Tri-Cities Tech Business Update
DOE funds CO2 project
A partnership between researchers at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Boise White Paper LLC, and Fluor Corporation to demonstrate geologic carbon dioxide storage in deep flood basalt formations in Washington will receive $500,000 from DOE. The funding was announced on October 2 by Energy Secretary Steven Chu and is part of $1.4-billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that will be used to select 12 projects to capture carbon dioxide from industrial sources for storage or beneficial use. "This is a major step forward in the fight to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from industrial plants," Secretary Chu said. "These new technologies will not only help fight climate change, they will create jobs now and help position the U.S. to lead the world in carbon dioxide capture technologies, which will only increase in demand in the years ahead." Phase I of the projects will include $21.6- million in ARRA funding and $22.5-million in private funding for a total initial investment of $44.1-million. The remaining ARRA funds will be awarded to the most promising projects during a competitive Phase 2 selection process. Carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas and contributor to global climate change. Successful development of advanced technologies and innovative concepts to cut emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is a key objective of the Obama administration's effort to mitigate effects of climate change.
