Clean coal technology refers to several developing technologies which are attempting to reduce the negative environmental impact of coal energy era. The release of atmospheric problems caused by burning coal is of particular concern.

On May 15, 2009, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced he will provide $2.4 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to expand and accelerate the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. The funding effort is part of the Obama Administration's continuing effort to develop technologies to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide.WVGazette: DOE's Chu Announces CCS Projects (May 15, 2009)

• Clean Coal Power Initiative: $800 million to be used to expand the program, providing government co-financing to develop new coal technologies to assist utilities cut sulfur, nitrogen and mercury pollutants from power plantsWVGazette: DOE's Chu Announces CCS Projects (May 15, 2009)

• Industrial Carbon Capture and Storage: $1.52 billion to be used "for a two-part competitive solicitation for large-scale CCS from industrial sources" and to "accelerate scale-up and field testing: mineralization, algae production, etc. and CO"WVGazette: DOE's Chu Announces CCS Projects (May 15, 2009)

• Geologic Sequestration Site Characterization: $50 million in funding for "a competitive solicitation to characterize a minimum of 10 geologic formations throughout the United StatesWVGazette: DOE's Chu Announces CCS Projects (May 15, 2009)

• Geologic Sequestration Training and Research: $20 million to be used to educate and train "future geologists, scientists, and engineers with skills and competencies in geology, geophysics, geomechanics, geochemistry and reservoir engineering disciplines needed to staff a broad national CCS program"WVGazette: DOE's Chu Announces CCS Projects (May 15, 2009)

The use of coal for generating electricity is the USA's second largest contributor to carbon dioxide emissions. Coal is a dirty source of power that causes negative impact on the environment, public health and the economy. The greenhouse gas emissions caused by burning fossil fuels such as coal make a significant contribution to global warming. Greenhouse gases trap the sun's heat in the atmosphere. Though the greenhouse effect is necessary to maintain earth's habitable temperature, in larger amounts greenhouse gases can cause in increase in temperature that can have dramatic environmental effects.