"Old" Coal-to-fuels process big polluter

Contrary to claims by Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a large coal-to-liquid fuels plant in Montana would be a major polluter and wouldn’t do much to offset foreign fuel imports, says a memo prepared for one of the state’s leading conservation groups.

The memo, prepared for the Northern Plains Resource Council, says a plant the size being promoted by the governor would create thousands of tons per year of sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, solid waste and other pollutants – as well as use huge amounts of water.

The memo was written by John Smillie, program director and researcher for the Western Organization of Resource Councils in Billings, an umbrella group that does training and planning for the NPRC and similar groups in the region.

He based most of his numbers on a similar plant in South Africa, owned and operated by Sasol, an international petrochemicals firm.

One of the governor’s top advisers, however, said Tuesday that processes used at the South African plant are "old technology" and that Schweitzer believes newer technology can convert coal to diesel fuel more cleanly.

"The governor has said from the beginning, if this cannot be done cleanly, he’s not interested in it," said Eric Stern, senior counselor to the governor. "The question is: Does the party doing it make that commitment? We’re going to make that commitment."

By MIKE DENNISON
Gazette State Bureau

Full Story: http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/10/12/build/state/30-polluter.inc