Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this hearing today on coal gasification.

 

In the United States alone, coal fired power plants satisfy more than half of the nation’s energy needs and this percentage is likely to increase in the future.  Coal is both abundant, inexpensive, and represents one of our most important natural resources.

 

It is a stable commodity and a key component in satisfying the United States’ growing energy demands.  Coal production is an important element to our national security.  Without it, we would be increasingly reliant on unstable or unfriendly nations for our energy needs.

 

Continued reliance on imported energy from volatile regions of the world is not a solution.  We must increase our domestic production in order to remain globally competitive and we must do so in an environmentally responsible manner.

 

New technologies to make this possible are on the horizon.  Carbon capture and sequestration is just one of many processes already in development.  Groundbreaking research is being conducted to develop new ways to burn coal in order to maximize energy yield and employ cleaner and more efficient processes.    

 

One of these processes is the Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle or IGCC.  The IGCC process is a promising new technology, which has the potential to increase efficiency by 40 percent. 

 

However, I understand that this process is not conducive to all regions because of its limitations on the type of coal, which can be used.  Solutions must be found that will accommodate the local needs and we must continue to research and develop other methods.

 

I believe that in order to reduce our impact on the environment while still providing the energy necessary to fuel our economy, we must take steps to find a technological solution and make clean coal a reality.  This is why I am a cosponsor of Senator Kerry’s clean coal demonstration bill.  S.2323 would require the Secretary of Energy to establish a competitive grant program to provide assistance for commercial demonstration projects for the capture and sequestration of carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants.

 

As we move into the future, many different types of energy technology must be used in order for this nation to remain competitive and secure.  Coal will continue to be the backbone of our nation’s energy supply, and we must develop ways to use it in an efficient and clean manner.