WASHINGTON, March 8, 2006 /PRNewswire

 

The FutureGen Industrial Alliance today said it has released the final Request for Proposals (RFPs) for parties interested in hosting the world's first coal-fueled "zero emissions" power plant.

The final RFP and responses to questions and comments made on the Draft RFP are posted on the Alliance's website at http://www.FutureGenAlliance.org . Proposals for the host site are due May 4, 2006. Based on an evaluation of the proposals received, the Alliance will develop a list of candidate sites by the summer of 2006.

The FutureGen project will integrate several technologies to generate electricity and hydrogen from coal -- an abundant energy resource in the U.S. and other regions of the world -- while nearly eliminating emissions.

It will combine several technologies including advanced Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) technology with carbon dioxide capture and storage in deep saline reservoirs, which have the greatest capacity for sequestration. This approach will help ensure global transferability of the technology.

The FutureGen Alliance is a coalition representing some of the world's largest coal companies and electric utilities that are partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy to facilitate design, construction, and operation of the world's cleanest coal plant. Member companies are contributing up to $250 million to help fund project development and include: American Electric Power; Anglo American; BHP Billiton; the China Huaneng Group; CONSOL Energy Inc.; Foundation Coal; Kennecott Energy; Peabody Energy and Southern Company.

The U.S. government, working with other nations, plans to invest $700 million. There is growing international interest in the project with India recently announcing its intent to contribute to the U.S. government's share of the costs of FutureGen.

The FutureGen Alliance member companies provide energy to tens of millions of U.S. and international residential, business, and industrial customers. Member companies have global operations serving customers in Asia, Australia, Canada, Continental Europe, the People's Republic of China, South Africa and the United States, among other regions.

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