President Barack Obama had his work cut out for him the moment he took the oath of office. One of the more complicated issues he is beginning to deal with is climate change.

During the presidential election, both candidates discussed adopting clean coal technology.

Carbon storage and sequestration, or clean coal, refers to trapping the pollutants coming from smoke stacks, liquifying it and storing it underground where it will not enter the earth’s atmosphere, said assistant geology professor David Goldblum.

“Proponents of CSS argue that coal is currently cheap and extremely abundant in the U.S.,” Goldblum said. “Thus, they argue if they can somehow prevent the carbon dioxide from going into the atmosphere we can generate abundant, clean energy.”

Opponents of clean coal say this is likely to be expensive, he said.

“There was a pilot power plant to be built in Mattoon, Ill. that started at $1 billion, and soon rose to $1.5 billion before President George [W.] Bush pulled the plug last year,” Goldblum said. “The plant is currently in limbo.”

Goldblum also said opponents question the stability of carbon dioxide underground and would argue other sources of energy such as solar and wind energy could provide clean energy without the possible risk.

Part of Obama’s environment plan, according to the White House Web site, is to adopt a cap-and-trade program.

“Cap-and-trade programs consist of a government mandated cap, or limit, on pollution,” said Brendon Swedlow, assistant political science professor. “The government hopes to achieve [the cap] by auctioning off permits to pollute that companies can then use or sell to other companies.”

Swedlow said there are no laws requiring companies to reduce greenhouse gases. He said establishing requirements would create costs for companies that do not exist.

“Some companies will be able to absorb these increased costs by passing them on as higher prices to consumers,” Swedlow said. “Other companies will go out of business or leave the country.”