Wanted: CO2 Capture Research Area at Wyoming Plant

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming officials say they hope to hear back soon from power companies willing to host research for a competition with a $10 million prize for developing new carbon-capture technologies.

Gov. Matt Mead adviser Rob Hurless says state officials recently met with representatives of three power companies that have coal-fired power plants located in Wyoming. He says company officials said they might be able to submit proposals by early July.

The Wyoming Legislature has allocated $15 million to construct a test facility at one of Wyoming's nine commercial, coal-fired power plants. Research teams would use the facility to compete for a proposed $10 million prize.

The winning team would demonstrate a way to both inexpensively capture the power plant's carbon dioxide emissions and put the greenhouse gas to a money-making use.