CURC Position Statement on Climate Change Legislation

February 26, 2008

2008 CURC Position Statement on Climate Legislation:

Coal will continue to play a vital role in meeting energy needs and its abundance and use in the United States helps to insure our national energy security.  Members of CURC recognize that there is a growing belief among policymakers that reductions of greenhouse gases are necessary to address the global issue of climate change.  Technologies must be available to insure that U.S. coal resources continue to meet energy needs while cost-effectively reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Technology also will play a crucial role worldwide as the demand for energy from coal grows rapidly. 

Proposed New CURC Climate Change Principles

1. The U.S. has abundant coal resources which currently supply 50% of U.S. electricity needs and are capable of supplying even a greater portion of our growing energy needs. In order to maintain U.S. economic vitality and promote domestic energy security, continued low cost electricity from coal will be imperative under any program to control greenhouse gas emissions. 

2. Technology will be a primary enabler to reducing greenhouse gas emissions while providing low cost and carbon friendly electricity from coal.  Technology also will enable the use of coal in providing needed energy in other sectors of the economy.

3. Substantial federal financial support will be required to lead an accelerated and sustained national commitment to research, development, demonstration and widespread deployment of more-efficient electricity generation and carbon capture and storage technology.

4. Any public policy to regulate the emissions of carbon dioxide from electric power generation must be accompanied by –

•          a robust set of financial and regulatory initiatives to develop and deploy cost-effective, energy efficient coal-fueled electricity generation with carbon capture and storage technologies;

•          clear and timely resolution to questions involving CO₂ transport, storage and liability once CO₂ emissions are captured; and

•          a recognition that if technology is to play a key role in enabling coal use, while addressing GHG reductions, then such technology must be commercially available to fulfill these dual needs.