Hancock County CO2 Experiment
By: Sarah Lovett
Updated: May 15, 2009
As Washington pushes for fuel independence, politicians must also address making that American fuel cleaner. New technology in Hancock County, Kentucky could hold some answers.
The Kentucky Geological Society received funds from the Kentucky Department for Energy Development to do an experiment; one that could take pollution out of the air and put it underground.
Officials say this is particularly important for Kentucky because it could save one of its biggest industries. Coal as a fuel is under scrutiny now as politicians focus on clean energy. If the coal carbon emissions can be stored underground instead of in the atmosphere, Kentuckys economy has a more secure future.
The well is still in the drilling stages. Soon experts will begin pumping in thousands of tons of CO2. If successful, researchers say the public could see another project like this in Eastern Kentucky.
