Tax Credit Programs Promote Coal-Based Power Generation 

   Legislation designed to advance cleaner coal-based power generation and gasification technologies has received a strong response from the coal community, according to the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy. The expected result: increased energy security and improved environmental performance from our Nation's most abundant energy resource. 
    The response flows from the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), the first overhaul of America's energy policy since 1992. Passed on July 29, 2005, by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Bush on August 8, 2005, the Act focuses on clean energy, efficient energy use, energy conservation, and advanced technologies. In signing the Act, the President said EPAct "launches an energy strategy for the 21st century" and "will allow America to make cleaner and more productive use of our domestic energy resources, including coal, and nuclear power, and oil and natural gas. By using these reliable sources to supply more of our energy, we'll reduce our reliance on energy from foreign countries." EPAct initiated a wide range of actions, including the authorization of tax credits and incentives. 
    Those authorizations included $1.6 billion in tax credits to spur investment in advanced clean coal facilities and $350 million in tax credits for advanced gasification projects. In February 2006, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued guidance for tax credit programs under two separate IRS notices: Qualifying Advanced Coal Project Program and Qualifying Gasification Project Program. 
    The response, said Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Jeffrey Jarrett, has been "tremendous.""The number and range of proposed projects demonstrates industry's willingness to embrace tomorrow's technologies today. The combination of government incentives and private-sector innovation will harness America's technological strength to ensure secure, affordable, and reliable energy," Jarrett said. One year after EPAct became law, DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is partnering with the IRS to evaluate proposed projects for technical and economic feasibility and for consistency with energy policy goals. 
    Once NETL's review is complete, successful projects will be certified and recommended to the IRS. The IRS will then select projects for receipt of tax credits. A total of 49 applications have been received from 29 states proposing projects worth $57.7 billion and $5 billion in tax credits. Of the 49 applications: Twenty-two applications were received under the coal-based program, representing $27.7 billion in proposed projects and request $2.3 billion in tax credits. Of these, 18 request credits for integrated gasification combined cycle plants and 4 for advanced coal-based generation plants. 

    Applications include projects using bituminous, subbituminous, and lignite coals to be built in 19 states: Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Twenty-seven applications were received under the gasification technology program, representing $30 billion in proposed projects and requesting $2.7 billion in tax credits. Project are proposed in 17 states: Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. The IRS expects to make final selection by November 30, with project applicants receiving their notice for eligibility of the tax credit by the IRS shortly thereafter. 
cl

   
This article is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property laws. The article may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, redisseminated, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in any medium without the prior permission of Coal Leader, Inc. Copyright 2006, Coal Leader, Inc. All rights reserved.