PITTSBURGH, PA – U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Jeffrey Jarrett today joined Rep. Tim Murphy (PA-18th) for an energy conference, Coal: The Jewel of Pennsylvania, at Carnegie Mellon University, to highlight the importance of clean coal technology and tout America’s robust economy.  Assistant Secretary Jarrett discussed President Bush’s commitment to invest $2-billion in clean coal technologies over ten years, and the construction of the world’s largest clean coal power plant that will produce virtually no emissions through the FutureGen Initiative.  Clean coal is a key element of President Bush’s Advanced Energy Initiative, which seeks to invest in the development of clean and reliable energy technologies to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources.

“Clean coal is our nation’s most abundant and affordable energy source that powers our homes and businesses and keeps our economy thriving,” Assistant Secretary Jarrett said.  “Through Bush Administration research investments, DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory is helping to change the outlook of America’s energy future by advancing clean coal technology research to increase efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Pittsburgh stands on a 250-year supply of coal, a seam which is one of the most valuable natural resource supplies in the world,” Rep. Murphy said.  “The development of clean coal technology and the ability to use waste coal as a source of energy are absolutely vital in leading us towards energy independence.  We have to diversify our energy sources in order to reduce the trend toward higher natural gas and oil prices. Coal is the ace in Southwestern Pennsylvania's hand.”

In addition to discussing positive impacts of new energy technologies on strengthening America’s economic and energy security, Assistant Secretary Jarrett also discussed the overall health of the U.S. economy, underscored by new unemployment figures released today.  128,000 jobs were created nationwide in August.  The economy has created more than 1.7 million jobs over the past 12 months - and more than 5.7 million jobs since August 2003.  Our economy has now added jobs for 36 straight months and the unemployment rate is 4.7 percent - below the average of each of the past three decades.  These figures indicate that the American economy is strong by almost any measure.

Assistant Secretary Jarrett discussed the FutureGen Initiative, which will create the world's first coal-based, zero-emissions electricity and hydrogen power plant.  This $1 billion, 10-year demonstration project is designed to dramatically reduce air pollution and capture and store greenhouse gases.  Assistant Secretary Jarrett also discussed progress on the Administration’s 10-year Clean Coal Power Initiative, which is reducing emissions and improving the efficiency of existing and new coal-based power plants, enabling a strong future for America's most abundant resource.

Joining Assistant Secretary Jarrett and Rep. Murphy at today’s conference were Dr. Pradeep Khosla, Dean, Carnegie Institute of Technology, and local academic and business leaders.

Media contact(s):
Julie Ruggiero, (202) 586-4940