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June 12, 2008 - Murtha Introduces Legislation to Further Clean-Coal Usage while Significantly Reducing CO2 Emissions |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman John P. Murtha, Chairman
of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, announced today that he
has introduced bipartisan legislation which will significantly advance
development of carbon capture and sequestration technology that promotes
clean-coal and a safer environment.
The U.S.
currently relies on coal for more than one-half of its electric production, and
the demand for electricity is expected to grow by 40 percent over the next two
decades. Current legislative proposals
would require that utilities reduce their carbon emissions 15 percent below
2005 levels by the year 2020. In order
to reach this, coal-fired power plants must have the ability to capture
and store carbon emissions.
Working with the United Mine Workers of America, Murtha and several
House Democrats and Republicans have introduced the solution - the “Carbon
Capture and Storage Early Deployment Act.”
“Coal is a valuable resource,” commented Murtha. “With this technology and legislation, we can
enhance existing coal power plants by providing the resources they need to meet
federal requirements and reduce greenhouse gases.”
The bill will accelerate five or six commercial
demonstration projects of carbon capture and storage at advanced new coal
plants, as well as retrofit existing plants with this technology. Approximately $1 billion will be raised and
invested through a small fee of one-half mill (1/20th of a cent) per
kilowatt hour.
“This bill will further strengthen America’s coal
industry, promote new “green” jobs, and protect our environment,” said
Murtha. “It’s the responsible thing to
do.”
In January 2008, the U.S. EPA’s Advanced Coal Technology
Work Group unanimously recommended that Congress create a Carbon Capture and
Sequestration Early Development Fund, and this legislation closely follows
these recommendations.
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