Caterpillar has revealed its intent to join the FutureGen Alliance, a public-private partnership established to build a coal-fired, near-zero emissions power plant in Mattoon, Illinois.
The FutureGen facility is designed to be a clean coal burning plant and will integrate advanced technologies for coal gasification, electricity production, emissions control, carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and permanent storage and hydrogen production on a commercial scale.
Caterpillar has been working on technologies and policies that slow, stop and reverse the growth of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. Caterpillar said that joining the FutureGen Alliance further solidifies the company’s global effort to promote sustainable development and reduce carbon emissions.
Doug Oberhelman, vice chairman of Caterpillar, said: ”Clean-coal plays a critical role in our energy supply, energy security and environmental protection.The FutureGen project will demonstrate carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies that are absolutely essential for the world to realize reductions in GHG emissions.
”This alliance recognizes the global nature of climate and energy challenges and will provide domestic and international communities the ground breaking technologies to assist in the shared goal of reducing GHG emissions. This is an important step to demonstrate that coal – the most abundant and secure fuel source for electricity generation – can be counted on to produce competitive, low carbon energy supplies for current and future generations.”
The FutureGen plant is a 275MW integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) power plant. It will be capable of powering about 150,000 homes. The US Department of Energy will provide more than $1bn in funding to the project.
Dick Durbin, US senator, said: ”In just a little over a week, the FutureGen Alliance has added another strong partner with a deep connection to Illinois. Caterpillar will bring a great deal to the table as the FutureGen Alliance and the Department of Energy continue in the final stages of negotiations.”
Michael Mudd, CEO of FutureGen Alliance, said: ”FutureGen is not only gaining the support of one of the world’s leading manufacturing companies, but also a partner in advancing CCS technology to produce reliable, low-carbon power from our nation’s abundant supply of coal. We are grateful to have Caterpillar’s support in bringing the world’s premier clean-coal power plant to Illinois.”