05.03.17

Hoeven: FY17 Funding Bill Includes $6 Million to Develop CO2 Capture Technology

Senator Working to Support ND’s Energy Industry, Future of Coal Power

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today announced that the Fiscal Year 2017 funding bill includes $6 million in competitive grant funding to develop commercially-viable carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies. The funding will support the initial engineering, testing and design work for a commercial-scale, carbon capture project on an existing coal-fueled generating unit, similar to Project Tundra, which is being developed by Allete Clean Energy, Minnkota Power and BNI Coal. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the senator worked to support this research program in the funding legislation, which is under consideration by the House and Senate this week.

“We need to ensure that our nation can take advantage of all of its energy resources,” Hoeven said. “Clean coal technologies, like Project Tundra and the Allam Cycle, will help ensure affordable energy for consumers and businesses, as well as energy security and a stronger economy for our nation.”

“On behalf of Minnkota Power Cooperative, I thank Senator Hoeven for his efforts to ensure coal remains a significant part of our energy future. The research program secured by Senator Hoeven is critical to helping preserve an electrical generating fleet that is reliable and affordable. Senator Hoeven has once again demonstrated remarkable leadership in forging a path forward for coal-based electrical resources and developing a true all-of-the-above energy policy for our country,” Minnkota Power President and CEO Mac McLennan said.

Today’s funding comes as part of Hoeven’s ongoing efforts to support the development of commercially-viable clean coal technologies. To this end, the senator invited Energy Secretary Rick Perry to North Dakota during his recent confirmation process to see firsthand the innovative research and development that is ongoing in the state.

In addition to Project Tundra, Hoeven highlighted for Perry the Allam Cycle, a pilot and demonstration project to reduce CO2 emissions and increase efficiency in new coal-fired and natural gas power plants being undertaken by the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota, Basin Electric and Allete Inc.

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