On January 28, while mocking various provisions of the economic recovery package, Glenn Beck noted that the bill provides "$400 million for global warming research, and another $2.4 billion for carbon capture demonstration projects," adding, “I don't even know what the hell that is.” Had Beck attempted to determine “what the hell” carbon capture is before ridiculing it on his Fox News show, he would have learned that the $2.4 billion provision funds the development of technology that he has previously criticized “liberals in Congress” for “block[ing].”

Indeed, Beck's reference to “carbon capture demonstration projects” was to a “Fossil Energy” provision in the bill allocating $2.4 billion “for necessary expenses to demonstrate carbon capture and sequestration [CCS] technologies.” According to a January 28 EnergyWashington Week report on climate change-related proposals in the bill, such technologies “form the backbone of attempts to burn coal cleanly.” During the June 2, 2008, edition of his then-CNN Headline News show, Beck stated: “The liberals in Congress, controlled by the radical environmental special interest groups, have created a system where it is impossible to develop the next generation of nuclear energy. ... By the way, they've also blocked clean coal technology.”

From H.R. 1, the House version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act:

FOSSIL ENERGY

For an additional amount for ''Fossil Energy'', $2,400,000,000 for necessary expenses to demonstrate carbon capture and sequestration technologies as authorized under section 702 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

Several news outlets have reported that this provision relates to the development of what is commonly called, including by Beck, “clean coal”:

• From the January 28 EnergyWashington Week report (accessed via Nexis):

The House is moving closer to its final version of an $825 billion economic stimulus package that would include several climate change-related proposals, including a just-added amendment to extend federally guaranteed loans to biofuel projects that would lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

[...]

Added to the Appropriations Committee's section was $1.8 billion to fund energy efficiency projects on military bases. The committee also maintained a $2.4 billion appropriation for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects, which form the backbone of attempts to burn coal cleanly, and other energy efficiency measures. The Ways & Means Committee advanced an array of renewable energy tax incentives, including a provision allowing renewable energy companies to claim investment tax credits instead of production tax credits, a doubling of the cap on Clean Renewable Energy Bonds and an enhanced research & development tax credit for CCS and other renewable and efficiency projects.

• In a January 24 article in The Intelligencer of Wheeling, West Virginia, political reporter Joselyn King wrote: “There's $2.4 billion for clean coal technology in the economic stimulus package currently before Congress. The House Energy and Commerce Committee has approved the energy portion of the stimulus package that sets aside $25 billion for energy-related concerns -- including $2.4 billion specifically for carbon capture.” King also quoted Rep. Charlie Wilson (D-OH) saying, “I am very pleased to see that there is $2.4 million [sic] included for carbon capture and sequestration in the House version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. ... I believe this technology is vital to advancing clean coal technologies -- and that such technologies will directly benefit our area.”

• In a January 25 Charleston (West Virginia) Gazette article, environmental reporter Ken Ward Jr. wrote: “Coal company officials and their supporters in Congress are working to increase the industry's already large chunk of the economic stimulus package. Lawmakers in the House set aside $2.4 billion in their current version of the legislation for research into capturing greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants.” Ward added: “In the Senate, Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., was lobbying fellow lawmakers and President Obama behind the scenes to try to get more money for what supporters call 'clean coal' programs.”

From the June 2, 2008, edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck:

BECK: Tonight, America, here's what you need to know. This Congress, this week, is debating something called cap and trade legislation. Oh, I'll have more on that in tonight's “Real Story” and in the subsequent days. But here's a little tease for you.

Congress says opponents of the bill say it'll make gas prices go up. Well, since when did the government become opponents to bills? Because the one that is opposed to this or the one that's saying it will go up is the EPA. Last I checked, that was a government entity. It says it will increase the price of gas by at least $1.50 a gallon. Well, thanks, Washington. That's the kind of relief I was looking for.

What about the damage Congress has already done? The liberals in Congress, controlled by the radical environmental special interest groups, have created a system where it is impossible to develop the next generation of nuclear energy. That's how most of Europe thrives.

By the way, they've also blocked clean coal technology. Have you tried to build a dam? They're building the biggest freaking dam ever built in China. We can't build one here. You go ahead and try to do it.

From the January 28 edition of Fox News' Glenn Beck:

BECK: President Obama's “spending package” is going to cost us over $800 billion, plus another $347 billion -- for what? Interest. And that, by the way, is if we pay it back by 2020, which, of course, we will. We're good for it. Sure.

The interest alone is going to cost us as much as we've spent on the entire war in Afghanistan times two. And what we're doing, they say, is going to make our house worth a lot more. They say that if we look at our country as a house, I mean, it's going to really increase the value of our house, huh?

After all, in the spending bill, there is $1 billion for Amtrak. Here's a train that hasn't made money in 40 years. Two billion dollars for child care subsidies, $400 million for global warming research, and another $2.4 billion for carbon capture demonstration projects. I don't even know what the hell that is. There's even $650 million for digital TV conversion coupons. Good.