Ohio Jobs Depend on Clean Coal Technology Research

The projects (complete list below) involve developing a range of emission control technologies, including CO2 capturing, software ingenuity and equipment enhancements. Only California has more such projects underway.
"Clean coal technology is allowing us to retrieve the energy we need from our most affordable and reliable domestic source of fuel - coal," said Joe Lucas, Executive Director of ABEC. "This investment will allow Ohio to reduce emissions and work toward a fleet of near-zero emissions power plants."
In 2007, 85% of Ohio's electricity was coal-generated. ABEC notes that coal has been a significant player in helping control electricity cost inflation in Ohio, while other energy costs more than doubled in the last five years.
The research projects are located in 14 communities around the Buckeye State, from Aberdeen and Cincinnati in the southwest, to Alliance, Cleveland and Niles in the northeast, Columbus in the center and places in between.
"Ohio provides a major supply of coal for our country's energy needs," said Lucas. "This investment in technology research will be instrumental in sustaining the viability of Ohio's job market and economy while and improving the quality of the state's environment."

Researchers from Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve University, the University of Cincinnati and Battelle Memorial Institute are involved, along with employees of Dayton Power and Light, Ohio Power Company, Ohio Edison and FirstEnergy.

The U.S. Department of Energy and its National Energy Technology Laboratory are the primary government sponsors of the research.

In another study released this week, ABEC found that energy costs consume almost half the incomes of the lowest-income families and almost a fifth of after-tax income of families earning between $10,000 and $50,000 a year.

Americans for Balanced Energy Choices is a non-profit, non-partisan group that promotes a dialogue with community leaders across the nation to discuss balancing America's growing demand for electricity with the need to protect the environment. ABEC counts more than 150,000 members nationwide, with 5,000 living in Ohio. Because of its prominence in the nation's energy mix, electricity from coal is a major focus of the dialogue. The Web site is www.americaspower.org.