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For Immediate Release
Contact:
Corey Henry
(202) 463-9789
January 26, 2007
Coal-to-Liquids Technology Meets Environmental and Energy Needs
The following statement was issued on behalf of the Coal-to-Liquids Coalition by National Mining Association President & CEO Kraig R. Naasz regarding the environmental and energy performance of coal-to-liquid fuels technology.
"The dual challenges of providing greater energy security and addressing important environmental concerns have led many of our nation's lawmakers to embrace coal-to-liquid (CTL) fuels technology. As America's most abundant domestic energy source, coal is an obvious choice to diversify our transportation fuels mix and to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources to meet our domestic energy needs.
"CTL technology makes an equally compelling case on its environmental performance on both 'tank-to-wheel' and 'well-to-wheel' comparisons:
Tank-to-Wheel Comparisons
- Vehicles fueled by CTL diesel either match or exceed the performance of vehicles fueled by conventional diesel in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and CTL diesel-fueled vehicles consistently perform more favorably than vehicles fueled by conventional gasoline. These results are based on tests conducted in Europe, Africa and Japan over the last three years and are on an equal-miles-traveled basis. Vehicles used standard equipment in all tests.
- The low particulate, low mercury and almost zero sulfur emissions profile of CTL fuels means reduced tailpipe emissions, cleaner running mass transit systems in urban communities, no measurable toxic pollutants and lower emissions from fuel production.
Well-to-Wheel Comparisons
- With sale or sequestration of 85 percent of the carbon emissions generated during the refining of CTL fuels, CTL production results in roughly the same amount of CO2 as conventional diesel and nearly 24 percent less that conventional gasoline.
- Because coal is gasified at an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) plant, CTL plants allow for relatively easy extraction through scrubbing of impurities, such as heavy metals, in the gas stream. Post-gasification treatment removes virtually all of the particulate matter and any residual metals. The result is a near zero-sulfur fuel and lower nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions because the fuel does not contribute to NOx formation in engine cylinders. The process yields virtually no measurable amounts of acids or hazardous air pollutants.
"For these reasons, there is strong bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress and with many of the nation's governors for policies that will help jump-start CTL production in this country. In addition, governments around the world are looking at the potential for CTL and carbon sequestration technologies."
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