West Virginians know the importance of coal as it relates to the local economy and its role in securing energy independence for the nation—nearly 98 percent of the state’s electricity comes from coal. To that end, West Virginia University (WVU) has been thoroughly involved in research and other initiatives that advance clean coal technologies and lead us into a clean energy future.
WVU’s response to 21st century energy challenges is an Advanced Energy Initiative (AEI) that builds on the university’s reputation as a premier research center for coal and energy. The AEI vision for WVU is to “pioneer conscientious approaches to energy independence creating influential innovations.” This includes everything from offering expanded courses and research opportunities in clean energy technologies, to providing data and recommendations for state and national policymakers.
Among WVU’s initiatives is a project to monitor underground storage sites for greenhouse gases—an important component to reducing emissions from coal-generated power plants—and in September they won a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to keep working.
More than 100 WVU faculty members are working on a wide range of energy research, including carbon management, with more than $98 million in energy-related research conducted over the past four years alone.
Keep up with WVU’s progress in clean energy technologies by becoming a fan of their Engineering and Mineral Resources’ department on Facebook.
The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) is committed to the idea that America can have the affordable, reliable electricity we need, with the clean environment we want. ACCCE’s Behind the Plug blog is the place for up-to-date news and analysis on clean coal technology developments and energy policy progress.