For Release: Tuesday, June 26, 2001
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661

BIPARTISAN GROUP INTRODUCES CLEAN COAL LEGISLATION

Washington - U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) was joined by a bipartisan group of House members today in introducing the National Electricity and Environmental Technology (NEET) Act. The bill authorizes the Department of Energy to accelerate the development of advanced clean coal technologies. It also provides tax credits to demonstrate the commercial applications of this research, as well as to retrofit existing coal power plants to burn more cleanly.

"Clean coal technologies offer great promise in allowing the U.S. to meet its future energy needs while protecting the environment. We rely heavily on coal for energy production and given its abundance it makes sense that we continue to make burning it cleanly a national priority," said Costello.

The Science Committee, of which Costello is a senior member, has held numerous hearings this year regarding a national energy policy. Among the findings has been that there is no current replacement for coal. It currently accounts for over half of all electricity production in the country. Costello will take the lead in adding the research and development provisions of the NEET bill into the greater energy package the Science Committee will markup later this week.

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