Union of Concerned Scientists say biofuels a better option than coal-to-liquid fuel; major West Virginia program under scrutiny

A new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists said that converting coal into liquid fuel will worsen climate change problems, and recommended more focus on next-generation biofuels. The report said that liquid coal can increase greenhouse gas emissions by more than 80 percent, compared to gasoline.

“Biofuels have a Jekyll-and-Hyde reputation depending on what study you read and what assumptions you make, but liquid coal is a loser no matter how you look at it,” said Patricia Monahan, author of the report. West Virginia recently announced a policy of replacing 40 percent of the state’s oil consumption by 2030 with liquid fuel made from coal, and Gov. Manchin recently proposed the construction of 10 liquid coal plants in the state.

Free Subscription to the Daily Biofuels Digest e-newsletter

Related Stories

West Virginia Development Authority gives preliminary OK to $5 million loan to Kanawha Biodiesel

In West Virginia, the state Development Authority gave preliminary approval to a $5 million loan to Kanawha Biodiesel for its plant in Institute. The company has licensed a proprietary biodiesel produ...

Entrepreneur calls coal-to-liquid the logical successor to ethanol: “does it make sense to burn your food supply?”

In Texas, the chairman of DKRW Advanced Fuels told the Cambridge Energy Research Associates' 2008 conference that refining coal into liquids is the logical step to succeed corn-based ethanol. "Does it...

Daily Biofuels Summary for November 15: ExxonMobil says biofuels will account for less than 3 percent of fuel supply by 2030; Italy launches investigation into pasta price-fixing as industry “blame the biofuels” strategy crumbles

Top Story: In Florida, Scott Nauman, Manager for Economics and Energy at ExxonMobil, said that biofuel production will only make up 3 million barrels a day out of an estimated 116 million barrels a...

Air Force drops coal-to-liquid fuel plant project; attention turns to biofuels

In Washington, the US Air Force announced that it has canceled plans for a coal-to-liquid plant that would produce fuel for the B-1, B-52,  C-17, F-15, F-22, C-5 and KC-135. Liquid fuel from coal pro...

US lawmakers tell Defense Department to stop buying tar sand and coal-to-liquid fuels, as EISA Act is implemented

In Washington, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA)., and Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) have called on the Department of Defense to comply with section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act by discontinuing pur...

Biofuels Digest Special Report on Gasification & Pyrolysis: W2 Energy syngas project

W2 Energy announced that it will convert municipal solidwaste, tires, agricultural waste, human waste and coal into renewable electricity and syndiesel. The company, which uses a plasma-assisted bioma...