Restructuring FutureGen

摘要

It was five years ago that the Department of Energy unveiled its FutureGen program, with the goal of developing a first-of-its-kind, prototype coal-fired power plant with near-zero emissions, using an advanced, integrated gasification-combined cycle power plant (IGCC) coupled with carbon capture and storage (CCS). The FutureGen Alliance was formed to assess alternative technologies and locations for the plant. DOE committed to paying 74 percent of the project's costs, originally estimated at $950 million. The balance was to be funded by a consortium of 13 power and coal companies. In late 2007, the Alliance selected a location for the prototype demonstration plant: Mattoon, I11. As cost escalations have plagued infrastructure projects worldwide, the DOE was growing concerned that projected FutureGen costs had doubled to nearly $1.8 billion, with the likely prospect that costs could rise even further. In January 2008, over objections from the Alliance partners, the DOE decided to substantially restructure the plans and objectives for FutureGen. The DOE is now interested in funding only the CCS portion of IGCC plants being planned by interested utilities; it does not want to be involved in the plants' generation technology selection and construction.