Coal Mine Methane Capture & Utilization Program

Coal Mine Methane Capture & Utilization Program About the Program

Virginia Energy, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), is leading a major initiative to reduce methane emissions from active and abandoned coal mines in Southwest Virginia.

Virginia Energy has been awarded $79.5 million through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program to establish a program to reduce methane emissions associated with active and abandoned coal mines (CMM) within the Commonwealth. The program will support the capture and beneficial utilization projects of fugitive coal mine methane, thereby mitigating high-impact greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).

This program has been identified as a priority for the Commonwealth as the benefits of CMM capture and recovery include reduced GHG emissions, a cleaner-burning energy source or feedstock, enhanced mine safety, and additional revenue to incentivize long-term emissions reduction. These projects would not incentivize new coal mining but would work with an existing active network of coal mines or abandoned mine properties that either do not have capture technologies or would be incorporating or upgrading technology for improved capture.

The eligible subawardee(s) shall be entities engaged in methane reduction activities. The subawardee(s) will be encouraged to work with active and abandoned coal mine site owners/operators to create joint applications. Entities doing the methane reduction work will be the leads on the applications.

This program runs through September 2029.

Programs Goals

Apply for Funding

Now accepting Grant Applications, click here to learn more and apply. Applications are due by 5:00pm on Friday, April 10th, 2026.

Application Documents

Grant Application Form

Budget Spreadsheet

Contact Us

Office of Economic Development
grantsapps@energy.virginia.gov