Celanese looks for markets in ethanol made from gas, coal

In Texas, Celanese is planning to invest nearly $700 million in a project that will produce ethanol from natural gas and coal, and says the technology will reduce pressure on food prices as well as compete with gasoline on an unsubsidized basis. However, the company is experiencing difficulty gaining traction with offtake contracts, because the fuels do not conform with the Renewable Fuel Standard.