FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Lee Beyer, Chairman, 503 378-6611
Ray Baum, Commissioner, 503 378-6611
John Savage, Commissioner, 503 378-6611
Bob Valdez, Public Affairs Specialist, 503 378-8962
Terrie Prosper, Communications, CPUC, 415-703-2160, tdp@cpuc.ca.gov
COMMISSIONS HOST COAL WORKSHOP IN PORTLAND MAY 24, 2006
May 23, 2006 -- The utility Commissions of Oregon, Washington and California are teaming up to host a workshop Wednesday, May 24, 2006, at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel in Oregon to explore the use of advanced coal technologies for meeting electricity needs in the West.
"While coal is abundant we need to also be aware of the global warming impacts from using coal to generate energy in the West," Oregon Public Utility Commission Chairman Lee Beyer said. "This workshop will explore the issue from a variety of perspectives."
"This is a very important topic and I'm happy to see our Commissions coming together to discuss and encourage innovative technologies that will help meet our energy needs while protecting our environment," said President Michael R. Peevey of the California Public Utilities Commission.
"We are all facing the reality of a carbon constrained future, and it is critical that regulatory agencies adapt their policies and planning for the future to incorporate this new reality," said Commissioner Dian M. Grueneich of the California Public Utilities Commission. "Conventional fossil fuel generation plants could quickly become much more expensive to operate and we need to explore new technologies to control emissions. This workshop is an important step in developing our understanding of the next generation of fossil fuel plants."
The workshop will cover:
_ Clean energy policy initiatives in the west;
_ Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) technology;
_ Carbon dioxide capture and sequestration opportunities.
_ Identification and demonstration;
_ Mechanics and economics;
_ Monitoring and verification.
More information is available here: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/static/energy/electric/climate+change/060524_coaltech.htm and the agenda is below.
The meeting will not have teleconference or webcast capabilities, but an electronic transcript and presentations from the meeting will be posted on the Oregon Public Utilities Commission website (www.puc.state.or.us) shortly after the meeting.
For more information on the PUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.
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Agenda
Advanced Coal Workshop for West Coast Commissions:
IGCC Technology, CO2 Sequestration and Policy Directions
May 24, 2006
Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel - Mount Hood Ballroom
(More information on next page)
10:00 - 10:15 Welcome and Introductory Remarks
10:15 - 11:45 Policy Initiatives
_ Chairman Lee Beyer
Oregon Public Utility Commission
_ President Michael Peevey
California Public Utilities Commission
_ Commissioner Pat Oshie
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission
_ Bill Keese
Co-chair, Clean and Diversified Electricity Advisory Committee
Western Governors' Association
_ Panel discussion; Q&A
11:45 - 1:00 Lunch Buffet (at Sheraton, at own expense)
1:00 - 2:15 IGCC Technology and Commercialization Status
_ Stu Dalton
Director for Generation, Electric Power Research Institute
_ Eric Redman
Attorney, Heller Ehrman LLP
_ Michael M. Degernes
Senior Credit Analyst, Aberdeen Asset Management
_ Panel discussion; Q&A
2:15 - 2:30 Break
2:30 - 3:45 CO2 Capture and Sequestration Opportunities
_ Sally Benson
Carbon Sequestration Project Leader
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
_ Dr. Susan Capalbo
Director, Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership
_ Charles Christopher
CO2 Program Manager - Americas, BP Americas Inc.
_ Panel discussion; Q&A
3:45 - 4:15 Public Comment
4:15 - 4:30 Closing Remarks
Funding provided in part by the Energy Foundation.
