Charleston, W.Va. (AP) -- A multibillion-dollar clean coal project in West Virginia is getting $334 million in federal stimulus funding.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced the funding Friday for American Electric Power's planned $2.23 billion clean-coal plant in Mason County.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu says the funding is part of a commitment to advance carbon capture and storage technologies so that their widespread and affordable use can begin in eight to 10 years.

Aep plans to build the plant next to its Mountaineer Generating Station in New Haven.

The plant is believed to be cleaner than conventional coal-fired plants because it would burn gas made from coal to produce electricity.

U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller says such technologies are crucial for West Virginia's future.

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