From the Statehouse 2006 No. 21
by Jennifer Garrison
Jul. 26, 2006
FROM THE STATEHOUSE – 2006 ARTICLE 21
OHIO Out Of THE RUNNING FOR FUTUREGEN – BUT STILL A WINNER
One of the special committees I sit on is the Ohio Coal Development Office Technical Advisory Committee (Ohio Coal TAC). The Coal Development Office Technical Advisory Committee meets monthly to approve funding for coal research projects. The mission of the Coal Development Office is to promote the use of Ohio coal.
The past year the coal TAC has spent much of its time involved in the Ohio FutureGen proposals. FutureGen is a $1 billion federal-private partnership to build and operate the world’s first near zero emissions power plant. The facility will sequester the carbon dioxide and produce hydrogen and electricity. One site in the country will be awarded the FutureGen Plant.
The location of the best proposal, will become the leader in clean coal technology research in the world. For the region fortunate enough to land FutureGen, 1000 construction jobs for up to 5 years will be created. Once FutureGen is up and running hundreds of research and support jobs will result.
The economic potential for the entire region that receives this project is enormous. Businesses that work with the FutureGen site will also pop up around the region. Ohio submitted 2 sites for consideration. One in Meigs County and one in Tuscawaras county.
On Tuesday, July 25, 2006, the FutureGen Industrial Alliance announced their finalists list. The short list included two (2) sites in Illinois and two (2) sites in Texas. While I am disappointed that Ohio will not be the home of FutureGen, Ohio and all states that submitted proposals are winners. Ohio learned a lot. We discovered information on our geological formations, energy resources and reserves.
Additionally, cooperative alliances formed within the states and between the states to solve our country’s energy challenges. Developing clean coal technologies will allow us to use high sulfer coal, like Ohio coal, and reduce our dependence on foreign energy supplies. Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania formed the Ohio River Valley Coal Research Consortium. This consortium includes major universities and research and technology development organizations in these states whose mission is to advance the objectives of FutureGen.
In April, with the assistance of Mike Jacoby, Director of the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority and Bobby Poage, Plant Manager at Nova Chemicals I organized a meeting with Ohio’s FutureGen consultants and representatives of area chemical companies. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Jacoby and Mr. Poage. The objective of the meeting was to solicit support for the FutureGen site in Meigs and Tuscawasras counties. Some of the companies submitted letters of interest in the byproducts generated in the FutureGen process. I would like to thank all the companies who attended the meeting and submitted letters of interest.
Ohio will continue to expand its role as a clean coal and energy technology leader. The knowledge and data we gained through this process will serve Ohio well in the future. Our relationships with other states have been enhanced to share information and resources to move forward on clean coal technologies.
You can reach Jennifer Garrison at her Columbus office at 614-644-8728 or in the district at 740-373-2414 or by e-mail at jennifer@jennifergarrison.com. Her website is Riffe Center | 77 South High Street | Columbus Ohio 43215-6111 | (800) 282-0253 | District93@ohr.state.oh.us
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