October 16, 2008

FutureCoalFuels.org Update
October 16, 2008

In this update: 

• Congress approves new measures to promote domestic CTL production
• CTL conferences set for Houston, New York
• Become a CTL grassroots supporter
• Stay up-to-date on the latest news reports spotlighting CTL

Congress approves new measures to promote domestic CTL production

Congress recently gave final approval to separate pieces of legislation designed to stabilize the U.S. economy and fund the federal government through March 2009, with both bills containing provisions aimed at accelerating the domestic production of coal-to-liquid (CTL) fuels.

The "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008" (H.R. 1424) provides economic stabilization measures totaling $700 billion, including a tax package that provides $250 million in credits designated to support the installation of gasification technology at industrial plants, including for use at domestic CTL plants. 

 The bill also extends the life of a 50 cent per gallon alternative fuel CTL tax credit until the end of 2009 and expands the credit to cover the production of CTL aviation fuels.  This is particularly important as military and commercial aviation sectors are likely to be the first large scale users of domestic CTL fuels.   

 The tax package also aims to spur carbon capture and storage activity through $1.1 billion in new tax credits consisting of a $10 per ton enhanced oil recovery credit and a $20 per ton carbon storage credit.

Congress also recently gave final approval to the "Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance and Continuing Appropriations Act" (H.R. 2638), which primarily funds the federal government through March 31, 2009.  Included in the bill are a number of provisions designed to support domestic CTL production.

The bill provides $60 million to support continued CTL testing and certification by the Air Force in fiscal year 2009 and includes report language directing $20 million to support research into carbon capture and storage technology for the future production of CTL fuels.  The bill also includes report language stating that Congress understands the Air Force is strongly committed to certifying CTL fuels for use in its entire fleet of aircraft by 2011 and intends to purchase 50 percent of its aviation fuel in the form of synthetic fuel blends beginning in 2016.

CTL conferences set for Houston, New York

Leading public and private sector representatives will gather at two upcoming conferences to discuss the latest developments regarding efforts to accelerate the production of coal-to-liquid (CTL) fuels.

The Enabling Global Coal to Liquids Markets Summit will take place Oct. 30-31 in Houston, Texas.  Among those slated to speak at the conference are representatives from leading coal producing and technology developing members of the Coal-to-Liquids Coalition (CTLC). Representatives from CTLC member organizations are eligible for a 15 percent discount off the conference's registration fee.

The summit will focus on the key market and technological development needed in order to fully enable commercial CTL production, with the conference specially examining issues regarding potential North American production.  Among the issues the conference will explore are the use of biomass, carbon capture and storage and enhanced oil and gas recovery techniques to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.  CTLC members interested in the 15 percent registration discount should contact NMA Vice President of Industry Communications Corey Henry at chenry@nma.org or (202) 463-2621.

More information, including registration information and a detailed program, is available here.

The Synfuel Finance & Development Summit 2008 will take place Nov. 5-7 in New York, NY. The summit will feature discussions by leading project developers, coal companies, equity investors, lenders, technology suppliers and contractors.  The summit's agenda will focus on the status and outlook for government CTL plans; emerging opportunities to develop CTL, oil shale and biomass plants; an update on domestic and international projects; the market environment for financing synthetic fuel projects; and revenue enhancement and project structuring strategies to get projects successfully financed.

More information, including registration details, is here.

Become a CTL grassroots supporter

The Coal-to-Liquids Coalition is working to build a strong network of grassroots supporters willing to contact federal and state lawmakers to voice their support for measures meant to spur the domestic production of affordable, clean-burning CTL fuels.  CTL grassroots supporters can include company employees, union members, retirees, their families, friends and others spread across the country who share a personal stake in the successful launch of a domestic CTL industry.

A robust CTL grassroots network can be an invaluable tool in helping to increase the bipartisan support for legislation designed to jumpstart the production of ultra-clean CTL fuels.  

To become a grassroots supporter visit: http://capwiz.com/futurecoalfuels/home/.

Stay up-to-date on the latest news reports spotlighting CTL

Through its web site, www.futurecoalfuels.org, the Coal-to-Liquids Coalition collects news stories from across the country that feature the latest information on how coal-to-liquid fuels will help reduce America's dependence on foreign oil and yield important environmental benefits.  For access to recent CTL news items, please visit: http://www.futurecoalfuels.org/news.asp.