The Department of Energy's FutureGen Program
On January 31, 2008, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced a significant departure from its clean coal initiative, FutureGen. Originally conceived in 2003, FutureGen was touted as a pollution-free power plant of the future intended to showcase cutting-edge technologies to address climate change and advance the President’s hydrogen initiative.
Panel I- C. H. “Bud” Albright, Under Secretary of Energy, Department of Energy
- Jeffrey N. Phillips, Program Manager, Advanced Coal Generation EPRI
- Ben Yamagata, Executive Director, Coal Utilization Research Council
- Paul W. Thompson, Senior Vice President, Energy Services, E.ON U.S. LLC
Coal Gasification Technologies and the Need for Large Scale Projects
Coal gasification can provide an efficient, clean, and versatile way to generate electricity and other energy products from coal as an alternative to traditional generation methods. The process allows for the removal of pollutants such as sulfur and nitrogen compounds that contribute to smog and acid rain, and the capability to capture carbon dioxide without releasing it into the atmosphere. The Subcommittee will examine coal gasification technologies, including the challenges and advantages over traditional technologies, and the need for large scale integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) demonstration projects that feature carbon capture and sequestration.
Witnesses- John Marburger III, Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President
- James Childress, Executive Director, Gasification Technologies Council
- Joseph P. Strakey Jr., Chief Technology Officer, U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory
- Michael J. Mudd, Chief Executive Officer, FutureGen Alliance, Inc.
- David Hawkins, Director, Climate Center, Natural Resources Defense Council
- Mr. John Novak, Executive Director, Federal and Industry Activities, Environment and Generation, The Electric Power Research Institute