Democrats Identify True Threats to Coal and Highlight Administration Support of Inclusive Energy Portfolio
(Washington, DC) – Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing titled, “The Future of Coal: Utilizing America’s Abundant Energy Resources” to examine coal-related technology challenges and opportunities, with an emphasis on assessing the effectiveness of Department of Energy research and development activities.
By clarifying the impact of energy market competition on coal in recent years, and by highlighting the multi-billion dollar level of commitment that the Department of Energy is making to programs that support the coal industry, Democratic Members refuted the Majority’s opinion that the current Administration is engaged in a “war” against the safe, responsible use of coal energy. All of the witnesses acknowledged the scientific consensus on the anthropogenic contribution to climate change, and discussed necessary technologies to reduce the coal industry’s environmental impacts.
Ranking Member Eric Swalwell (D-CA) said in his opening statement, “We should not ignore the possibilities available today as we move towards the fuels of tomorrow. Programs like the National Enhanced Oil Recovery Initiative demonstrate the innovative capabilities of a mature coal industry that has long enjoyed federal support. Carbon capture and storage and enhanced oil recovery are examples of important technologies that will help ensure that our present reliance on coal will not hinder our ability to move towards a cleaner, safe environment. These kinds of advances also support Americans currently working in these industries, even as we lay the foundation for emerging energy technologies that will support the workforce of the future.”
Democratic Members engaged the witness panel in discussions that provided further insights on an “all-of-the-above” clean energy strategy that includes coal as a viable source of energy for the future. In response to a question about whether this Administration is a fan of coal, Mr. Chris Smith, Acting Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy at the Department of Energy said, “I would say that is categorically not a true statement. If you look at the investments we have made since this Administration started, almost six billion dollars invested in CCS technologies, greater efficiencies, better materials, better processes, more efficient turbines; These are all investments we have made to ensure that this important source of domestic energy, coal, continues to be a part of the clean energy economy of the future. So when we say, ‘all-of-the-above,’ it’s not a slogan. It’s an investment this administration has made over the past four years.”
Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) highlighted the market realities of an expanding natural gas industry and its impact on coal’s competitiveness in his questions to the panel. In response, Mr. Smith stated “ [Natural gas] has had a pretty large impact…as you have that large decrease in the price of natural gas, it brings another option for American consumers…Markets have a lot to do with it. And it’s also part of the rationale for why we have to be working very closely with industry to develop these technologies to make sure coal remains relevant.” He continued, “We firmly believe that the clean energy economy of the future is going to be a carbon-constrained world and the only way that we can ensure that there’s a role for all of our energy sources, which is going to be good for our economy, good for our energy security is to move forward with the research and development to ensure that we are doing something about the problem we have with coal which is it’s a major emitter of CO2.”
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