FUTUREGEN: PROVING CLEAN COAL

Energy Industry Coming Together on FutureGen, Official Says
June 20, 2007 (AP via Yahoo Finance)

WHO
FutureGen Environmental Manager Mark McKoy, Thomas Sarkus, National Energy Technology Laboratory of Department of Energy (DOE)
the program on which many hopes are pinned

WHAT
FutureGen, an R&D demonstration “clean” coal project. Representatives expressed appreciation of residents favorable attitude toward the project.

WHEN
Finalists have been selected. The plant is to begin construction in 2009 and go online in 2012.

WHERE
Finalists: Odessa and Jewett in Texas, Mattoon and Tuscola in Illinois.
the basic FUTUREGEN construct (click to enlarge)

WHY
- Funding by DOE ($620 million) + 10 US and foreign energy companies ($250 million).
The 275-megawatt plant will sequester greenhouse gas emissions in a geologic formation at 1 million metric tons/year, a commercially feasible rate.
- The plant will also produce hydrogen via a coal gasification process.

QUOTES
- Sarkus: "This is not just about mining coal…We're looking for concern from the community…We tell a joke about it at the Department of Energy. It's BIIMBY -- Build It In My Back Yard…"