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Thread: Waste coal (culm) to oil and other fuels

  1. #1
    Featured Member discretedancer's Avatar
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    Default Waste coal (culm) to oil and other fuels

    America's coal energized the development of a young nation. It fueled factories, warmed homes, and powered mighty trains and ships that made our country an economic giant. Coal earned its nickname of the 19th century, "King Coal."



    Today, however, despite the presence of enormous coal reserves, World Recoverable Coal Resources America relies on oil for the largest part of its energy demands. But our growing need for energy has outstripped our ability to rely on domestic supplies of oil, forcing us to resort to foreign imports.

    Foreign Dependency:
    Hazardous to Our Economic Health

    Over half of the oil that fuels America's economy is now sold to us from foreign sources. Growing Foreign Dependence But these sources may not always be reliable.

    In 1973 and 1979, America experienced dual "oil shocks" -- cutoffs of supply that provided an important warning about our vulnerability to foreign disruptions. Those crises should have served as lessons about dependence on unreliable offshore sources. Instead, our dependence on foreign sources stands at an even higher level today than it did during the embargoes that plunged America into serious recessions in the past.

    Today, America is vulnerable.

    An Important Step
    Toward Reducing Our Vulnerability

    One logical alternative is coal. American coal and waste coal reserve estimates vary wildly. World Recoverable Coal Resources Pennsylvania, a prime coal state, is estimated to have 34 billion tons of in ground reserves.

    But until recently, environmental concerns about coal posed a large obstacle to attaining greater U.S. self-sufficiency in energy. The environmental impact of mining and burning more coal was considered by many people to be too great to justify.

    Today, new technology has made it possible for us to turn back to domestic energy sources -- and to do it cleanly. Coal gasification/coal liquefaction will now allow us to tap the abundant energy stores within our own borders -- without compromising our standards of environmental quality. In fact, these technologies may be our best hope for environmental progress in future years.

    Using more of our domestic energy reserves would free us from reliance on potentially unstable sources and the economic drain that results from buying oil from overseas. It would result in greater stability in fuel pricing, jobs and job security, and enhance our national security by lessening our dependency on foreign sources.

    The "US Geological Survey estimates the total identified coal resources as being 1,600 billion tons. Another 1,600 billion tons of unidentified resources are postulated." Currently the US produces approximately 1.06 billion tons of coal annually.

    If the US were to produce, from coal alone, the amount of oil equivalent to what the US imports, the US would consume an additional .912 billion tons annually.

    Oil Imports = 10,000,000 bbl/day

    =
    Moving Ultra Clean Fuels Technology from the drawing board into production will require an enormous effort and sizable startup costs. For this reason, the Private / Public Partnership for Ultra Clean Fuels Technology represents the best means for making Ultra Clean Fuels Technology commercially viable in the near future.

    In this partnership, private industry would be responsible for financing and construction as well as operation of the production facilities.

    The public sector role would center around adoption of tax incentives that help offset the enormous capital expenditures required to make plants operational. This step will ensure a more reasonable level of risk for commercial financing purposes.

    Current Proposals

    Putting the Private/Public Partnership in place will require cooperation at the state and national level.

    The Coal Waste Removal and Ultraclean Fuels Tax Credit Act (Penna. S.B. 650) has been enacted into law.

    Federal House Bill 2175 - Federal House Bill 2175 has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.

    TIM HOLDEN
    6TH DISTRICT,
    PENNSYLVANIA

    1421 LONGWORTH BLDG.
    WASHINGTON, DC 20515-3606
    (202) 225-5546

    BERKS COUNTY
    SERVICES CENTER
    FIRST FLOOR
    633 COURT STREET
    READING. PA 19601
    (610) 371-9931

    303 CORE STATES
    BANK BUILDING
    101 N. CENTRE STREET
    POTTSVILLE. PA 17901
    (717) 622-4212

    CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
    HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

    COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE

    LIVESTOCK, DAIRY, POULTRY

    RESOURCE CONSERVATION.
    RESEARCH AND FORESTRY



    COMMITTEE ON
    TRANSPORTATION
    AND INFRASTRUCTURE

    PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND
    ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

    SUPPORT DOMESTIC ENERGY SECURITY!
    COSPONSOR H.R.2175!

    Dear Colleague:

    Coal is the largest domestic source of energy produced in the United States. Current estimates demonstrate a 250-300 year coal resource base in the U.S. The U.S. has more coal than the rest of the world has recoverable oil. Therefore, it is important that we invest in developing technologies that will allow Americans to continue benefiting from this abundant, secure, and affordable fuel source--without compromising the environment.

    H.R.2175, the Foreign Oil Displacement Act, seeks to provide financial tax incentives for the liquefaction of coal, and coal byproducts, into liquid fuel. Capital investment statutes for liquefaction facilities are $300 million. Specifically, the bill would provide a 28 percent Investment Tax Credit and exemption from the Fuels Excise Tax for liquefied coal, a benefit already enjoyed by the ethanol industry. This proposal would provide the economic incentives for the significant investment necessary to make the liquefaction of coal viable.

    The liquefaction of coal would have important economic and environmental benefits. Economically, it would provide a realistic alternative to our national dependence on foreign oil. Environmentally, it would provide the means to use waste coal, which is present in many coal-producing regions of the U.S.

    If you have questions, or would like to sign on as a cosponsor, contact Cameron Taylor of my staff at 225-5546.


    Important Facts

    Imports of foreign oil cost an estimated $64 billion in 1997, according to statistics complied by Oil and Gas magazine.

    *

    The world consumes more than 65 million barrels of petroleum each day. By 2015, the amount will increase to 99 million barrels per day. As developing countries continue to industrialize, competition for the world's limited oil supply will increase, resulting in higher prices. Production & Consumption

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    U.S. coal reserves are estimated at more than 1,600 billion tons, the equivalent of more than six trillion barrels of oil. Pennsylvania, a prime coal state, is estimated to have 34 billion tons of coal. World Recoverable Coal Resources

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    The United States is estimated to hold 29% of the world's coal reserves, the highest percentage of any country. World Recoverable Coal Resources

    *

    An Ultra Clean Fuels facility proposed by Waste Management and Processors, Inc., (WMPI) would produce 1.5 million barrels of liquid fuel per year, an import reduction of about $27 million annually at current oil prices (approximately $18 per barrel).

    *

    The WMPI Ultra Clean Fuels plant would utilize 2,500 tons per day of carbonaceous feedstocks, including coal and coal waste material.

    *

    A 5,000 barrel per day capacity plant, like the proposed WMPI facility, would create 1,000 construction jobs and 150 permanent operation jobs, with an annual payroll of $4.5 million. Economic studies project an additional 600 ancillary jobs resulting from the plant.

    *

    Transportation, which represents 17% of the total economic output of the U.S., is highly dependent on petroleum. As a result, fluctuations in the price and supply of oil have far-reaching impacts across the entire economy. Greater reliance of Ultra Clean Fuels would add more reliability in price and supply, adding more stability to the national economy.

    Conclusion

    The benefits of applying Ultra Clean Fuels Technology are substantial:



    *

    better utilization of domestic coal and other carbonaceous feedstock

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    an alternative to continued dependence on unreliable oil imports Energy Dependency

    *

    rebuilding our energy industry Energy Independence

    *

    creation of new high-quality jobs

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    reclamation of the nation's coal regions

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    economic benefits of lessening foreign debt burden incurred from imports

    These factors are only the highlights of a program that will have an enormous positive impact on the living standards and quality of life of the American people.

    Implementing Ultra Clean Fuels Technologies through a Private/Public Partnership represents a true "win-win" for the economy and the environment.




    WHAT CAN I DO TO PARTICIPATE
    IN MAKING THIS A REALITY?

    Passage of The Foreign Oil Displacement Act at the federal and state level is necessary to provide for the commercialization of gasification/liquefaction facilities.

    IPO, Preferred Vendors, Newsletter, Advertising

    *

    All participants sending E-mail or letters in support of the Foreign Oil Displacement Act who identify themselves by name, mailing address, and E-mail addresses will be the first contacted upon the issuance of the project's IPO (initial public offering).
    *

    All Companies sending E-mail or letters in support of the Foreign Oil Displacement Act who provide their name, mailing address, and E-mail address will be placed on a preferred vendors list for purposes of building and/or operating and maintaining the gasification/liquefaction facilities.



    http://www.ultracleanfuels.com/html/help.htm

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    Veteran Member myssi's Avatar
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    Default Re: Waste coal (culm) to oil and other fuels

    I've always loved coal... it is great in the west/midwest... very cheap energy...but the pollution blows over to the east/northeast where it is not welcome. Note that the cleanest low sulfer US coal is in Utah...unfortunately now off limits due to Clinton's unilateral decision to sieze land (under the antiquities act I think) for a new national park or monument. Was this a payoff to his illegal Indonesian contributors? (Indonesia is the other source for the extremely low sulfer coal.)

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    Featured Member discretedancer's Avatar
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    Default Re: Waste coal (culm) to oil and other fuels

    Actually, from what I read (living in coal country of PA) the cleanest is anthracite, but it isn't mined much anymore because of high labor cost (can't be strip mined, a practice which should be OUTLAWED anyway).

    But the culm trick is "making blood from stone" that is, turning waste product into useable fuel and getting rid of ugly piles of useless junk

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    Veteran Member myssi's Avatar
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    Default Re: Waste coal (culm) to oil and other fuels

    Yes, anthracite burns soot free ("My gown stays white... on the road to anthracite") and is cleaner than bituminous coal. Pennsylvania has about 7 billion tons and Alaska has 3 billion tons (estimated).

    What about frozen methane clathrate hydrate from the sea floor (burning ice) or helium-3 ?
    http://www.ifm-geomar.de/index.php?id=1226&L=1
    http://www.mh21japan.gr.jp/english/mh21/02keii.html
    http://www.ornl.gov/info/reporter/no16/methane.htm
    http://www.space.com/scienceastronom...m3_000630.html

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