Subcommittee Examines Benefits, Challenges of Coal-to-Liquid Technologies
(Washington, DC) – Members of the Science & Technology Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment considered the policy and technological measures potentially needed if the U.S. is to move forward with an energy strategy that includes the production of liquid transportation fuels from coal sources.
As the price of petroleum and natural gas remains high, there has been an increased interest in developing the commercial potential of producing synthetic liquid fuels from coal (CTL). Subcommittee 
Chairman Nick Lampson (D-TX) led Members in discussing the need and scope of additional research, as well as development and demonstration programs that should be employed by the Department of Energy and other agencies to accomplish this.
“I recognize there may be economic and strategic benefits of advancing coal-to-liquid technologies from both the regional and global perspectives. We need to have a comprehensive strategy to build an energy future that is sustainable,” said Lampson.
“Today’s hearing was very informative and underscored the benefits of coal-to-liquid fuels in the near term and the need for greater federal investment in developing carbon capture and sequestration technologies,” said Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL).
Witnesses testified on the host of challenges, benefits and policies to be taken into account in discussing coal liquefaction, including carbon dioxide management, infrastructure improvements, water usage and energy security, among others.
Among its benefits, the use of CTL in the transportation sector could help secure energy supplies by displacing imports of foreign sources of diesel or jet fuel. Reports also show that CTL produces tailpipe emissions that are almost completely free of sulfur, unlike conventional transportation fuels. Another benefit would be the ability to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 20 percent over the fuel cycle through the use of carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage; that would be made easier because the CTL process can employ technologies which concentrate the CO2 stream for removal.
Members also examined the challenges with CTL, including competition for coal in electric power generation, the low-octane gasoline produced by CTL, competition with domestic natural gas use and concerns about the ability to guarantee a dependable, sustained market for CTL fuels, which could deter investment from the private sector. To date, the most common U.S. process for coal liquefaction has been criticized for being inefficient and thus costly. Today’s witnesses also discussed balancing environmental policy objectives with the goal to reduce the country’s reliance on foreign energy sources.
“I am aware that there are significant environmental challenges associated with using coal to produce liquid fuels. I believe it is essential that we continue to examine our energy strategies with attention to the issue of global warming and other environmental concerns such as management of our water resources,” said Lampson.
Witnesses at today’s hearing included, Dr. Robert L. Freerks, Director of Product Development, Rentech Corp.; Mr. John Ward, Vice President, Marketing and Governmental Affairs Headwaters, Inc.; Dr. James T. Bartis, Senior Policy Researcher RAND Corp.; Mr. David G. Hawkins, Director, Climate Center at Natural Resources Defense Council; Dr. Richard D. Boardman, The Secure Energy Initiative Head, Idaho National Laboratory; and Dr. Joseph Romm, former Acting Asst. Secretary at Department of Energy during the Clinton Administration, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress and Director/Founder, Center for Energy and Climate Solutions.
###
110.144
Related Subcommittees
Next Article Previous Article