Environmentalist Says ”Clean Coal” Technology is a Myth

CHARLESTON – The same day two energy companies announced plans to build West Virginia’s first coal-to-gasoline plant, a spokeswoman for one of the state’s largest environmental groups was trying to convince state lawmakers that coal-to-liquids technology would be a step in the wrong direction.

Vickie Wolfe of the West Virginia Environmental Council said coal- to-liquid technology was less efficient than conventional fuels, resulted in more greenhouse gas emissions and would lead to more environmental damage caused by coal mining.

[…] Coal-to-liquid technology is seen as a tool by many policymakers for decreasing the nation’s reliance on foreign oil. It has been used by the Germans during World War II and by South Africa, which lost access to oil due to international embargoes resulting from the country’s apartheid policies.

The reason coal-to-liquid hasn’t been more widely used is the expense of converting coal into useable fuel. But now with a barrel of oil costing as much as $147, coal-based fuels can compete commercially.

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