WASHINGTON, DC, Aug. 12, 2010 -- Today, the Interagency Task Force on Carbon Capture and Storage released a report on carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) which lays out a plan to overcome the barriers to widespread, cost-effective deployment of CCS within 10 years.
The report found that, although there are issues to resolve, carbon capture and storage technology is viable, without any insurmountable technical, legal, or institutional barriers to development and deployment.
"Our nation generates over half of our electricity from coal, and we are not alone in our dependence; China is adding a new coal-fired plant every week. This is a global problem," said Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN). "The plan released today marks a significant step towards being able to utilize our nation's vast coal resources while decreasing carbon emissions, and leading the world in this emerging market. We need to develop carbon capture and sequestration technologies -- and the jobs that come with them -- here in the U.S. I applaud the administration and the initiative it has demonstrated in organizing this task force and delivering this plan on schedule."
"This report again shows that coal, our most abundant domestic energy resource, is a viable part of our energy future," said senior Committee Member Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL). "The coal reserves in my home state of Illinois contain more Btu's than the oil reserves of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. We must make significant investments in clean technology to continue using coal as efficiently and cleanly as possible, and Carbon Capture and Storage technology has increasing promise and market forces are showing it can be competitive. I look forward to ensuring a robust and focused program of continued research, development, and demonstration for CCS."
The task force was established in response to a February 3, 2010, memo from the White House. It is comprised of fourteen executive departments and federal agencies, including: the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Council for Environmental Quality, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
More information on the Committee's work on Carbon Capture and Sequestration >
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