Congressman Denny Rehberg

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg today announced $3 Million for the Center for Zero Emissions Research & Technology. The funding was included in the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee bill for Fiscal Year 2010.

“New technology and energy innovations are vital to securing America’s energy future,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee. “Montana has an abundance of natural and renewable energy resources, and funding projects like ZERT helps establish the state as a leader in energy research. This will lead to high-paying jobs and help boost Montana’s economy.”

In a coal producing state like Montana, the ability to monitor and validate deep geological carbon dioxide sequestration from coal is extremely important. New technologies hold great promise to significantly reduce emissions from fossil fuels, but the engineering, economic, and environmental viability of these zero emission fossil energy technologies must be confirmed.

“The continued funding resulting from Congressman Rehberg’s support for the Zero Emissions Research and Technology Center (ZERT) will allow us to continue development of key tools that benefit the carbon sequestration program,” said Lee Spangler, Director of the Energy Research Institute and ZERT at Montana State University. “This includes development and testing of new detection technologies, improved simulation models, and biologically based methods of plugging leaky wells. It also helps Montana State continue a leadership role in carbon sequestration.”