New Congress may Slow Coal to Liquids
Converting coal to a liquid fuel like diesel is a bad idea for the climate, as previously noted. The good news is that the new Congress will be far more skeptical of the idea than the old one.
“Democrats’ Climate Test Could Hamper DOD Push For Alternative Fuels,” is how Energy Washington (subs. req’d) put it:
The Defense Department’s push to find alternative fuel sources could face a tough hurdle if the new Democratic leadership in Congress closely scrutinizes the climate impacts of controversial technologies, such as coal-based Fischer-Tropsch refining, that DOD is considering, observers say.
The article goes on to explain:
… many DOD officials have been pushing for using Fischer-Tropsch, a refining method that generates liquid fuel from coal or natural gas which DOD has explored as one way to increase domestic energy independence. However, the process is controversial because it produces more carbon dioxide (CO2) than traditional petroleum refining. In recent months, some DOD acquisition officials have backed away from the push for the technology, in part because of concerns about the cost of future CO2 controls.
Any push for Fischer-Tropsch may now become even more difficult because the incoming Democratic majority will likely force the Pentagon to examine the climate impacts of its fuel use and the environmental impacts of alternative fuel projects, a former DOD official says.
Democrats “are more likely to apply carbon impact as a screening criteria for any alternative fuels,” suggesting that DOD may have to either devote more funding to research on carbon sequestration or other carbon mitigation measures or make more use of biofuels or other alternative fuel sources with less carbon impact, the source says.
What a great idea, applying a carbon screen: Asking the question, does a new fuel or technology reduce greenhouse gas emissions or increase emissions, does it make it easier to avoid catastrophic warming or harder? This is not a tough question for coal to diesel. The article notes:
… At the same time, Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), likely the next chairman of the Senate energy committee, does not favor Fischer-Tropsch, a spokesman says. “I don’t believe Bingaman is a big believer in Fischer-Tropsch,” the spokesman says, adding that Bingaman “thinks liquefaction of coal has more environmental negatives than positives.”
Coal liquefaction has far more environmental negatives than positives. Kudos to Bingaman for understanding this.
