A federal grant will enable Virginia Tech scientists to increase their research on reducing carbon dioxide emissions from burning coal. Ninth District Congressman Rick Boucher said that the Department of Energy has approved a $1.8 million grant for “clean coal” research. He said the grant will fund a feasibility study for a large-scale test in which 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide would be injected into an unmineable coal seams in southwest Virginia. Conducting the test would require a DOE investment of $60 million. A smaller test is to begin in Russell County this summer. Boucher said coal has a great capacity to store carbon dioxide. The announcement brings the total federal investment in the carbon storage project to $6.34 million.