CCS Decreases CO2 Emissions, Creates Jobs

Washington, DC – A new report, released today by the British Embassy and peer-reviewed by World Resources Institute (WRI), explores the role of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology in a clean energy economy.  According to Secure Our Energy Future: CCS, adding CCS to the US energy portfolio, "ensures economic growth, protects jobs and promotes new industry by placing commercial innovation at the heart of efforts to reduce harmful CO2 emissions. "

The United States has the largest supply of coal reserves in the world, making it the most affordable domestic fuel, and the source from which 50% of Americans derive their electricity.    As the report notes, CCS enables coal to remain a large part of the energy supply, while ensuring that negative environmental consequences are diminished.  

Secure Our Energy Future: CCS also has good news for the US economy.  Estimates in the report indicate "that the construction of a single advanced coal-fired power plant with CCS will directly generate 13,000 to 14,000 jobs for one year while indirectly supporting 36,000 to 38,000 jobs throughout the economy for one year."

And the implementation of CCS will also yield economic benefits in the fields of research, engineering and construction, and peripheral employment in the steel and cement industries.  The report suggests, "A supportive legislative framework and private investments in CCS could enable this demand for labor to grow as early as 2015, and rapidly expand as the market matures."

Overall, the report concludes, "The path to CCS is increasingly clear, and can happen in a safe and timely fashion.  CCS will increase jobs, encourage private investment, and catalyze an energy technology revolution that will ensure a more sustainable and secure energy future while capturing a significant position in this emerging global market."