Council Bluffs will be home to a new $11 million study being conducted by the University of Iowa researchers.
The university is launching a study on different ways to store carbon dioxide emissions, according to a news release.
MidAmerican Energy agreed to partner with the university to use the company's Walter Scott, Jr. Energy Center south of Council Bluffs as the study's location.
The center is a coal-fired power plant in Council Bluffs on top of the Midcontinent Rift System. The formation holds about a 6-mile-thick area of basalt, which researchers are examining to see whether it could store carbon dioxide.
To do this, the project will drill about 5,000 feet into the site to gather data and rock samples which will then be tested for carbon dioxide injection simulations.
The Walter Scott Jr. Energy Center, located at 7215 Navajo St. in Council Bluffs, is a coal power plant operated by MidAmerican Energy.
SCOTT STEWART, THE NONPAREIL
“It's these predictive models that really kind of help us identify if this is even going to work in this location or not,” said Ryan Clark, a geologist at the University of Iowa.
The study will be a two-year project for $11.3 million, of which 20% will be funded by MidAmerican Energy. The U.S. Department of Energy will contribute $9 million toward the research.
“We are participating and contributing to the study because we view this as an important project that will help researchers determine whether carbon storage in the basalt formation deep below our facility is viable,” said Geoff Greenwood, media relations manager at MidAmerican Energy.
The injection of carbon dioxide under the Earth’s surface is not a new concept but is new to Iowa. Clark pointed out that many states around Iowa are already researching and moving toward this method.
“It has a really huge air quality benefit, not only, you know, kind of regionally and big picture, but it would have a really significant effect on the improving air quality there, locally,” Clark said.
Clark said that the project is not only conducted solely by the University of Iowa. While the school is the lead, it has partnered with a consulting firm, a drilling company and the Pacific Northwest National Lab.
“I want to make sure that folks know that it's, it's definitely a pretty good-sized project team that's got a lot of experience and should help us succeed in this,” Clark said.
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The university is launching a study on different ways to store carbon dioxide emissions, according to a news release.
MidAmerican Energy agreed to partner with the university to use the company's Walter Scott, Jr. Energy Center south of Council Bluffs as the study's location.
The center is a coal-fired power plant in Council Bluffs on top of the Midcontinent Rift System. The formation holds about a 6-mile-thick area of basalt, which researchers are examining to see whether it could store carbon dioxide.
To do this, the project will drill about 5,000 feet into the site to gather data and rock samples which will then be tested for carbon dioxide injection simulations.
The Walter Scott Jr. Energy Center, located at 7215 Navajo St. in Council Bluffs, is a coal power plant operated by MidAmerican Energy.
SCOTT STEWART, THE NONPAREIL
“It's these predictive models that really kind of help us identify if this is even going to work in this location or not,” said Ryan Clark, a geologist at the University of Iowa.
The study will be a two-year project for $11.3 million, of which 20% will be funded by MidAmerican Energy. The U.S. Department of Energy will contribute $9 million toward the research.
“We are participating and contributing to the study because we view this as an important project that will help researchers determine whether carbon storage in the basalt formation deep below our facility is viable,” said Geoff Greenwood, media relations manager at MidAmerican Energy.
The injection of carbon dioxide under the Earth’s surface is not a new concept but is new to Iowa. Clark pointed out that many states around Iowa are already researching and moving toward this method.
“It has a really huge air quality benefit, not only, you know, kind of regionally and big picture, but it would have a really significant effect on the improving air quality there, locally,” Clark said.
Clark said that the project is not only conducted solely by the University of Iowa. While the school is the lead, it has partnered with a consulting firm, a drilling company and the Pacific Northwest National Lab.
“I want to make sure that folks know that it's, it's definitely a pretty good-sized project team that's got a lot of experience and should help us succeed in this,” Clark said.
Council Bluffs power plant to host University of Iowa carbon capture study
Council Bluffs will be home to a two-year study through the University of Iowa looking into carbon dioxide sequestration at a local coal power plant.
