DOE Supports FutureGen Project

FutureGen claims to be a clean coal power project; its likely to begin functioning this year. It was proposed in 2003 but the Bush administration didn’t help much to take it forward. The huge cost involved was one of the reasons it was not promoted .However Obama’s administration has given it the green signal.

FutureGen would be a 275 megawatt facility that uses integrated gasification combined cycle technology, called coal gasification, which has the potential to capture the carbon. The technology converts coal to a vapor before the toxins are filtered out and the carbon dioxide would be separated from the hydrogen, which could be used to produce transportation fuel.

The federal government would contribute slightly more than $1 billion while private companies would add another $400 million to $600 million.

To help pay for it all, the FutureGen Alliance just announced that Illinois-based Exelon has joined its cause.

It will be operated in the early years to capture 60 percent of carbon emissions so as to validate capabilities. After three years, however, the goal is to capture 90 percent.

More: http://bit.ly/cUv4bI

The cost factor could become crucial; government is going to provide the seed capital , if the private sector is wiling to pump in the balance chances are good for FutureGen project to be set in motion quickly.

Obama has recommitted to support green energy; his policy may be a mix of clean coal,nuclear and natural gas .

However lets not forget he said America cannot afford to spin the wheel while the rest of the world is rolling forward