information is doing as much or more to destroy the U.S. than anyone should ever want.

This entire presentation for clean coal is very much like cigarette companies presenting their product as aiding health. We should all be in this together, not representing those who want to help protect the environment for all future americans and all other countries children from the effects of a known negative by product. Very sad that the mis-representation is this apparent and apparently working on some.

[Megan from ACCCE]

All:

You are, of course, entitled to your opinion. Rather than stating mine, I’ll leave you with some facts:

1. Coal and other hard path fuels are the best sources for baseload electricity generation——the kind that powers your laptops, iPods and microwaves whenever you choose to use them.

2.Coal usage is projected to increase as our demand for energy increases. EIA figures show this.

3. Clean coal technologies have made today’s coal-based generating fleet 77 percent cleaner in terms of emissions currently regulated under existing Clean Air Act programs per unit of energy produced. Now, our challenge is curbing CO2 emissions. We’re making great headway, and the President has illustrated his support for the next generation of clean coal technologies by devoting $3.4 billion to it in the most recent stimulus package.

4. Coal provides electricity at one-third the cost of most other fuels. The affordability factor is especially important to Americans struggling in the midst of the current economic recession. In fact, low-income and minority families are the hardest hit by rising energy prices.

Frankly, we shouldn’t be surprised that climate change has slipped on the list of priorities for Americans, many of whom are struggling to pay bills and get food on the table. But that doesn’t mean we can’t take action on climate change. As we recently said, by focusing on technology to ensure a cost-effective means of meeting new emissions standards, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote energy independence, create jobs and keep energy costs affordable for American businesses and families. As the IPCC, International Energy Agency, MIT and others have said: this approach is actually the only way meet the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale.

So. That’s what we’re working on. How are you working to solve this problem?