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July 01, 2008
KY carbon-storage partnership formed
Underground test planned in Hancock
Courier Journal
The Kentucky Geological Survey and three energy companies have formed a partnership to test storing carbon dioxide permanently underground.
The $7.8 million research project includes drilling a well to test geological formations at a site to be determined in Hancock County, officials said yesterday.
Private partners in the Western Kentucky Carbon Storage Foundation are Peabody Energy, ConocoPhillips and Louisville-based E.On U.S.
The Kentucky Geological Survey's portion of the funding is $1.35 million, said Karen Wilson, spokeswoman with the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet.
The balance of funding comes from the private partners, said Beth Sutton, Peabody spokeswoman. She said drilling would occur later this year, with the injection to occur early next year. The well will be more than 8,000 feet deep, Sutton said.
"Proving the feasibility of carbon storage in deep saline reservoirs is important for Kentucky's future," said Jim Cobb, state geologist and director of the Geological Survey.
More than 90 percent of Kentucky's electricity comes from coal-fired generators. Kentucky is also the nation's third-largest producer of coal.
At the same time, carbon-dioxide emissions from burning coal have been cited as a significant factor in human-caused global warming. |
