Where there's a Will, there's a way

The coal industry is getting nervous. They see the national push to reduce global warming emissions and how difficult it is to build new coal fire power plants. They're working on a variety of ways to promote the use of more coal in an economy where carbon emissions will be regulated by the federal government.

One of those potential new markets is experimental coal-to-liquid fuel technology. Phillip Gonet, The President of the Illinois Coal Association, has an Op-Ed in today's State Journal-Register promoting coal-to-liquid as the latest solution to American dependence on foreign oil.

When reading Gonet's piece its important to remember that he has one job: to promote the agenda of his special interest group. Reducing dependence on foreign oil and protecting the environment are not his concern. His only job is to create new markets for the coal industry. If you want an organization that attempts to benefit all citizens then you should look to a public interest group such as the Sierra Club.

I'm amused by Gonet's suggestion that conserving energy and hybrid technologies are unrealistic "pipe dreams." The reality is that these technologies are available today. We have existing technology to improve fuel economy for conventional cars, and create practical hybrid vehicles. Using technology to do more with less is both achievable and cost effective.

Much less realistic is the unproven technology Gonet refers to such as carbon capture and storage technologies. That has not yet been proven to be an economically or scientifically viable alternative.

The Illinois Coal Association is one of the most powerful special interest groups in the state because it succeeds at getting state and local governments to provide millions in subsidies and corporate welfare to an already profitable industry while the renewable energy industry gets next to nothing. Is it really forward thinking policy to spend public money on experimental, unproven coal projects like FutureGen rather than creating new jobs by luring facilities that build proven technologies like wind turbines and solar panels?

According to the EPA, the full life cycle global warming emissions of coal-to-liquid fuel without theoretical carbon capture technology are twice that of conventional gasoline. Even with the carbon capture technology, which is not yet in use, it still increases global warming emissions.

This handy chart shows the impact of different alternative fuels. Illinois farmers will be happy to see that cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel are the best options. Even electric cars powered by coal power plants produce fewer global warming emissions than coal-to-liquid.

Add to that consideration the harmful effects of mountain-top removal and long-wall mining methods. Is taking good farm land out of production really the best option for Illinois?

Gonet has a difficult job of increasing markets for coal in a political environment that is increasingly unfriendly to outdated, high-pollution energy sources. Luckily for him, the Illinois Coal Association has a lot of money to throw around at politicians. For the rest of us, there's no good reason to buy his pipe dreams about coal as a "clean fuel" technology.