US Bodman Announces $450 Million For ‘Clean Coal’ Research

ASHLAND, Ky. (AP)–U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman announced on Friday $450 million in grants over the next decade to further research into technology that would lessen the environmental impacts of coal use.

Thirty percent of the grant money, or $134 million, will be awarded to groups supporting such research in Kentucky, said Bodman at an energy roundtable hosted by U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis, R-Ky.

Called carbon capture and sequestration, the process involves capturing emissions, separating the carbon dioxide and sequestering it for commercial use or for injection back into the earth to flush out oil.

“Sequestration technology holds the key to the continued environmentally-responsible use of coal,” Bodman said.

The Department of Energy projects that coal sequestration could play a major role in meeting the Bush administration’s goal of reducing the intensity of greenhouse emissions by 18% by 2012.

The roundtable, featuring experts from the Southern States Energy Board, the University of Kentucky and the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy, was held in Ashland, a major coal-processing city in Davis’ district.

The Republican congressman is seeking re-election in a tough race against Democratic challenger Ken Lucas.

Davis and the other Kentucky leaders used Friday’s discussion to stress the state’s importance in coal sequestration and coal liquefaction research, which they say is crucial in reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil. They urged Bodman to continue directing money toward those efforts.

“I wanted the secretary to meet with these people, to see the unity in purpose,” Davis said.

The University of Kentucky’s Center for Applied Energy Research is engaged in a pilot project for improving the coal liquefaction process, which creates synthetic oil by heating coal in the presence of hydrogen gas.

Proponents refer to the process as “clean coal” technology. However, the synthetic oil it produces still yields carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse warming gas, during both production and combustion. Researchers are trying to figure out how to keep the emissions out of the atmosphere and reuse them.

“We believe Kentucky is in a unique position to be the national leader in this arena,” said state Rep. Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook, holding up a small jar of clear fuel produced from coal by U.K. researchers.

“I want to make sure we’re noticed as leaders in reducing our dependence on foreign oil.”