Huntsman, governors tout coal options

Utah is among a number of states that is looking to improve and secure its energy future. On Thursday, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. joined three other governors of coal-mining states to discuss costs and other issues surrounding carbon capture and sequestration relating to coal-fired electricity generation.

The governors of Colorado, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming held a news conference at the Wyoming governor's residence transmitted via conference call to media in several states.

"The objective is pretty simple, and it's trying to figure out a clean and efficient and secure way to power the economy of the most powerful nation in the world today into the future," Huntsman said.

Among the options the group is touting are carbon capture and sequestration — the process of mitigating climate change by capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from large point sources such as power plants and storing it rather than being released into the atmosphere.

It is believed that utilizing new technologies in this way may reduce carbon dioxide emissions while allowing the continued use of fossil fuels like coal.

All four states represented in the news conference rely on coal mining for much of their energy production. Huntsman said the "sum and substance" of the discussion is providing long-term viable energy and economic solutions for years to come. He said they eventually hope to put together recommendations to present to Congress on how to develop the resources necessary to help the nation become more energy independent.

"We as producer states feel that it is particularly incumbent upon us to take this issue extremely seriously and to make it a priority." He said Western governors have made this issue a top priority moving forward into next year when Huntsman will assume the chairmanship of the Western Governors Association.

"Coal is going to be a part of the energy future. As we think of ways we can adopt state policies and advocate for federal policies that allow us to burn coal in a clean way. It's just such an important part of this makeup," said Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter.

All four governors expressed the desire to see the federal government take a more pro-active stance on the use and development of coal-produced energy. Huntsman, the only Republican among the four governors, explained, "We may well be an instrumental part of fueling our nation's economy going forward, providing the kind of clean energy and independence that we've never had as a nation."

Huntsman also said his involvement in the group's efforts has nothing to do with the recent Crandall Canyon Mine tragedy. "Mining coal has been a part of our lives (in Utah) for a long time and will be for a long time. What we're looking at here is essentially embracing new technologies that will allow us to move forward in a way that's cleaner ... in a way that provides a kind of independence that we've never had."

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