The Dept. of Energy is seeking public comments through May 21 on its restructured “FutureGen” program to develop carbon-capture storage (CCS) technology. In a May 7 notice, DOE outlines the scope of several commercial-scale clean-coal projects that will use CCS technology at a cost of $100 million to $600 million per plant. DOE announced in January that it decided to scuttle its original plan to build the world’s first zero-emissions coal-fired powerplant. The project’s cost was to be about $1 billion. DOE says its new approach will speed commercial use of CCS.

But at a May 8 Senate subcommittee hearing, lawmakers from both parties criticized DOE’s decision to change FutureGen. They said more CCS spending is critical at a time when global warming concerns are a priority.