Clean Coal Technology Program Background Since 1984, nearly $2 billion in federal subsidies have been allocated to the coal industry through the Clean Coal Technology Program (CCTP). This program provides up to 50 percent in federal matching funds to finance private demonstration projects to develop cleaner burning coal technologies. The CCTP projects waste millions of dollars on research that the coal industry should be conducting with private funds. The program encourages the use of the most polluting fossil fuel.
Green Scissors Proposal Expedite termination of the CCTP by ending projects for which construction has not started or will not for several years. This will save nearly $500 million over the life of the project.
Project Hurts Taxpayers The coal industry iscapable of supporting its own research and development costs. According to the DOE, the U.S. consumed 940 million tons of coal in 1996. The total value of domestic coal production was more than $19 billion. Moreover, some projects in the program have simply recycled existing technologies and have been mismanaged since its inception. The General Accounting Office found that numerous projects had experienced substantial cost delays and overruns, and at least three projects have gone bankrupt.
Project Hurts Environment Coal is a cheap but extremely polluting and carbon intensive energy source. Burning coal for energy significantly contributes to acid rain and greenhouse gas buildup in the atmosphere, as well as mercury and soot pollution. The CCTP will artificially delay and stunt development of cleaner fuels and technologies.
$500 million