Virginia Energy and DEQ will use CPRG funding to establish a program to reduce methane emissions from abandoned and active coal mines in Virginia. CMM is a highly potent greenhouse gas that is venting into the atmosphere from active mines through degasification for miner safety and from abandoned mines where it escapes over time from the mined-out areas. Along with the many active projects in Virginia that have already proven to provide ample benefits to the Commonwealth, other potential sites for projects to capture and use methane from coal mines exist, according to the U.S. EPA Coal Mine Methane Outreach Program (CMOP). With CPRG funds the Fugitive Coal Mine Methane Capture & Utilization Program will allow contractor(s) to install CMM capture systems on active or abandoned coal mines and beneficially use the captured methane as a source of energy. Through this program, Virginia Energy and DEQ aim to reduce an additional (total of across all projects) 1 million metric tons (MMT) CO2e from coal mine methane outgassing per year from new projects using commercialized or commercial-ready uses and technologies (e.g. natural gas addition, electricity production, energy conversion to fuel cells, use for direct manufacturing feedstock, or conversion to low-emission transportation fuel), as compared to baseline emissions. This program would not incentivize new coal mining but would work with an existing network of coal mines or abandoned mine properties that either do not have capture technologies or would be upgrading existing technologies for improved capture. Flaring gas will only be considered in limited circumstances (e.g. remoteness of site, in-situ methane concentrations) specified in the Program Design phase. Existing and abandoned coal mines that have incorporated atmospheric venting or flaring may be considered for upgrades to lower-emission technologies as part of this program. Virginia Energy is seeking input from industrial, commercial, and technical experts for guidance in developing a successful request for proposals and programs.
