FutureGen Alliance Moves Forward With Site Selection Process for CO2 Storage Hub in Illinois
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In support of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) FutureGen 2.0 program, the FutureGen Alliance today released the site selection guidelines for communities that would like to be considered as the host for a carbon dioxide (CO2) storage site. Using safe, proven pipeline technology, the hub will receive and store CO2 emissions from a power plant in Meredosia, Ill. that will be repowered with advanced oxy-combustion technology. The hub also will include CCS visitor, research and training facilities and will result in additional local economic development and job creation.
FutureGen Alliance Chief Executive Officer Kenneth K. Humphreys said releasing the Guidance for Prospective Site Offerors in advance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) will allow communities to begin evaluating the benefits of hosting the site in more detail and forming their proposal teams.
"Today marks another significant milestone in advancing cutting-edge, near-zero emissions technology. The Alliance is working with the project partners on an aggressive timeline to bring this facility online. We are releasing the Guidance so that prospective site offerors can begin now to evaluate the opportunity, form proposal teams and acquire the resources, data and documentation that will be required for the competitive site selection process," said Humphreys.
Later this month, the Alliance will issue an RFP and offerors will be required to submit complete proposals in approximately three weeks. The Alliance will evaluate possible sites for the CO2 storage hub during the fall of 2010, and expects to announce a site in early 2011. At least one public meeting will be held to explain the process and accept comments. The site will undergo extensive environmental review by DOE in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and will be fully permitted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
The CO2 storage site must be able to meet minimum technical requirements including access to Mt. Simon sandstone in Illinois. The Alliance's site selection decision will also consider other factors such as the protection of environmental resources and human health and safety, cost minimization, and the ability to meet the design and construction schedule. Local community support for the CO2 storage site will be a critical factor in the Alliance's site selection. Additional information about the site selection process is available at www.futuregenalliance.org.
FutureGen 2.0 is supported by a $1 billion commitment in federal funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the construction of a near-zero emissions coal-fueled power plant.
SOURCE FutureGen Alliance
Share this article