New study promotes coal to fuel automobiles, but gets criticism from environmentalists and industry

A new study says coal could provide 15 percent of U.S. transportation fuel by 2030, but a pair of unlikely allies say the study ignores the best hope for alternative fuel. Bill Caylor, president of the Kentucky Coal Association, and Tom FitzGerald, executive director of the Kentucky Resources Council, say developing batteries for plug-in hybrids is a much better approach to creating energy independence.

The study, released Wednesday by the Rand Corp., a non-profit organization focused on energy issues, says the capabilities to make liquid fuel from coal already exist, but require support from the government to get the industry moving. However, many say that using coal to fuel automobiles could boost the greenhouse effect. Without new technology to caputure and store carbon dioxide released by processing and burning, "A coal-to-liquid industry could double the amount of carbon being put into the atmosphere," writes Andy Mead for the Lexington Herald-Leader. (Read more)