Here & There Column 7-10-07

Subsidize Coal As The King Of Alternative Fuels

At times there appears to be so much secrecy and behind the scenes maneuvering surrounding alternative fuels that we are somewhat amazed that the general public has not received very much information about a move in Congress that would push legislation to subsidize coal as the king of alternative fuels.
We hear and read various reports on corn and other materials being considered for alternative fuels but this one on coal is indeed very interesting.
It seems that Congressional leaders including a powerful roster of Democrats and Republicans are being prodded by intense lobbing from the coal industry proposing that taxpayers guarantee billions of dollars in construction loans for coal-to-liquid production plans, also to guarantee minimum prices for the new fuel and guarantee big government purchases for the next 25 years.
With House and Senate political leaders hoping to pass "energy independence" bills by mid-July, coal supporters argue that coal-based fuels are more American than gasoline and potentially greener than ethanol.
Some have over the years labeled coal as a dirty four-letter word but with gas and oil fuel prices continuing to rise environmental groups are starting to lose some of their power to stop the reborn growth of coal as an alternative fuel.
The scale of proposed subsidies for coal could exceed those for any alternative fuel, including corn-based ethanol.
It's been reported that coal companies have lobbied hard and have marshaled allies in organized labor, the Air Force and fuel-burning industries like the airlines.
Can we here in America imagine a world where our country runs on energy from Middle America instead of the Middle East. There are a number of key politicians who are said to be champions of coal-to-liquid fuels.
This move definitely places Congress in a difficult position because a proposed move like this reflects tension, which many lawmakers gloss over, between slowing global warming and reducing dependence on foreign oil.
It indeed is very factual that the huge coal reserves of the United States could indeed provide a substitute for foreign oil and the technology to convert coal into liquid fuel is well-established.
Our political leaders know and have stressed the importance of coal as an alternative to foreign oil and all of us need alternative fuels but we wonder if America has the will to be one of the great energy centers of the world?.....after all we do have the resources right under out feet,.