The coal plant proposed in Taylorville by Tenaska is being called a clean coal facility. So, how much global-warming-causing CO2 will it add to the atmosphere? It depends on who you ask and what day you're asking.
The company is telling the legislature it will capture CO2. But, their new permit filed with EPA doesn't include CO2 limits. Once again, they're seeking to avoid binding commitments on how much will be captured and stored underground.
The carbon sequestration aspect of this plant is getting the most attention. But, there are several other places CO2 from the plant will go.
Some CO2 will be released into the air when they're using coal to make synthetic natural gas.
Some CO2 will be sold for Enhanced Oil Recovery operations, which will then cause more to be released in the atmosphere.
More will be released when they're burning Synthetic Natural Gas for electricity production.
And even more when their Synthetic Natural Gas is sold on the market and burned by someone else.
Taken together this would put over 6.5 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. That's more than what's being released by CWLP's new conventional coal plant in Springfield.
Clean coal is a myth.