(Casper Star Tribune, March 13) – Gov. Matt Mead will attend the International Advanced Coal Technology Conference next week in Australia.
The University of Wyoming’s School of Energy Resources is also participating in the conference, which meets March 18-20.
The school is a member of the conference and will finance the trip.
The conference will address coal use and carbon capture, storage and utilization, according to a media release from the governor’s office.
The conference brings together officials from the United States, China and Australia as well as private partners to discuss recent advancements in the development of low-emission, coal-based power and energy in the three counties.
“Those involved in this research are looking at technologies to add value to coal and its use now and in the future,” Mead said. “We in Wyoming have much to offer to this work and much to gain from it. The advancement of coal research will benefit Wyoming, its people and the coal industry. I fully support it.”
This is the fourth conference for the group, which meets every other year to discuss research and advanced coal projects.
Former Gov. Dave Freudenthal attended the first meeting eight years ago in Australia.
Mead attended a coal conference in China in May 2012. In addition to the University of Wyoming, the conference supporters are the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, the University of Queensland and the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Energy Resources and Chemical Engineering.
The conference will take place at the CSIRO Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies.
Mead will speak about Wyoming coal and also learn more about Australia’s coal industry. He will tour coal export facilities in Australia and meet with people at various companies, the release said.
“Australia exports millions of tons of coal each year to Asian markets,” Mead said. “These same countries are interested in Wyoming coal. I look forward to visiting and seeing a vibrant coal port to better understand the benefits and challenges associated with this method of export.”
