"This material (i.e., coal fines) is so fine it can't be used in the power plants and must be disposed of. The program indicated the there will be new rules in December 2009 related to disposal of the coal fines and there is a very real possibility that the coal fines will be designated toxic. The cost to treat or dispose of the coal ash and coal fines will be prohibitive. However, it is a perfect feedstock for the W2 Energy coal to liquid fuel plants. W2 Energy is in the unique position of being one of a few companies able to help the coal industry and the power industry with this emerging problem. The W2 Energy system is a closed system and a net user of CO2. It has no emissions and generates carbon credits.
In a press release on September 14, 2009, W2Energy announced it had received coal samples from a coal company to demonstrate the yield from coal that its technology can produce. The company is gathering all of its test data and will be announcing the results in the near term.
The company is very comfortable that it will be able to clean up the fines and coal ash on power sites while generating diesel and electricity, therefore reducing costs and absorbing the greenhouse gases generated by the coal. The Company will turn the fines or coal gas into syngas and the syngas will be turned into jet fuel, gasoline and diesel fuel."
This is just more affirmation that our knowledge and understanding of coal conversion technology is much more complete and practical than Big Oil, the Environmentalists, and, sadly, our mainstream press and elected government, would, apparently, have us believe.
It's way past time we started making full use of all our coal resources.