News Releases for January 2003
January 15, 2003
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Hoeven Announces New Clean Coal Technology Project At Great River Energy
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today announced that Great River Energy in Underwood has been competitively selected to participate in a new clean coal technology project with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
“This new technology is a benefit to the industry and a benefit to the environment,” Hoeven said. “Projects like these help pave the way for a cleaner, more efficient and competitive energy sector in North Dakota.”
The public-sector, private-sector partnership will demonstrate an innovative technology for drying lignite coal to boost the coal’s energy content and simultaneously reduce cost and CO2 emissions. The project is expected to produce a 2.8 percent increase in overall power plant efficiency, reducing the cost of electrical production by $0.70 a megawatt hour. At the same time, CO2 will be reduced proportionate to the plant’s production efficiency.
The DOE will provide $11 million of the project’s $22 million total cost. Preliminary studies were funded with a $161,000 matching grant by the North Dakota Lignite Research Council, a state agency that recommends policies and funding projects to the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The match was provided by Great River Energy, Falkirk Mining Co., and Coteau Properties Co.
The next step in the process will be a formal negotiation of the cooperative agreement between DOE and Great River Energy. The North Dakota Industrial Commission provided $161,000 for preliminary feasibility studies for the project.
North Dakota’s Lignite Research, Development and Marketing Program is a multi-million dollar state/industry partnership that concentrates on near term, practical research and development projects that provide the opportunity to preserve and enhance development of our state’s abundant lignite resources. Over 19,500 jobs, $1.5 billion in business volume, and $68 million in tax revenue are generated by the lignite industry for the State of North Dakota each year.
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