Advanced Coal & Fossil Fuels

Van Ness Feldman is at the forefront of industrial and policy developments relating to advanced coal and fossil fuel technologies, such as coal gasification and coal-to-liquids.

We represent clients before the Departments of Energy, Commerce, Transportation, Defense, and State, as well as the Office of Management and Budget and the Environmental Protection Agency, on both project-specific and programmatic issues that relate particularly to technology research, development, demonstration, and deployment associated with the use of coal and other fossil and renewable energy resources.

We advise clients on energy and environmental technology projects as well as provide counsel and representation in the structuring and advocacy for government programs such as the DOE’s clean coal technology development and demonstration programs and financial incentive programs (e.g., loan guarantees and clean coal tax credits) that were authorized as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.   

Representative Projects

• FutureGen.  The firm serves as general counsel to the FutureGen Industrial Alliance, the private sector side of the public-private partnership to construct the world’s first zero-emissions coal-fired power plant using carbon capture and sequestration.
• Coal gasification for utilities.  We currently represent a major investor-owned utility that is pursuing development of an IGCC coal gasification facility for electric power generation.
• Coal gasification for industrial feedstocks.  We are project counsel for a global fertilizer manufacturer that is seeking to finance and construct a coal gasification facility for the production of industrial feedstocks.
• Coal Utilization Research Council.  The firm provides complete coalition support for the Coal Utilization Research Council (CURC), an industry advocacy group that promotes the efficient and environmentally-sound use of coal.