The U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC) consortium agreed to a work plan to advance clean coal technologies.

The consortium will work with Chinese partners to develop and test clean coal technologies, including carbon dioxide capture and storage.

In addition to West Virginia University, which leads the effort, the consortium includes Babcock & Wilcox, the University of Wyoming, University of Kentucky, Indiana University, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, National Energy Technology Laboratory, World Resources Institute, U.S.-China Clean Energy Forum, General Electric, Duke Energy, LP Amina and American Electric Power.

The work plan signing ceremony took place in Washington D.C. in conjunction with the Brookings Institute’s U.S.-China Strategic Forum on Clean Energy Cooperation. Officials from the U.S. Department of Energy, the government of the People’s Republic of China and members of the CERC consortium attended and participated in the ceremony.

In September 2010, DOE said it would award WVU $12.5 million over the next five years for the CERC project. WVU will administer the project while Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory will take the lead on technical aspects. CERC consortium members will match DOE’s total contribution with financial and labor commitments to the project.

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