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.

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.

In June of last year, I took part in a moderated debate with Bruce Nilles, head of the Sierra Club’s anti-coal group. We had a lively discussion and batted information and statistics back an forth for about an hour and a half. However, many of Nilles’ arguments were spiced with dirty tricks and personal attacks. Those questionable tactics reached a pronounced low point when he tried to attack the idea of using coal to produce transportation fuels (at the 34 minute mark of the video). He argued,

New research is looking at the ability of sapphires (yes, the gemstone) to be used in heat resistant sensors. The improved sensors could help to make coal gasification even cleaner and more efficient.

Industry ad campaigns recognized in NY Times article.

The tireless efforts at educating the elected officials and the public are beginning to make a difference.

Terms like “clean coal” are becoming common parlance and the current administration is openly supporting the development of clean coal technologies.

The Odessa Development Corporation recently approved the funding for a 400-megawatt coal gasification plant, as well as the purchase of 600 acres on which the plant will be sited.

Reports indicate that the plant will capture 90% of its CO₂ emissions. That CO₂ will then be used for enhanced oil recovery in the Permian Basin.

As part of of the agreement, Summit Power Group, Inc. (the plant operator), agreed to create “125 jobs with a total annual payroll of $5 million” and make “reasonable efforts” to present bids to local contractors and “employ Odessa residents.”

Received an email from the Office of Energy and Environmental Industries, Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, regarding an upcoming clean energy business development mission to China and Indonesia. The text of this email follows.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke will lead a clean energy business development mission to China and Indonesia from May 15 to 25, 2010. U.S. companies interested in expanding export and market opportunities in the sectors of clean energy (including, but not limited to, energy efficiency, energy storage, transmission/distribution, smart grid, clean coal, air pollution control equipment, etc.) are encouraged to take part in the event. The application deadline is Friday, February 26. The details of the mission, including application procedures, are available at:
http://www.trade.gov/cleanenergymission/

We would agree with the President’s assertion in his State of the Union address on Wednesday evening that the economic and energy security of the country depends on the safety, affordability, abundance, and security of clean coal.

 SOTU 1-29-10 Clean coal excerpt [3:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Longview Power, a new, 695 MW (net) supercritical pulverized coal is currently under construction in Maidsville, W Va. The $2.0 billion investment in new, clean coal technologies represents the largest privately-funded power project in state history. $500 million of the total cost is dedicated to environmental controls and the fuel for the project will be sourced locally.

Learn more about the Longvew Power Project at www.longviewpower.com.