Sep 24, 2005 -- STATE DEPARTMENT RELEASE/ContentWorks

 

The U.S. Department of Energy released for public review and comment September 22 a plan to accelerate the development and lessen the cost of advanced technologies that reduce or capture and store greenhouse gas emissions.

The plan, according to a DOE press release, describes the technology component of a comprehensive U.S. approach to climate change.

The plan's goals are to:

" [cents] Reduce emissions from energy use and infrastructure;

" [cents] Reduce emissions from energy supply;

" [cents] Capture and store carbon dioxide;

" [cents] Reduce other greenhouse gas emissions;

" [cents] Measure and monitor emissions; and

" [cents] Bolster the contributions of basic science to understand and mitigate climate change.

Technologies developed under the Climate Change Technology Program (CCTP) will be used and deployed among U.S. partners in the Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development that was announced in July.

"This strategic plan is the first of its kind," said CCTP Director David Conover, "and will provide a comprehensive, long-term look at the role for advanced technology in addressing this important global concern."

The draft CCTP plan organizes about $3 billion in federal spending for climate change-related technology research, development, demonstration and deployment needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and power economic growth.

The activity complements other efforts, including short-term measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity, advance climate change science and promote international cooperation.

CCTP will discuss the plan at a series of workshops during the coming months. The public comment period will close November 2 and the completed plan is expected in 2006.

The draft strategic plan is available on the CCTP Web site.

Text of the DOE press release follows:

(begin text)

Department of Energy

Press release, September 22, 2005

DOE Releases Draft Strategic Plan for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Deployment of Advanced Technology

WASHINGTON, DC - The Department of Energy today released for public review and comment a plan for accelerating the development and reducing the cost of new and advanced technologies that avoid, reduce, or capture and store greenhouse gas emissions -- the technology component of a comprehensive U.S. approach to climate change. The technologies developed under the Climate Change Technology Program (CCTP) will be used and deployed among the United States' partners in the Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development that was announced earlier this year.

"This Strategic Plan is the first of its kind and will provide a comprehensive, long-term look at the role for advanced technology in addressing this important global concern," David Conover, Director of the Climate Change Technology Program said. "This forward-looking document will allow us and our partners to drive and capitalize on technological innovation far into the future. The Asia-Pacific Partnership coupled with the technologies that we will develop will have a significant impact in addressing this long-term challenge."

The draft CCTP Strategic Plan provides strategic direction and organizes about $3 billion in federal spending for climate change-related technology research, development, demonstration, and deployment -- needed to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and power economic growth. This activity complements other efforts including short-term measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity, advance climate change science, and promote international cooperation.

The Plan sets six complementary goals: (1) reducing emissions from energy use and infrastructure; (2) reducing emissions from energy supply; (3) capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide; (4) reducing emissions of other greenhouse gases; (5) measuring and monitoring emissions; and (6) bolstering the contributions of basic science to climate change.

The Plan outlines approaches toward attaining these goals, articulates underlying technology development strategies, and identifies a series of next steps toward implementation.

To view and comment on the draft CCTP Strategic Plan, please visit the CCTP website at: . CCTP will discuss the Plan with stakeholders at a series of workshops during the coming months. The public comment period will close on Wednesday, November 2, 2005. The completed Plan is expected in 2006.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State.)

News Provided By

Energy Department Proposes Plan To Reduce Greenhouse Gases