US Energy Secretary announced the release of the first phase of $1.4 billion in funding for industrial carbon capture and storage projects.

The first 12 projects will receive $21.6 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and $22.5 million in private funding.

The seven-month projects will see CO₂ captured from industrial sources such as cement and chemical plants, refineries, paper mills and manufacturing facilities and stored in geological systems like saline formations or put to use.

After the initial phase of the projects, they will be subject to further evaluation in 2010 to receive additional funding.

The successful projects include trials by Air Products and Chemicals, CEMEX, ConocoPhillips, Praxair and Shell.

A further 16 projects have also been identified for possible support, and are now undergoing additional review and technical evaluation.

For further information:
www.energy.gov/

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