COAL-TO-LIQUIDS BOOSTERS RALLY

Here is RAND's study: PolicyIssues for Coal-to-Liquid Development

It finds that IF a 50% biomass/50% coal gasification process were to be combined with a carbon-capture-and-sequestration process, it likely would reduce well-to-wheels emissions to the level of present petrofuels.

On the other hand, the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle beats that emission level with existing technology and comes out way ahead on fuel economy, EROEI and convenience. It also facilitates the development of renewable energies. (Source of PHEV info: PLUG-IN HYBRIDS by Sherry Boschert)

Coal-to-liquids touted as way to U.S. energy independence
Matthew Hill, August 14, 2007 (Beckley (West Virginia) Register-Herald)

WHO
The Coal-to-Liquids (CTL) Coalition and guest speakers Elliot B. Kennel, carbon products research coordinator, West Virginia University (WVU), Dr. Ronald M. Sega, undersecretary for the U.S. Air Force and Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV).

WHAT
A conference organized by the coal industry discussed benefits of coal-to-liquids (CTL) technology such as the boon to national security from energy independence and the financial windfall to the coal industry.

The idea that lost WWII for Germany and Japan.

WHEN
Two-day conference, August 14, 15.

WHERE
- The Resort at Glade Springs, West Virginia
- Edwards Air Force Base is in California

WHY
- Kennel discussed WVU research programs in coal-to-liquids: Conversion by indirect liquefaction (gasification 1st) and conversion by direct liquefaction. Aim: Motor fuels at $35 - $40/ barrel. He admitted there are environmental standards and a need to establish standards but stressed the natibnal security benefits of a domestic oil supply. He also claimed the a “level playing field” would make CTL an economic winner though there was no mention of whether the level playing field included the true cost of burning carbon.
- Secretary Sega, representing the U.S. Air Force, discussed the use of CTL syn-fuel blended with jet fuel for the B-52 bomber.
- Congressman Rahall stressed the value of CTL as a substitute for foreign oil imports and advocated subsidies for CTL similar to those provided to the oil industry. He claimed his advocacy of CTl made him an “environmentalist” and pointed out the CTL in conjunction with biomass and carbon-capture-and-sequestration is cleaner than CTL without them. (NewEnergyNews: That is, essentially, a tautology. Furthermore, Rahall has made serious trouble for wind energy in the past and his “environmentalist” credentials are dubious.)

Not likely to be very useful in the fight against climate change either. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Kennel: “At WVU, we’re going to run the ball in football, we’re going to shoot threes in basketball and we’re going to do coal utilization in chemical engineering…It’s clear to most people that the United States is too dependent on overseas sources of petroleum. The petroleum supply, we think, is becoming more limited. We believe the technology exists to expand the supply of liquid fuels by using coal for that purpose.”
- Kennel: “I think everyone needs to be very sensitive about the environmental consequences of any form of energy…I don’t believe there’s any form of energy that has all advantages and zero disadvantages, as far as greenhouse emissions and other air emissions are concerned. We need to establish a set of requirements. If we know what the requirements are, the fuels we’re developing can meet and exceed the requirements and outperform most sources of petroleum.”
- Sega: “The Air Force uses 2.5 billion gallons of jet fuel (per year)…The fuel we used (in the test flight) came from natural gas. You can have other starting materials, and coal is clearly one of those. In our first major test, it (blend of jet fuel and synthetic fuel) proved to be a viable fuel.”
- Rahall: “We cannot continue relying on foreign, unstable sources of oil, many of whom are known sponsors of terrorism…We can’t rely on the domestic oil industry. We see what disruptions like (Hurricane) Katrina caused our domestic market…Look at the billions we’ve given the oil industry over the years. Some help is necessary and due this industry (CTL). The private sector can’t be expected to do it all. This industry will go regardless of what Congress does.”
- Rahall: “…I’m not working at cross purposes with the environmentalists at all…I share the same goals as the environmentalists do. We’re all environmentalists. For CTL to be successful, it has to be a clean-burning fuel, and we’re working to make it clean…”