[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 238 (Monday, December 11, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77351-77352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31437]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


National Energy Technology Laboratory; Notice of Availability of 
a Financial Assistance Solicitation

AGENCY: National Energy Technology Laboratory, Department of Energy 
(DOE).

ACTION: Notice of availability of a financial assistance solicitation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the intent to issue Financial 
Assistance Solicitation No. DE-PS26-01NT41104 entitled ``Power Plant 
Improvement Initiative.'' A draft program solicitation, as a precursor 
to potentially awarding multiple financial assistance cooperative 
agreements, is now being developed. Following release of the draft 
solicitation, expected in December 2000, a comment and response session 
with industry and other potential partners will be conducted prior to 
final issuance of the program solicitation. Final issuance of the 
program solicitation is slated for late-January or early-February 2001 
with awards expected early in fiscal year 2002. DOE will provide $95 
million to fund the program, and proposers must match (or exceed) the 
government cost share for every project, bringing the total program 
value to at least $190 million. DOE anticipates making multiple awards 
under this program solicitation.

DATES: The draft solicitation will be available on the DOE/NETL's 
Internet address at http://www.netl.doe.gov/business on or about 
December 6, 2000.

ADDRESSES: For the contact to submit comments, where documents can be 
obtained, where meetings are being held, please see the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jo Ann C. Zysk, MS 921-107, U.S. 
Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, P.O. Box 
10940, E-mail Address: [email protected], Telephone Number: (412) 386-
6600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Work is underway at the Department of 
Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory to initiate a $190 
million dollar, fifty percent industry cost shared research, 
development and demonstration program aimed at improving thereliability 
of the nation's fleet of coal-fired power plants. In many regions of 
the United States, our expanding economy is being powered by out-of-
date and undersized electric power facilities. The result has been an 
increasing frequency of power supply disruptions and sharp increases in 
the electric bills of many Americans. With more than half of our 
electric power being generated by coal in the United States and an 
abundant domestic supply of coal, projections are that coal generated 
power will be a major contributor to our economic expansion well into 
the next century. Electric power produced from coal is fundamental to a 
strong U.S. economy and to domestic energy security considering recent 
instabilities in natural gas prices and our current dependance on 
foreign oil supplies.
    As the U.S. electric industry transitions to a new and competitive 
business structure, the demands on the existing fleet of coal-based 
electric generating facilities are changing. Power plants must operate 
in a fashion that reduces environmental impacts, achieves greater 
efficiency in operation, reduces carbon dioxide, nitric oxide, and 
sulfur emissions, remains cost competitive, and responds quickly to 
changing customer demand. This Power Plant Improvement Initiative will 
demonstrate advanced coal-based technologies applicable to existing and 
new power plants including plants capable of producing electricity and 
some combination of heat, fuels, and/or chemicals from coal-derived 
synthesis gas.
    The technologies to be developed under this program will be vital 
to the role that coal and other solid fuels will play on the world 
power production scene. Production of more electricity while creating a 
cleaner environment at

[[Page 77352]]

lower cost has the potential to raise the standard of living of not 
only the citizens of the United States, but of the world as a whole.
    The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), DOE's newest 
national lab that oversees the department's fossil fuel programs, will 
manage the program. NETL manages and implements a broad spectrum of 
energy and environmental programs. NETL employs approximately 1,100 
federal personnel and support-service contractors at its sites in 
Pittsburgh, PA and Morgantown, WV.
    Prospective applicants who would like to be notified as soon as the 
draft solicitation is available should register at http://www.netl.doe.gov/business. Provide your E-mail address and click on the 
``Coal Liquids/Solid Fuels Feedstocks'' technology choice located under 
the heading ``Fossil Energy.'' Once you subscribe, you will receive an 
announcement by E-mail that the draft solicitation has been released to 
the public. Telephone requests, written requests, E-mail requests, or 
facsimile requests for a copy of the draft solicitation package will 
not be accepted and/or honored. The draft solicitation will be open for 
public comments on December 6. A public meeting will be held on 
December 15, 2000 and the draft solicitation will be closed to public 
comments on January 5, 2001.
    The final solicitation will be made available on or about January 
31, 2001. Applications must be prepared and submitted in accordance 
with the instructions and forms contained in the solicitation. The 
final solicitation document will allow for requests for explanation 
and/or interpretation.

    Issued in Pittsburgh, PA on November 24, 2000.
Dale A. Siciliano,
Deputy Director, Acquisition and Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 00-31437 Filed 12-8-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P