Domenici Says Construction of Advanced Clean Coal Power Plant in Florida a Positive Development
Senator Notes That New Plant Will Help Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions
September 10, 2007
04:17 PM
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today praised the groundbreaking of an advanced clean coal electric generating facility near Orlando, Florida, as an important step toward lowering emissions.
The construction begins just six weeks after an Energy Committee hearing to discuss recent advancements in clean coal technology. At the hearing, Domenici called for the government to invest in technological advancements that allow continued use of affordable, domestic coal while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The new Florida plant will be one of the cleanest coal-fueled power plants in the world.
“As our most abundant and affordable fossil resource, coal must be utilized as part of the solution to our country’s growing energy needs,” Domenici said. “Whether we like it or not, coal is a major part of our energy future. For that reason, I support efforts to improve technology and develop plants that produce more energy and less carbon dioxide.”
The facility will be located at the Orlando Utilities Commission’s Stanton Energy Center in Orange County, Florida, and will turn coal into synthetic gas to be used for electricity generation. With an estimated eight percent gain in efficiency over the United States coal fleet average, the advanced 285-megawatt integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) will result in a 20% reduction in fuel consumption, producing more power while using less coal.
“This remarkable unit will have the capability to produce 20-25 percent less carbon dioxide than many of our existing coal plants, while consuming less water and reducing the emission of harmful elements such as mercury,” Domenici said. “I am looking forward to seeing this and similar plants come online in the near future.”
The plant is part of the President’s Clean Coal Power Initiative, which aims to improve the efficiency of existing and new coal-based power plants and reduce emissions. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee has held three full Committee hearings on coal this year.
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