Pseudo-green stimulus pork for Obama-land?

FutureGen is in line for $1 billion in stimulus money in Matoon, Ill.

Of course, BushCo money for FutureGen was cut off after Matoon was chosen over two Texas sites in 2007. Two separate probes, one by the GAO and one by Congress, are looking at that.

That said, let’s remember it’s NOT “clean” coal, just ‘somewhat less dirty” coal. And, it’s still primarily a government project. I’d prefer to invest less money until utilities line up more behind Obama’s carbon-dioxide control plans. And, to have not just Energy Secretary Chu but also the National Academy of Sciences weigh in on FutureGen.

FutureGen hits PresentSnag — and, is it all hype in the end?

The experimental power plant for carbon-capture coal-fired electricity has been shelved:

With the budget of the so-called FutureGen project having nearly doubled, to $1.8 billion, and the government responsible for more than 70 percent of the eventual bill, the administration completely revamped the project.

The Energy Department said it would pay for the gas-capturing technology, but industry would have to build and pay for the commercial plants that use the technology. Plans for the experimental plant were scratched.

Top Energy Department officials said the change would save taxpayers money, generate more electricity and capture more than twice as much carbon dioxide.

But independent energy experts largely criticized the move, saying it would require two to four more years for new designs, plans and approvals, let alone budget tussles and eventual construction.

The idea is to capture carbon dioxide emitted by coal-fire power plants and then pump it deep into the earth to avoid further buildup of the gas in the atmosphere. But several experts said the plan still lacked the scope to test various gas-separation technologies, coal varieties, and — most important — whether varied geological conditions can permanently hold carbon dioxide.

I’m guessing that, in another five years, we’ll see FutureGen as the same global-warming stall bullshit out of Bush as the hydrogen car.

Texas spends $1 billion to court FutureGen

Yes, that’s the price of incentivess the state is spending to attract the experimental clean-coal technology power plant.

Just think if Gov. Rick Perry and the Lege would shell out that much to enforce current state and federal pollution regulations, toughen up state laws, and cooperate with, rather than fight, the EPA on urban ozone standards in the biggest metropolitan areas.

But, that would be so “environmentalist,” so “green,” and we can’t have that in the Lone Star State now, can we?

And, for the last time, you numbnut east Texans, the Leon County site gets no bonus points for being on top of an active coal mine. Texas lignite is way too dirty to use for clean coal technology. You’ll be seeing rail cars come from Wyoming, instead.