Cheyenne - Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal released details this week for his April 12-20 trip to the People's Republic of China that will include tours of coal gasification plant in Shanxi Province and the General Electric Technology Center in Shanghai where researchers are testing coal from Wyoming's Powder River Basin.

   Press Secretary Cara Eastwood said travel expenses for the governor, wife Nancy and energy advisor Rob Hurless will be paid by the United States-Asia Foundation, a Washington, D.C., public charity that sponsors international exchanges. Also accompanying the group is Rob Wallace, Government Relations manager for GE Energy in Washington.
  

   In February, General Electric and Wyoming announced a $100-million joint coal gassification research project. Freudenthal said funding for Wyoming's 50 percent share of the project will come from surplus federal Abandoned Mines money allocated to the state. Negotiations are still underway between the University of Wyoming and General Electric to set the terms of the joint project, including who will own the rights to any technological breakthroughs.

 

    "This question of 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."
   

The China Trip Agenda:

Saturday, April 12
- Arrive in Beijing.

Sunday, April 13
- Tour the Forbidden City and the Great Wall.

Monday, April 14
- Attend a briefing at the U.S. Embassy.
- Meet with officials from the Ministry of Commerce, the National
Development and Reform Commission and a leader of a Chinese state
(details pending).
- Attend a welcoming banquet hosted by Ambassador Yang Wenchang,
president of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs.

Tuesday, April 15
- Depart Beijing for Taiyuan in Shanxi Province.
- Visit energy production facility in Yangquan, Shangxi Province.

Wednesday, April 16
- Meet with provincial leaders.
- Tour Taiyuan Coal Gasification Plant and coal mines in Shanxi Province.

Thursday, April 17
- Depart Taiyuan for Shanghai.
- Meet with municipal leaders and attend a luncheon hosted by municipal officials.
- Tour General Electric's China Technology Center.

Friday, April 18
- Depart Shanghai for Hong Kong.

Saturday, April 19
- Visit Hong Kong.

Sunday, April 20
- Depart for the United States.