Second District Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito plans to introduce a bill next week in the U.S. House with a long name but a succinct plan behind it. Capito says The Clean Coal Derived Fuels for Energy Security Act simply calls for turning coal into to liquid fuel.
"A minimum of six billion barrels of coal to liquid (a year) as part of our fuel sources by the year 2022. So what that's going to create is a demand for coal for liquid, Capito said at a Tuesday news conference in Charleston.
Capito is looking for co-sponsors and she believes they won't be hard to find considering how many states mine coal or rely on it as their main power source. She says they have to stand up to those who have jilted clean coal technology in the past.
"Unfortunately the Congress has been turning its back on coal, according to Capito. She says thats because the leadership feels it's the "the least" of our country's natural resources. "It's time for us to get together, drop the politics and find a broad based solution to this problem, she said.
Now that other countries like South Africa are successfully using coal to liquid fuel and carbon sequestration has come along, Capito says coal liquefaction is an environmentally friendly alternative to foreign oil. "My argument is we have an abundance in the resource. We have the availability. We have the technology, so we aught to be using it while we're moving forward with the other research and technology on bio-fuels and renewables, she said.
West Virginia has a lot to gain if the legislation gets favorable support. "This is jobs for West Virginia. This is long-term economic stability for West Virginia. This is West Virginia playing a part in energy solution. This is West Virginia helping to lower gasoline prices, Capito predicted.
Capito admits it's crucial they get broad based backing for the bill. To her, it's just common sense. The legislation will be introduced next Tuesday.
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