Wyoming Governor, First Lady To Visit China

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Wyoming Governor Dave and First Lady Nancy Freudenthal will travel to China next week on a visit to the nation that plays an increasingly influential role in the world’s energy marketplace.

During the 10-day trip, the Freudenthals will tour the energy producing region of Shanxi Province, southwest of the capitol city of Beijing.

A street in Pingyao, Shanxi Province, China: (Photo CC Graeme Nicol)

The visit also offers an opportunity to call on General Electric research facilities in China, such as the GE China Technology Center in Shanghai, where Powder River Basin coal and other sub-bituminous coals are being studied.

GE and the University of Wyoming announced earlier this year that they would partner to build a coal gasification research facility in Wyoming.

“This question about how to continue utilizing coal while also managing carbon is an issue that both our country and the Chinese are grappling with,” Freudenthal said. “I look forward to seeing how the GE facility in our state can build on those already operating in China to develop clean coal solutions.”

Freudenthal said there is great potential for the research center in Wyoming to share information and learn from other such facilities already operating around the world.

“This UW center of excellence will certainly benefit from the expertise of other global operations,” Freudenthal said. “This will be a great opportunity for UW to gain from the work of researchers studying coal and other energy sources in China and other sites around the world.”

Much of the sub-bituminous coal mined in China is similar to that mined in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin. Clean coal research focusing on Powder River Basin coal is critical to the future of the industry in Wyoming.

The Governor and First Lady were invited to visit China by the United States-Asia Foundation, a non-partisan, non-profit organization that works to foster relationships between the United States and Asia. The 10-day visit will center on learning more about rapidly changing energy production and consumption in the Asian nation. Joining the Freudenthals on the trip will be Rob Hurless, the Governor’s Energy Advisor.

China’s booming economy is driving demand for energy, in particular electricity, which is mainly generated by coal-fired power plants. But the nation is also a leader in developing coal-to-liquid and coal gasification production plants. According to the Wall Street Journal, in just the last two years China has built 20 new coal gasification plants and is also actively building coal-to-chemical plants to generate the basic elements of plastic and pharmaceuticals.

Travel expenses for the trip will be paid for by the United States-Asia Foundation. More specific information about the trip itinerary will be available next week.

Source: Wyoming Governor

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