Whitfield Works to Secure Future of KY Coal | News | Congressman Ed Whitfield

News | Congressman Ed Whitfield | United States Representative

Whitfield Works to Secure Future of KY Coal July 10, 2008 WASHINGTON - Working with Members of the U.S. House of Representatives on both sides of the aisle, Congressman Ed Whitfield (KY-01) joined discussions today to address the dual concerns of carbon emissions and energy independence while ensuring the future role of Kentucky coal as a vital part of the nation's energy portfolio.

"Coal is an energy source we simply cannot afford to waste," Whitfield said. "It provides fuel for over 90 percent of the electricity in Kentucky and over 50 percent of the electricity used nationwide. It is absurd, and indeed impossible, to attempt to remove coal from our energy portfolio as some would like to do, which is why I support carbon capture and storage technology and deployment to ensure an environmentally responsible role for coal in our energy future."

Whitfield participated in a hearing held today by the House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality on H.R. 6258, the Carbon Capture and Storage Early Deployment Act. The legislation, of which Whitfield is a cosponsor, would advance the development and deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies critical to securing the role of coal as a key energy source.

The legislation discussed today would establish a trust fund, derived from fees on the generation of electricity from coal, oil and natural gas. Grants from the fund, amounting to $1 billion annually, 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.

Kentucky's coal industry has an economic impact of $3.25 billion and employs approximately 17,000 miners, along with tens of thousands of additional workers. Western Kentucky is at the forefront of this industry, producing an estimated 28 billion tons of coal in 2006 and employing approximately 3,000 people. Butler, Henderson, Hopkins, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Union and Webster counties lead the First Congressional District in coal production.

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.

"Initiatives like CCS will put our country on the road to reducing carbon emissions," Whitfield said. "However, we need to be sure we have the technological solutions available before we impose rules we cannot achieve. This legislation is the first step in delivering these technologies and achieving the goal of reduced emissions."

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. A rapid switch to another fuel could significantly increase electricity prices to the detriment of both residential and industrial consumers, especially those in Kentucky since 90 percent of our electricity comes from coal. Switching from coal as an energy supply 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.

Back to headlines