A Set Back For Clean Coal?

By: floodguy
Published On: 1/30/2008 6:35:28 PM

The Washington Post reports today the Bush adminstration yesterday announced in a closed door meeting with Illinios legislatures, the $1.1 billion FutureGen clean coal project in that state, may have the rug of federal support pulled from underneath it.  

U.S. Dept of Energy Secretary Samuel Bodeman and Illinois Senator Dick Durbin apparently had a heated discussion on the matter in which Durbin was quoted afterwards saying:

"In 25 years on Capitol Hill, I have never witnessed such a cruel deception.  For five years, the Department of Energy has urged our state and others to pursue, at great expense and sacrifice, this critically important energy project."
 
After several years of making the FutureGen project its cornerstone piece to a clean coal initiative on the DOE website, I find this a surprise, as it is not known what clean coal project will subplant the importance of FutureGen.   And equally disappointing is that cost is being touted as the sole reason to pull federal support.  Secretary Bodman is quoted in the Post:

"the cost of the project has almost doubled, and we've seen technological advances over the past five years that require a reassessment to ensure that the FutureGen project delivers the greatest possible technological benefits in the most cost-efficient manner."

The WAPO article hints that DOE support has been waning however,  

After the private partners in the project picked the Mattoon, Ill., site, the department refused to issue what is known as a record of decision on the environmental impact statement, effectively blocking progress...

Could another federally funded clean coal project be just around the corner in a less environmentally sensitive part of the nation?  The Energy Outlook speculates towards the possibility Texas Republican legislators from two rejected FutureGen sites might be orchestrating some political shennigans!?  

Since coal is part of the our energy future, whatever the reason, lets hope the Feds find the money for FutureGen or come up with a viable alternative soon.  

Comments