Gerard: Senate passage of energy bill 'important step' toward ensuring affordable, reliable energy future

摘要

Comprehensive energy legislation passed 84-14 by the Senate late Thursday is an "important step toward ensuring an affordable and reliable future for America's energy users," NMA President and CEO Jack N. Gerard said on Friday. "The Clean Coal Power Initiative and basic coal research and development program included in the measure will allow coal-based electricity generation to continue the unprecedented progress made in meeting our energy needs while achieving dramatic environmental improvements," he said. "We are hopeful this important step will lead to Congressional passage of a comprehensive energy measure by year's end." Like legislation (H.R. 6) approved by the House earlier this year, the bill - the same passed by the Senate in April 2002 - includes some important provisions for coal. In addition to a 10-year, 2 billion dollars clean coal power initiative and the basic coal research and development program, the bill has 1.9 billion dollars in tax incentives to encourage commercialization of advanced clean coal technologies.