October 26, 2023
To Whom It May Concern:
As the Virginia Department of Energy evaluates policy options to encourage the capture and beneficial use of coal mine methane (CMM), I am kindly submitting a comment on behalf of the Waste Gas Capture Initiative (WGCI) in support of the effort of utilizing CMM.
Promoting the capture and utilization of CMM, which accounts for around 8% of total U.S. methane emissions annually., offers the potential for Virginia to clean the environment, diversify energy sources, and create jobs simultaneously. According to the EPA, the methane emitted from active mines alone amounted to 33 million tons CO2e100 of methane to the atmosphere. Coal mine methane capture significantly reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions and creates needed jobs in areas that have been economically impacted by the energy transition.
Additional benefits include enhanced energy security, as Virginia has the opportunity to tap into an abundant and underutilized resource. This strategy strengthens the resilience of our energy supply. Despite these benefits, less than 2% of active U.S. coal mines today capture and utilize the vented methane. Encouraging such efforts through policy incentives enables innovative projects that can power homes and industries, driving Virginia's sustainable energy goals forward and making progress toward emissions reduction objectives.
Scaling mine methane capture operations is a commonsense and ready solution to support local economies, reduce overall U.S. methane emissions, and strengthen America’s energy security. As an organization dedicated to securing America’s sustainable energy future through mine methane capture, the WGCI stands ready to support this effort and to be a partner with the Virginia Department of Energy as you undergo this process.
Sincerely,
Mike Moore
Executive Director
Waste Gas Capture Initiative