Military’s push to turn coal into fuel picking up speed

DAYTON, Ohio – The Pentagon is trying to persuade investors and the energy industry to embrace an 80-year-old technology to turn coal into liquid fuel to power planes, tanks and other battlefield vehicles.

Officials have been crisscrossing the country, meeting with energy companies and state government officials to sell them on the idea. At the same time, military researchers have been testing fuel produced by the process to make sure it is suitable for military vehicles, especially older ones.

The military is worried that political pressure or terrorist acts could cut the flow of oil from the Middle East or hurricanes or terrorists could destroy U.S. refineries.

“We know what the technical challenges are, but we don’t see any show-stoppers,” said William Harrison, senior adviser for the Pentagon’s Assured Fuels Initiative. “There is still a level of uncertainty, but it looks like the technology is mature enough.”

AP