×
BLACK GOLD... NO, THE OTHER KIND. To follow up on Matt's point about liquid coal, take a gander at this recent Defense News article:
Coal dug from deep in Kentucky's rugged mountains generates some $4 billion a year for the state's economy, helping to lift it to the position of ninth-poorest among the 50 United States. With 120 million tons mined in 2006, Kentucky coal production is down from its peak of 180 million tons in 1990. But a new customer for Kentucky coal could bring an economic boost to the beleaguered state.And Rep. Geoff Davis, R-Ky., thinks he has found that customer -- the U.S. Air Force.A Davis amendment to the 2008 Defense Authorization Act would give the Air Force $10 million to accelerate testing of jet fuel made from coal.The push on liquid coal is not, by and large, going to be generated by genuine national security interests, by a desire for energy independence, or from a concern for the environment. Rather, the push will come from the coal industry and its allies in coal mining states. I'm all for making Kentucky the 10th poorest state in the nation (watch out, Alabama!) but coal mining generates few positive externalities, and tons of negative ones. --Robert Farley
