Power Generation | Carbon Capture and Storage
Troubled FutureGen 2.0 project presses ahead
The troubled US carbon capture and storage project FutureGen 2.0 is pressing ahead with $1 billion in Recovery Act funding and plans to find a new storage site.
The Illinois town of Mattoon, which had been earmarked as the storage site for the CO2 captured from an advanced oxy-combustion power station in nearby Meredosia, operated by project partner Ameren Energy Resources, withdrew as a potential storage site last month.
According to reports, the town said it wanted more involvement in the project than just being a storage site.
Now with an official commitment from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to provide $1 billion in funding to support the project, the FutureGen Industrial Alliance, which includes Babcock & Wilcox and Air Liquide as well, says it plans to work with the DOE to find a new Illinois community to house the storage site.
“If there was any remaining question as to whether FutureGen is really coming to Illinois, we have the answer,” says US Senator Dick Durbin.
The DOE and Alliance will now evaluate more than 24 potential sites in Illinois that have expressed an interest. The host location will house support facilities and access to the geologic formation, Mt Simon sandstone, which will store the CO2, as well as a visitor, research and training facility.
For further information:
www.futuregenalliance.org/
www.energy.gov
Related stories:
US FutureGen 2.0 carbon storage project thrown into doubt (16-Aug)
Clean coal captures $1 billion in US funding (6-Aug)
DOE earmarks $1.3 billion for carbon capture and storage (1-Jul 2008)
US announces funding of clean coal and CCS (14-May 2008)