The Other Black Gold – America has a substance abuse problem, and Montana may have a cure. By Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer

America has a substance abuse problem, and Montana may have a cure.

It is easy to forget, but before the hurricanes bumped up already outrageous fuel prices, President Bush was forced to ask the royals of Saudi Arabia – the country that gave us 15 of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers – to lower the price of oil so Americans could afford to drive. He was refused.

In truth, he had no choice. America is addicted to foreign oil, and like any addict we are at the mercy of the pushers and require an intervention. Montana, among other states, is trying to help America get clean by promoting a range of modern domestic energy strategies. Yet our biggest idea is actually a very old recipe: gasoline made from coal instead of oil.

Most people are surprised to learn that we can produce gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other petroleum products out of coal. Indeed, the process was used in America as early as 1928. In World War II, 92 percent of Germany’s aviation fuel and half its total petroleum came from synthetic-fuel plants. South Africa has used a similar technology for 50 years, and now makes 200,000 barrels per day of synthetic gasoline and diesel.

By Montana Gov. BRIAN SCHWEITZER

Full Story: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/03/opinion/03schweitzer.html?th&emc=th

Further Stories:

Guest opinion: We must create blueprint to combat high energy costs By Denny Rehberg U.S. Representative of Montana http://www.matr.net/article-16259.html

Guest opinion from Gov. Brian Schweitzer: Montana coal can help fuel America’s future http://www.matr.net/article-16174.html

Coal rush – Montana Gov. Schweitzer’s plan to convert coal to gas http://www.matr.net/article-15964.html