“CLEAN” COAL, A RESEARCH PROJECT

DOE taking 'fresh look' at FutureGen, energy chief says
Ben Geman, March 5, 2009 (NY Times)

"The Energy Department may proceed with a "modified" plan to build a prototype coal-burning power plant that would capture and store carbon dioxide as part of new efforts to expand international collaboration on carbon-management technologies, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said…

"His comments are the strongest indication yet that DOE might reverse a Bush administration decision to pull the plug on FutureGen, a federal-industry project that was to be built in Illinois and has faced significant cost overruns…"

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"Chu said he has been working with foreign ministers and energy ministers to ensure greater international collaboration on what projects proceed to ensure that a range of carbon-management technologies are pursued."

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"A greater collaboration on deciding what projects to fund and how to "parcel out turf" would allow a FutureGen project to pursue a smaller range of missions…[I]f another nation plans to pursue one particular project, it would not have to be part of FutureGen…This could help reduce project costs that otherwise could have been more than $2 billion…

"Several nations are planning carbon capture and storage demonstration projects, including 10 to 12 planned in the European Union, but greater multinational planning is needed…"