June 2, 2009

FutureCoalFuels.org Update
May 28, 2009

In this update:

• Air Force pledges to work with local community on Alaska CTL project
• Become a CTL grassroots supporter
• Stay up-to-date on the latest news reports spotlighting CTL

Air Force pledges to work with local community on Alaska CTL project

A top Air Force official earlier this month told Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) that the service will work with officials in Fairbanks, Alaska, to ensure the proper use of $10 million meant to explore the feasibility of a coal-to-liquids (CTL) plant near Eielson Air Force Base.  The funds were included in a Defense Department spending bill Congress approved last fall. 

During a Senate Military Construction Subcommittee hearing, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations Kathleen Ferguson said the service was "absolutely" committed to working with the community and that Air Force officials and community leaders had met earlier this month on the matter.

Ferguson said the "purpose of the meeting was really to provide them with an update regarding progress the Air Force has made in advancing the feasibility work.  Ferguson said the Air Force was conducting three feasibility studies, including a mission capability analysis on how a CTL plant would work alongside the existing missions or potential future missions at Eielson.

"Those (studies) will all come together mid to late summer, July-August time frame," Ferguson told Murkowski.

Ferguson said the service will meet with community leaders again in late July or early August to discuss the preliminary results of the studies and help "map out a way forward."

Murkowski stressed the need for "coordination and collaboration" between the Air Force and local community leaders.

More information is available at: CTL Alaska Project.

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.    

As CTL fuel developments transpire, be sure to regularly visit FutureCoalFuels.org for the latest news and information and learn how you can help strengthen America's energy future