What comes to mind when you think of "liquid coal?" If you think of a thick, black sludge that would inevitably cause more pollution than we currently have....ding ding ding! You would be right!
Liquid coal is one of the sticking points in the energy bill currently trudging its way through the senate. Seems a few democratic senators are mucking things up because they represent the polluting states of Michigan (auto industry) and West Virginia (coal producer).
Liquid coal production on a massive scale is expensive, environmentally destructive and would nearly double the amount of greenhouse gases being emitted into the air.
Check out Move On's petition to get liquid coal off the agenda and onto the blacklist, where is belongs.
Liquid coal is cheap, can be clean, and is a good alterante energy source. Liquid coal can be made for only $35 a barrel, and we have a 175 to 200 year supply. The best plans for liquid coal call for the use of carbon sequestration/recapture or nuclear power at the refinery to eliminate the co2 problem, and liquid coal burns cleaner than conventional diesel. We only have 30-40 years left on conventional oil, and there will be 9 billion mouths to feed. We need to be open to CTL if we expect human life to continue on this planet. Ethanol can only supply 15% of our energy needs in this country if 100% of our corn lands are used, and it takes more energy to grow and refine it than we get back from it.
Posted by: obewan | June 20, 2007 6:00 AM | Permalink to Comment