Comprehensive Energy Package Approved by Senate Energy Committee

COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY PACKAGE APPROVED BY SENATE ENERGY COMMITTEE
Includes Bunning Clean Coal Initiatives That Will Create Kentucky Jobs And Promote A Cleaner Environment

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Jim Bunning today supported the Energy Bill which was passed out of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee by a vote of 21-1. The Coal Title of the comprehensive energy package includes proposals in Senator Bunning's legislation to encourage investment in clean coal technology.

"I am proud to have supported this comprehensive energy package in committee and hope that we can move quickly towards a final vote by the full Senate," said Bunning. "This legislation is good for the environment and will create new jobs in Kentucky. It will not only help reduce America's dependence on foreign sources of fuel, but it will ensure that Americans have access to clean, affordable and reliable energy for years to come through alternative fuels such as biodeisel and ethanol."

Senator Bunning's clean coal proposal would authorize nearly $2 billion over 8 years for the Department of Energy (DOE) to carry out activities under the Clean Coal Power Initiative. The Clean Coal Power Initiative is a cost-shared partnership between government and industry where the DOE may provide some financial assistance to projects that increase investment in clean coal technologies and reduce coal emissions. The bill also authorizes more than $800 million for research and development to accelerate development of advanced clean coal technologies. It also includes Bunning's provision allowing Kentucky to move forward with its coalbed methane initiatives.

"Kentucky's coal is an important and abundant source of energy," said Bunning. "And my Clean Coal Power Initiative and the Department of Energy Research and Development Programs will help encourage investment in new technologies, create jobs in Kentucky, improve our environment, and keep our power bills affordable. This bill will help increase the amount of reliable, clean and affordable electricity to keep the lights on, the engines running and our computers humming in the 21st Century and I will work hard to see that it is included in the final bill that comes out of the Senate."

The Energy Bill also authorizes the Secretary of Energy to provide loan guarantees for clean coal and other energy projects to enable development of cleaner burning and more efficient energy.

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