Energy-Arizona^1.4

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/08/us-senator-outl.html

August 24, 2007

At a recent conference in West Virginia on prospects for coal-to-liquids convened by the Coal-to-Liquids Coalition (CTLC), US Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) outlined a four-point plan for "realizing the full potential" of CTL.

The CTLC includes coal producers, technology developers, labor unions and a range of potential consumers and other organizations. The conference was the first hosted by the coalition and featured speakers including Congressmen Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Jack Murtha (D-PA) in addition to Air Force officials and industry and labor leaders.

Rockefeller, after saying that "coal is the single greatest chance our country has for achieving energy independence", outlined what he described as four key elements for building the coal-to-liquids industry.

1. Build up military uses of coal-based fuels. "While DOD's use of CTL is very much on track, there is more we can and should do to help it along."

2. Work together to keep all those who support coal on the same page. "How do we get where we want to go? We have to start by acknowledging that the political landscape has changed. The lesson from the Senate debate this spring is that there are 60 votes in support of CTL with some environmental standards. We have to capitalize on that common ground and not get divided against ourselves."

3. Have a substantial federal government investment in the R&D for workable carbon capture and sequestration. "My proposal is for something called the Future Fuels Corporation, which would simultaneously develop both CTL and a workable carbon sequestration program. I've gotten some feedback on the details, and it needs more work, but what I'm most interested in is not that people think I have a great idea, but that people with the most at stake get involved in crafting the solution."

4. Expand the pipeline infrastructure to serve the coalfields. "Besides bridges, roads, locks, and dams, I would include on a list of essential infrastructure improvements pipelines to take coal-based fuels to market and pipelines to take compressed carbon dioxide to its permanent geological sequestration site."

Rockefeller called for the equivalent of the Apollo and Manhattan projects to provide billions in federal funding for CTL research and development. He also stressed the need for private investments in CTL development, with tax incentives to develop coal based fuels.

The political reality is that we can't get the kind of large-scale federal support we need for CTL without serious environmental thresholds. But even beyond the politics, part of what's so frustrating is that some groups suggest you can't be pro-coal and pro-environment.

Some choose to think of mitigating Climate Change as a burden. Instead, we should view it as an opportunity to bring the kinds of industrial and economic innovations to bear so US coal and coal-to-liquids industries will shine.