Whitfield Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Advance Clean Coal Technologies | News | Congressman Ed Whitfield

News | Congressman Ed Whitfield | United States Representative

Whitfield Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Advance Clean Coal Technologies June 12, 2008 WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed-Whitfield joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers today to introduce legislation critical to the future of Kentucky coal which would advance the development and deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies.

Western Kentucky is a leading producer of coal in the United States and the industry has a huge economic impact on the region. Western Kentucky produced an estimated 28 billion tons of coal in 2006 and the industry employs approximately 3,000 people in western Kentucky. Butler, Henderson, Hopkins, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Union and Webster counties lead the First Congressional District in coal production.

"Coal is an essential fuel source not just for Kentucky and the United States, but for the entire world. The U.S. holds enough coal to power our country for the next 250 years and it provides fuel for over 50 percent of all electricity in the country. Coal is a resource we simply cannot afford to waste," Whitfield said. "This legislation will advance carbon capture and storage technology and deployment, ensuring an environmentally responsible role for coal in our energy future."

Whitfield co-sponsored the Carbon Capture and Storage Early Deployment Act to advance clean coal technologies essential to the nation's most abundant natural resource - coal. The legislation would establish a $1 billion annual fund, derived from fees on the generation of electricity from coal, oil and natural gas. Grants from the fund will be awarded to large-scale projects advancing the commercial availability of CCS technology. CCS is a method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and injecting underground the carbon dioxide emitted from electricity generation plants that use fossil fuels.

Whitfield is committed to ensuring that western Kentucky coal remains part of the nation's energy portfolio. He has been a staunch supporter of new clean coal technologies that enable coal to be used in a manner that is both more efficient and environmentally friendly. Whitfield recognizes that in order for these technologies to move forward, the federal government must do its part to support these efforts.

If severe emissions reduction requirements are imposed before carbon capture and storage technologies are available, the result would be a rapid switch from coal to other fuels. Such fuel switching would significantly increase electricity prices to the detriment of both residential and industrial consumers. Fuel switching from coal would most likely result in far greater uses of natural gas for electricity generation, severely stressing an already constrained natural gas supply and dramatically increasing natural gas prices.

"The development of clean coal technologies is at the forefront of reducing our dependence on foreign oil," Whitfield said. "It is imperative that the United States continue to explore, develop and utilize methods in which coal is used to produce energy instead of eradicating our cheapest and our most abundant commodity."

The bipartisan bill was introduced today by Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality. Other original cosponsors, in addition to Whitfield, are Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV), Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL), Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT), Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA), Rep. Tim Holden (D-PA), Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN), Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN), Rep. Charlie Wilson (D-OH), and Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-OH).

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