[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 120 (Wednesday, September 15, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S10925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   POWDER RIVER BASIN COAL INITIATIVE

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, yesterday my colleagues, Senator Enzi and 
Senator Gorton, discussed the importance of a proposed new clean coal 
initiative that offers the opportunity to create a new type of cleaner-
burning coal that will help to meet our nation's energy needs and the 
requirements of the Clean Air Act. I want to lend my strong support to 
this initiative, and express my hope that the Department of Energy and 
Congress can work together to find a way to fund this important 
project.
  Under this initiative, the Black Hills Corporation of Rapid City, 
South Dakota, would work with the Department of Energy to test a new 
method of processing sub-bituminous coal to remove its moisture content 
and increase its heat-value. This new technology is much less capital 
intensive than any other coal enhancement technology known to exist 
today and has the real potential of becoming the first such process to 
be commercially feasible. It is my understanding that the upgraded coal 
which would be produced by this new process would be environmentally 
superior to current sub-bituminous coal and less expensive to ship, 
allowing coal users across the country to benefit from it.
  There are extensive reserves of sub-bituminous coal in the Powder 
River basin, and particularly on the reservation of the Crow Indian 
Tribe. By expanding the market for coal from this area, we can help to 
promote economic development across the west. At the same time, we can 
provide coal users throughout the United States with cleaner-burning 
coal, and help to improve our air quality.
  It is my hope that we can move forward with this project as quickly 
as possible. I urge my colleagues to give it their strong support.

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