·        Gov. Manchin stresses need for CTL in State of the State address

·        Air Force to host CTL industry forum in Montana

·        NASA eyeing CTL tests

·        Register now for world CTL conference

·        Stay up-to-date on the latest news reports spotlighting CTL

·        Become a CTL grassroots supporter

Gov. Manchin stresses need for CTL in State of the State address 

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manhcin (D) used his Jan. 9 State of the State address to emphasize the vital role clean coal technologies must play in strengthening America’s future energy security and helping to mitigate climate change through the increasingly clean production of coal-based electricity and coal-to-liquid (CTL) transportation fuels.

“I believe one of the biggest issues that we face not only as a state but as a nation is energy,” Manchin said.  “As we consider how our nation can provide an adequate energy supply that is environmentally acceptable, we must recognize the critical role of clean coal technologies in this discussion.”  Noting the “wide availability, versatility and reasonable cost” of clean coal technologies, Manchin said “coal will be strategically important to our energy future.”

“I sincerely believe that technological solutions leading to the greening of the coal industry hold the key to America’s security – which is why I am so committed to working toward the continued development of clean coal technologies and the construction of clean coal power and [CTL] plants.”  Manchin also noted that the ability to capture carbon at these types of plants that can be pumped underground to help enhance oil and natural gas production will further improve his state’s energy future.

The governor’s most recent show of support for the construction of CTL plants in his state follows the unveiling of an energy plan late last year in which he called for five CTL plants to be built in West Virginia.

A copy of Gov. Manchin’s Jan. 9 address is available here.

A copy of the governor’s energy plan is available here.

Air Force to host CTL industry forum in Montana

The Air Force announced recently that it will host a coal-to-liquids (CTL) industry forum later this month in Great Falls, Mont.  The forum is meant to inform potential business partners of a CTL project development opportunity at Malmstrom Air Force Base and gauge private industry interest in the proposed project.  The one-day forum is scheduled for Jan. 31.

Information regarding the forum, including registration details, is available here (conference code MAM56398).

NASA eyeing CTL tests

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is set to open a new laboratory that will test various non-petroleum based synthetic aviation fuels, including coal-to-liquid (CTL) fuels, in an effort to develop a complete emissions profile of such fuels. The new alternative fuels laboratory should be operational by mid-2008.

A Dec. 31 Energy Washington story detailed NASA’s plans for the lab, saying the emissions profile could be a key factor in decisions by the military and commercial airlines concerning future alternative fuel use.  News of NASA’s plan follows a test last month in which the Air Force conducted the first ever transcontinental flight of an aircraft powered by a fuel made using the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process, the same technique used to transform coal into clean diesel transportation fuels.  The Air Force is expanding a FT testing program that began in 2007 and is leading the way in pursing alternative fuels to reduce its dependence on petroleum-based fuels given constant price hikes and increasing worries over limited global oil supplies.

Ultimately, the Air Force wants to certify FT fuels for use in all its aircraft by 2011 and procure 50 percent of its fuel needs from domestically made synthetic fuels by 2016.

The Air Force testing program is also designed to accelerate the use of coal-based FT and other synthetic fuels by the commercial aviation sector, and the NASA lab effort is meant to also promote the use of such fuels by commercial airlines and express delivery companies.  Current efforts to promote the use of such fuels by the commercial aviation sector are being spearheaded by the Federal Aviation Administration under the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative.

Dan Bulzan of NASA’s Glenn Research Center told Energy Washington that NASA is working closely with the Department of Defense, but said the NASA lab will have more of an emphasis on commercial aviation applications.  NASA’s lab will test the gaseous emissions, including carbon dioxide, and particulate matter emissions of synthetic fuels and will evaluate reactors used to create synthetic fuels using the FT process, Bulzan told Energy Washington.  

Register now for world CTL conference

Registration for the inaugural World Coal-to-Liquids Conference, scheduled for April 3-4 in Paris, France, is now open. The conference is being endorsed by the French Institute of Petroleum, World Coal Institute, World CTL Association and the World Energy Council and features a distinguished roster of U.S. and international government and private sector representatives who will highlight the important role clean CTL fuels can play in meeting future global energy needs.

The conference will focus on the latest information regarding CTL technology, economics and environmental benefits, as well as providing those in attendance with an invaluable opportunity to network with leading CTL industry representatives. In addition, the conference will feature CTL exhibits by participating organizations and companies.  Information regarding registration, becoming an exhibitor or a conference sponsor is available here.

Stay up-to-date on the latest news reports spotlighting CTL

Through its web site, www.futurecoalfuels.org, the Coal-to-Liquids Coalition collects news stories from across the country that feature the latest information on how coal-to-liquid fuels will help reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and yield important environmental benefits.  For access to recent CTL news items, please visit: http://www.futurecoalfuels.org/news.asp.    

Become a CTL grassroots supporter

The Coal-to-Liquids Coalition is working to build a strong network of grassroots supporters willing to contact federal and state lawmakers to voice their support for measures meant to spur the domestic production of affordable, clean-burning CTL fuels.  CTL grassroots supporters can include company employees, union members, retirees, their families, friends and others spread across the country who share a personal stake in the successful launch of a domestic CTL industry.

The coming months are likely to see continued congressional CTL activity; a time in which a robust CTL grassroots network can be an invaluable tool in helping to increase the bipartisan support for legislation designed to jumpstart the production of ultra-clean CTL fuels.  

To become a grassroots supporter visit: http://www.capitolconnect.com/futurecoalfuels/.

As CTL fuel developments transpire, be sure to regularly visit FutureCoalFuels.org for the latest news and information and learn how you can help strengthen America’s energy future.

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