U.S. House votes to restore clean-coal technology funding

Jun 8 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Charles Owens Bluefield Daily Telegraph, W.Va.

Funding for clean-coal technology research that President Barack Obama attempted to eliminate has been restored by the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives in a new water and energy appropriations bill.

The measure passed the House Thursday by a vote of 255 to 165, and now moves to the Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate. Area lawmakers in the House applauded the passage of the measure Thursday.

"Long-term investments in our economy and cleaner, cutting-edge coal technologies are critical to ensuring that the United States remains a competitive force in the global economy," U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., who voted in support of the measure, said. "We must continue pressing hard for these investments that will help to create new job opportunities in the region and provide a better future for our children and our children's children."

U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., welcomes the restoration of the clean-coal technology funding, spokeswoman Maggie Seidel said.

"The congressman didn't have a problem with the restoration of this funding," Seidel said. "In fact, he opposed several amendments which would've cut funding for this program. With respect to the Senate, it's the congressman's hope that the Senate will see our work and consider passing a bill of their own. Ultimately, he believes the fossil energy program will survive."

Rahall said the bill provides funding for the U.S. Department of Energy, the Appalachian Regional Commission and related agencies throughout the coming 2013 fiscal year. The measure also restores funding levels that Obama had proposed to cut from the fossil energy program for coal research, which underwrites the development of coal technologies to burn coal more cleanly and efficiently, Rahall's office said. The program also oversees carbon capture and sequestration efforts deemed vital for the continued use of coal for power generation.

"Every time gas prices spike, we recognize the need to invest in cleaner, cutting-edge use of West Virginia's abundant coal supplies," Rahall said. "This research is essential for promoting the development of coal-derived fuel facilities, like the $4 billion coal-to-gasoline plant now under construction in Mingo County, to help reduce America's over-reliance on foreign oil. Where the administration has given lip service to fossil energy and coal research, and then proposed whacking the budget for it, I pressed hard to restore the funding."

The House bill also increases funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission by $7 million. The ARC provides grants and loans for a wide variety of economic development projects throughout the Appalachian Region, as well as funding for highway and infrastructure programs.

-- Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com