U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) hosted a roundtable event this week to discuss coal ash recycling legislation that he led to help promote new clean coal projects.
Hoeven and U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) introduced the Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act earlier this year to establish state permit programs to oversee the clean and efficient recycling and disposal of coal ash.
The legislation, which was included in the larger Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, would help prevent expensive litigation.
“Our legislation will make it easier for coal ash to be recycled into materials that have a wide range of safe and cost-effective applications, including in the construction of buildings, roads, bridges and other necessary infrastructure,” Hoeven said.
“Both the North Dakota Heritage Center on the Capitol grounds in Bismarck and the Bismarck State College Energy Center of Excellence are constructed of recycled coal ash,” he added.
Additionally, Hoeven has been actively working to promote clean coal technologies like the Allam Cycle and the Tundra Project.
The Allam Cycle is a pilot and demonstration program being developed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and increase efficiency in new coal-fired natural gas power plants.
Meanwhile, Project Tundra focuses on the development of technologies to retrofit existing plants to capture carbon dioxide emissions.
Hoeven arranged a meeting last summer between Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and North Dakota energy industry leaders to encourage partnership on the development of clean coal technologies.