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.

(Admin note: This brief article was submitted by invitation to discuss an innovative new technology that may be of use when addressing potential leachate from mining materials. We thought ACC & CAC member companies, and the readers of the Coalblog could find their suggestions interesting.)

By: Barbara and Alex Blake, Anceco Corp.

Update to my previous post on OSM plans to change mining rules.

Quick reminder to Coalblog readers that any comments you wish to submit to the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement, regarding their proposal to implement new “Stream Protection Rules,” are due in today (July 30, 2010). Submit your comments to sra-eis@osmre.gov

FACES has created a page with more information on the proposed rule changes and with links to help you contact elected representatives and local newspaper editors.

Make your voice heard.

Admin note: We recently invited ACC member and coal emissions reduction experts, ADA – Environmental Solutions to prepare an editorial for the Coalblog and quarterly newsletter. In this article, they describe how they are helping their clients prepare for the changes to the EPA MACT rules. We invite you to check out the article and ADAs website (www.adaes.com) to learn more about their products and services.

Getting Ready for MACT

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.

The Cape Wind project, an offshore wind generation project proposed to be built off the coast of Nantucket Sound, has finally received federal approval to move forward after a bitter and divisive, decade-long battle. This development would be the first major offshore wind project to be constructed in the U.S. and is planned to produce energy from 130, ~400 foot tall turbines.

Citizens for Recycling First has a good explanation of how the EPA’s recent proposal on coal ash regulation still leaves the door wide open for a “hazardous” designation under Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

So, it looks like we’re not done yet. The simple facts are that it’s not reasonable to designate something as “hazardous” and then expect that people will still want to use it in the construction of their offices, homes, schools, etc.

The science doesn’t support the hazardous designation; the push for a Subtitle C designation is based in politics and special interest pressure tactics. Worse, it will cause significant damage the economy, and the environment.

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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 4, 2010

EPA Announces Plans to Regulate Coal Ash

Agency proposals would address risks of unsafe coal ash disposal, while supporting safe forms of beneficial use

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today is proposing the first-ever national rules to ensure the safe disposal and management of coal ash from coal-fired power plants.

With the health care vote out of the way, the Obama administration and Congress are once again focusing on climate change regulation.

President Obama’s top aides huddled yesterday with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Democratic committee leaders to map out a strategy for cobbling together 60 votes on a comprehensive energy and climate change bill once lawmakers return next month from their spring break.