Eligible Projects

OCDO may only award funds to projects that qualify as “coal research and development” as defined in the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 1551 and 1555 and Section 15, Article VIII of the Ohio Constitution. The ORC includes in its definitions up to the first three installations within Ohio of a specific technology, if such installation is necessary or appropriate to demonstrate commercial acceptability.

Persons (individuals and businesses) doing business in Ohio or educational or scientific institutions located in Ohio are eligible to receive grants, loans or loan guarantees from OCDO. Persons not presently doing business in Ohio are also eligible if the grants, loans or loan guarantees will be used to establish new businesses in Ohio. In all cases, funds received from OCDO must be used to construct, pilot plant or demonstration facilities in Ohio, cover operating costs of such facilities in Ohio and for support of project staff based in Ohio. Project activities conducted out of Ohio by project participates may be used as cost share.

Although precise definitions in statute should be reviewed by applicants, the following are general guidelines but are not intended to be exclusive.  Proposals submitted by applicants who do not meet these criteria will not be considered.

For clean coal related technologies (ORC 1551 and 1555, Ohio Coal Development Agenda):

1. Improved retrofit technologies applicable to existing coal-fired generating units to increase generating efficiency in order to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions, to reduce emissions of conventional pollutants to negligible levels, and to develop methods for capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide;
2. Technologies to upgrade Ohio’s existing fleet of coal-fired electric generation plants;
3. Coal technologies capable of cost-effectively supplying the energy needs of Ohio’s industrial complex;
4. Development/deployment of advanced coal based power and fuel producing systems (e.g., IGCC, oxy-combustion systems, ultra-supercritical systems, chemical looping systems, etc.);
5. Cost effective carbon dioxide capture and sequestration through improving capture technology, surveying and cataloging Ohio carbon dioxide reservoirs, and development of carbon dioxide transport mechanisms;
6. Economic and effective mercury capture technologies;
7. High volume fly ash and flue gas desulfurization byproduct utilization in mine remediation/reclamation; and
8. Other projects certified by the OCDO Director as mission critical to the program’s Strategic Plan.