http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/environment/2008-02-26-coal-co2_N.htm

Alstrom and We Energies have partnered up to start the first domestic carbon capture project on a coal-fired power plant.

At the Wisconsin plant, Alstom has built a 90-foot-high addition criss-crossed by huge pipes and heat exchangers to capture the carbon, using a process called chilled ammonia. After coal is burned in a boiler, ammonium carbonate absorbs about 90% of the resulting CO2 to form ammonium bicarbonate, a solid and liquid. The carbon will then be separated under high pressure and released into the air as a gas.

Although this project will only capture 3% of carbon emissions and then immediately release them into the air, it is still a big start towards full carbon capture and sequestration considering last month's cancellation of FutureGen.

Deutch says only the federal government can oversee the challenging task of burying carbon in rock formations. Researchers must ensure that the carbon doesn't contaminate water supplies, and officials must determine who is liable if the CO2 leaks to neighboring properties, he says.

Hilton, the head of business development for Alstom's global environmental business, thinks Deutch is underestimating private efforts. "Sometimes government programs prolong a product coming to market," he says.

USA Today; February 27, 2008

Submitted by B. Shapiro