For Release: Tuesday, May 20, 2003
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661
Washington - U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) announced today that Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) has received a $2,031,757 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to perform coal research. The Coal Research Center will undertake a 36-month program to identify and demonstrate the stability of porous candle filter elements for use in high temperature pressurized fluidized-bed combustion process applications.
"This grant is a further indication of the national importance of SIUC's clean coal programs," said Costello. "Our nation's economic and national security depends on providing affordable sources of energy into the future. Coal is an indispensable part of any national energy policy and I will continue to work to make this type of research a federal priority."
Costello is a senior member of the House Science Committee and recently authored provisions passed by the full House of Representatives as part of the energy bill providing for $1.8 billion over nine years for research and demonstration projects in advanced clean coal technologies with the goal of reaching emission levels comparable with natural gas. The fossil energy research budget would be increased by 5% annually while guaranteeing 60% of this money would be used for coal research. The legislation would also create "Centers of Excellence for Energy Systems of the Future" at universities with a proven record of demonstrating clean coal technologies, such as SIUC.
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