By Associated Press 15, July “14
Two electric utilities say they’re interested in hosting a proposed lab to test out carbon-capture technologies at a working power plant in Wyoming.
Gov. Matt Mead said Monday those utilities are Bismarck, North Dakota-based Basin Electric Power Cooperative and Rapid City, South Dakota-based Black Hills Corp.
Both utilities operate coal-fired power plants in the Gillette area.
Wyoming has reserved $15 million to build a test center a Wyoming coal-fired power plant. Teams would use the lab to compete for a proposed $10 million prize for developing a cost-effective way to trap and reuse carbon dioxide emissions.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposes steep cuts in CO2 emissions in the years ahead. Much of that CO2 comes from coal-fired power and the stakes are high for Wyoming, the top coal-mining state.
