July 6, 2017 - U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, along with Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Congressman David McKinley (WV-1) visited the Longview Power plant on July 6, 2017 to discuss the future of clean coal and coal-fired electric power generation. Longview Power is an example of a new generation of highly efficient and very low emissions clean coal power plants. The plant is the most efficient, and one of the cleanest, coal-fired power plants in the United States.

Longview Power’s President and CEO Jeff Keffer described the benefits of Longview’s advanced clean coal technology, illustrating how this clean coal technology, which currently is being implemented around the world, could be used in the U.S. The plant reliably provides base load electricity to power 700,000 homes with extremely low emissions, including 20 percent less CO2. Longview does this at low cost, well below all other coal plants, and competitively, with many gas- fired generation units. 

“In the last 20 years, nearly every aspect of energy supply and generation has been transformed by vast improvements in productivity and cost, particularly in natural gas through fracking, but also in renewables, solar and wind,” said Keffer. “However, due to regulatory roadblocks, coal-fired electric generation in America failed to make advances in technology, forcing us to rely on 40- or 50-year old vintage plants that cannot compete in today’s marketplace.”

Keffer further stated, “On the other hand, Longview clearly demonstrates how effective the next generation of high efficiency and low emissions coal-fired electricity plants can be.  For that reason, these advanced technology plants are being built around the world to replace the aging coal fleet. Plants like Longview are necessary in America in order to reliably meet the base load demand for electric generation to power homes and manufacturing businesses given coal’s abundance and reliability.”

“A clean energy revolution is taking place across America, and the advanced technology Longview Power plant is a remarkable example of how clean coal-fired power should be included in the energy mix as it is the model for what reliable clean coal technology can look like in the U.S. It is imperative to responsibly develop all of America’s rich energy sources in order to maximize the country’s tremendous economic opportunity, which will allow for America’s continued leadership in clean energy,” said Secretary Perry.

Keffer also discussed with the Secretary the opportunity to replace America’s aging coal plants with advanced technology, clean coal power plants like Longview that would create and preserve thousands of jobs in coal and power generation.

Secretary Perry and the West Virginia representatives toured the plant to see the plant’s high efficiency and low emissions in action.  

Senator Manchin and Senator Capito at Longview Power

Longview Power CEO Jeff Keffer gives a tour of Longview to Energy Secretary Rick Perry.

Senator Shelley Capito, Longview CEO Jeff Keffer, Energy Secretary Perry, Senator Manchin on a tour at Longview Power.

Senator Manchin, Energy Secretary Perry and Congressman McKinley discuss the future of clean coal at Longview Power.

Longview Power CEO Jeff Keffer, Congressman McKinley, Senator Shelley Capito, Energy Secretary Perry and Senator Manchin pose in front of Longview Power after a tour of the super critical advanced coal plant Longview Power.

Stephen Nelson, Congressman McKinley, Senator Capito, Energy Secretary Rick Perry, Senator Manchin and Longview Power CEO Jeff Keffer pose after a briefing on Longview Power.