Morgantown , WV – During a visit today to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory in Morgantown, West Virginia, Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Jeffrey Jarrett promoted the President’s new Advanced Energy Initiative and the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 request for $281 million to develop advanced coal technologies.  Assistant Secretary Jarrett discussed with lab officials the important role NETL will play in the development of this new initiative through the expansion of advanced clean coal technologies.

 

“Coal is our country's most abundant and affordable energy resource, and we must find ways to use it in a clean, environmentally friendly way,” Assistant Secretary Jarrett said.  “NETL will help change the outlook for America’s energy future by placing more reliance on our massive coal reserves and lead the drive to eliminate pollution and greenhouse gas emissions over the coming decades.”

 

With his FY07 request, the president nearly completes his $2 billion commitment to fund clean coal technologies four years ahead of schedule.  As one of the world’s leading research organizations, principally for coal and fossil energy, NETL scientists are working to develop these advanced pollution-control technologies through the Clean Coal Technology Program.  The environmental benefits for Americans – particularly with the development of pollution-reduction technologies - are estimated in the tens of billions. 

 

In addition to clean coal, NETL is also furthering the president’s energy agenda through programs like the $950 million FutureGen Project, the world's first zero-emissions prototype power plant aimed at producing hydrogen through coal.  The FutureGen Project is underway today based on NETL-developed technologies with the goal of  transforming the way Americans power our automobiles and trucks by serving as an early source of hydrogen. 

 

During today’s visit, Assistant Secretary Jarrett outlined ways NETL can continue to contribute to the president’s new energy initiatives.  In his State of the Union Address, President Bush outlined the Advanced Energy Initiative to help reduce America’s reliance on foreign sources of energy, specifically by developing new technology.  The Advanced Energy Initiative requests $2.1 billion, a 22 percent budget increase, to develop new technologies and alternative sources of energy to help diversify and strengthen America’s energy mix. 

 

President Bush also announced the American Competitiveness Initiative to encourage American innovation and strengthen our nation’s ability to compete in the global economy.  The American Competitiveness Initiative is a multi-agency commitment to ensure that America remains competitive in the global marketplace.  Funding for scientific research will double to nearly $19.5 billion in 2016 at DOE’s Office of Science, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology.  The funding increase will begin in FY 2007 with the three offices receiving a total of $10.66 billion, an increase of 9.3% over FY 2006. 

 

As part of the Bush Administration’s broader effort to promote production and use of alternative and renewable sources of energy, Administration officials are traveling the country to promote President Bush’s energy initiatives.  Secretary Bodman made a total of four stops around the country this week, promoting the Advanced Energy and American Competitiveness Initiatives, in addition to highlighting a number of energy efficiency programs, notably biomass (including cellulosic ethanol), hydrogen and solar. 

 

On Wednesday, Secretary Bodman met with students and teachers at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Newport News, Virginia, to discuss the importance of science and math education.  Also on Wednesday, Secretary Bodman toured the Archer Daniels Midland Ethanol plant in Decatur, Illinois, and announced a $160 million solicitation for Biorefinery Construction.  Yesterday, Secretary Bodman visited GT Solar Technologies in Merrimack, New Hampshire, to promote President Bush’s Solar America Initiative, which seeks expand the use of solar energy technologies throughout the U.S. by 2015.  He also promoted President Bush’s $1.2 billion, five-year commitment to the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative, as part of President Bush’s Advanced Energy Initiative, while visiting the General Motors Fuel Cell Activities in western New York. 

 

Also this week, DOE Assistant Secretary John Shaw visited Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, DOE and Assistant Secretary Karen Harbert will visit green manufacturer Steelcase wood plant in Grand Rapids, MI, and provide remarks at the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center, in Muskegon, Michigan.  Acting Assistant Secretary Doug Faulkner will make two stops; yesterday, he delivered remarks at the Biomass and Switchgrass Conference at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama.  Today, Faulkner will visit the Gerdau Ameristeel Mill Savings Assessment in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, to promote the president’s energy initiatives and energy efficiency.

 

For more information, visit energy.gov.