September 21, 2005—A coalition of the largest electric utilities and coal companies in the United States announced that they have created the FutureGen Industrial Alliance, a non-profit company that will partner with the US Department of Energy (DOE) to facilitate the design, construction and operation of the world’s first near-zero emissions coal-based power plant.
FutureGen will demonstrate advanced coal-based technologies to generate electricity for families and businesses, and also produce hydrogen to power fuel cells for transportation and other energy needs, the alliance says. The technology also will integrate the capture of carbon emissions with carbon sequestration, helping to address the issue of climate change.
The 275 megawatt plant will be developed through a public-private partnership led by the seven founding FutureGen Industrial Alliance members: American Electric Power, BHP Billiton, CONSOL Energy Inc., Foundation Coal Corporation, Kennecott Energy Company, Peabody Energy and Southern Company.
Because of the global interest in meeting energy demands and improving emissions, membership in the Alliance is open to other US and international companies. The Alliance is presently in discussions with the China Huaneng Group, the largest Peoples Republic of China-based energy company primarily engaged in coal-fueled power generation. The Alliance is also in discussions with other companies and expects membership to grow.
For more information, visit the Web site American Electric Power.
