Delay on coal-to-oil an outrage

 

REPUBLICANHERALD.COM

08/30/2007

There's only one word for the fact that John W. Rich and other fuel companies aren't producing oil from coal right now - inexcusable.

The Schuylkill County executive has painstakingly lined up as much capital as possible; his company only requires that the U.S. government co-sign on one loan. However, he's not only awaiting word on that decision, but also results of a mandated environmental impact review.

It has been too many years for either of these obstacles to be overcome. The loan negotiation process has been ongoing since 2003, and the environmental review since 2006. It took far less time for PPL Electric Utilities to go through the process with its nuclear reactors; surely, fossil fuel production isn't nearly as potentially dangerous or complex.

From the White House down to local officials, the drumbeat is sounding louder for alternative energy sources. Consumers are demanding more, and quicker, action on this issue. With the world's oil supplies increasingly under threat from terrorism, and increasingly more expensive, it doesn't take rocket science to see how beneficial alternative energy supplies can be.

It's so blatant it's practically a shout - here are Rich and others, ready and able to begin production of oil from coal, and they're being stonewalled. These companies have proven their fuel can be efficiently, and fairly cheaply, produced. Furthermore, they can produce oil without agricultural consequences like those in ethanol production. Indeed, coal-to-oil technology actually helps the environment, by clearing away waste coal.

We fail to see what part of this the government doesn't understand.

Rich and other industry executives shouldn't have to put up with it. We expect them to maintain pressure on lawmakers to help speed the process; and it wouldn't hurt us ordinary citizens to make our voices heard on this issue as well.

It's past time for us to be taking advantage of fuel alternatives readily available right now. It's a national embarrassment that the government is obstructing the drive toward energy independence, and the worst hypocrisy to hear it proclaim that it's "doing all it can."

The time for action on coal-to-oil is now.