Editor’s Note: As part of the Coalblog’s continuing commitment to bringing you new and innovative editorial and ideas, I have invited Walter James O’Brien to expand on his recent American Coal magazine article, “Carbon Compliance Using the Carnegie Model.” In this short update, O’Brien considers how the coal industry can use CO2 to promote industrial development. Please feel free to comment and suggest other means of making CO2 pay.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently announced that $1 billion in stimulus funding was being targeted to restart the stalled FutureGen project.

This infusion of tax dollars will provide breathing room for the FutureGen project. Originally, FutureGen was to build a state of the art IGCC facility in Mattoon, IL. Synthetic natural gas from the facility would then be used to power a combined cycle generation plant. CO2 remaining after the gasification process would have been captured and stored underground in favorable Illinois geological sinks. Deep geology beneath the Meredosia site will not allow for carbon storage, however. Therefore, the Mattoon site is still being targeted for the physical sequestration of the CO2. A pipeline is expected to be built to transfer it from the Meredosia site.

Via the FACES Newsroom (7-27-10)

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement is holding a public “open house” at the Beckley Convention Center today from 3 p.m. – 9 p.m. to discuss potential changes to its already complex mining regulatory program.  A similar event will be held tomorrow – Wednesday, July 28 – in Morgantown at Mylan Park from 3 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Admin note: We recently invited ACC member and coal combustion products (CCP) management experts, Charah, Inc. to prepare an editorial for the Coalblog and monthly member update newsletter. In this article, they describe how they beneficially used CCPs to help ensure their newly constructed corporate headquarters met LEEDs program requirements. We invite you to check out the article and Charah’s website (www.charah.com) to learn more about their offerings.

Citizens for Recycling First (CFRF) has updated its information on the EPA and its stance on coal ash recycling. In a recent blog post, they describe how the EPA has quietly abandoned its support of, and participation in, the Coal Combustion Products Partnership (C²P²) program earlier this week with a small note at the top of the C²P² page.

On May 4th, 2010, EPA proposed the first-ever national rules to ensure the safe disposal and management of coal combustion residuals from coal-fired power plants. While EPA is engaged in the rulemaking process, the Agency has suspended active participation in the Coal Combustion Products Partnership. EPA continues to believe that beneficial use of coal combustion residuals, when performed properly and in a safe manner, is beneficial to the environment.

Daniel Simmons, Director of State Affairs

Institute for Energy Research

Thursday, May 27th ~ 1:30-2:15 pm Eastern

To register, go to: https://www.etouches.com/12523

The Waxman-Markey energy bill (H.R. 2454) which passed the U.S. House of Representatives in June 2009, establishes a national renewable portfolio standard (RPS) of 20% in 2020 from renewable sources or increased efficiency. The Senate is likely to consider a “clean energy standard” that would include not only renewables but also nuclear energy and clean coal. Colorado recently passed legislation requiring utilities to generate 30% of their electricity from renewables by 2020. About 35 states have renewable or alternative energy standards in place.

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ACC Career Center

Your Source for coal industry jobs and employment information

With its focus on coal industry companies, the ACC Career Center offers its members–and companies throughout the utility, transportation, ports and terminals, energy trading, and support services industries–an easy-to-use and highly targeted resource for online employment connections.

Both members and non-members can use the ACC Career Center to reach qualified candidates.

A new study just released by ACCCE demonstrates that the coal industry and clean coal technologies could provide many thousands of new jobs for American workers. This would be a huge boon to the economy as we rebuild our way out of the recession.

The deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies at advanced coal facilities would create or support more than 150,000 jobs nationally, according to a study released today by the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE). The study done for ACCCE by BBC Research & Consulting found that 1.7 million job years1 of labor would be created through the construction of 124 new advanced coal facilities by 2025.

Text of Coal Combustion Residuals – Proposed Rule ~ http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/special/fossil/ccr-rule/ccr-rule-prop.pdf. For more information on the Coal Combustion Residuals – proposed rule, see the EPA’s website ~ http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/special/fossil/ccr-rule/index.htm

This Citizens for Recycling First blog post discusses the EPA’s clear support for the beneficial use and recycling of coal ash

EPA Supports Coal Ash Recycling While Issuing Regulatory Options

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials voiced strong support for recycling coal ash today as they formally announced that they are considering two approaches to regulating coal ash disposal.

(Admin note: Mountain Plains Equity Group recently exhibited at our Spring Coal Forum in Tampa, FL. This company had an innovative means of showing  the energy industry how they can play a role in the development and betterment of the communities in which they operate, while also enjoying tax breaks on the money they invest in those communities. We thought our member companies and the readers of the Coalblog would find their suggestions interesting.)