U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of State to Announce Carbon Capture and Storage Initiatives

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham and Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky will be joined by representatives from several invited countries to announce plans for an international forum to advance carbon and storage technologies.

In addition, Secretary Abraham will announce a government-sponsored, public-private partnership to create the world’s first pollution-free, fossil fuel fired power plant. The announcements follow a briefing to the President by Secretary Abraham, Secretary of State Colin Powell and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christine Todd Whitman.

The event will take place Thursday, February 27, 2003, at 3:30 p.m. at the Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. A press briefing will follow the announcements.

Both initiatives will address global climate change by promoting innovative technologies for reducing the buildup of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere.

Carbon sequestration technologies have been singled out by President Bush as one of the most promising approaches for reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It encompasses a variety of new methods for capturing carbon dioxide from the exhausts of energy plants and storing it before it is released into the atmosphere, as well as removing carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere through uptake by forests, vegetation and soils.

Media should enter through the Department of Energy cafeteria entrance located directly across from the main Department entrance. Media representatives wishing to attend the event must show press credentials and a photo ID (a driver’s license or passport). Please contact Energy Department Public Affairs for further information.

Department of Energy news media contacts for the event are: Jill Vieth/ Drew Malcomb, 202/586-4940. The Department of State media contact is Susan Povenmire, 202/647-3486.