Producing liquid fuels from coal : prospects and policy issues / / James T. Bartis, Frank Camm, David S. Ortiz.

• Author: Bartis, James T., 1945-
• TeilnehmendeR: Camm, Frank A., 1949-; Ortiz, David
• Year of Publication: 2008
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (199 p.)
• Notes: "Rand Project Air Force."

Large U.S. coal reserves and viable technology make promising a domestic. industry producing liquid fuels from coal. Weighing benefits, costs, and. environmental issues, a productive and robust U.S. strategy is to promote a. limited amount of early commercial experience in coal-to-liquids production. and to prepare the foundation for managing associated greenhouse-gas. emissions, both in a way that reduces uncertainties and builds future. capabilities.

Table of Contents

Cover; Preface; Contents; Figures; Tables; Summary; Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; CHAPTER ONE- Introduction; About This Book; CHAPTER TWO- The Coal Resource Base; The Adequacy of the U.S. Coal Resource Base; The Distribution of U.S. Coal Reserves and Production; Coal Variability; Mine Size; Policy Implications of the Coal Resource Base; CHAPTER THREE- Coal-to-Liquids Technologies; The Fischer-Tropsch Coal-to-Liquids Approach; The Methanol-to-Gasoline Coal-to-Liquids Approach; The Direct Coal Liquefaction Approach

Baseline Greenhouse-Gas Emissions from Production of Coal-Derived Liquid FuelsCarbon Capture and Sequestration; Alternative Carbon-Management Options; Technical Viability and Commercial Readiness; Production Costs; Timeline for Coal-to-Liquids Development; CHAPTER FOUR- Other Unconventional Fuels; Commercially Ready Unconventional Fuels; Emerging Unconventional Fuels; Summary; CHAPTER FIVE- Benefits of Coal-to-Liquids Development; Economic Profits; Reductions in the World Price of Oil; National Security Benefits; Improved Petroleum Supply Chain; Oil-Supply Disruption Benefits

Employment BenefitsConfounding or Inconclusive Arguments; The Economic Value of a Domestic Coal-to-Liquids Industry; CHAPTER SIX- Critical Policy Issues for Coal-to-Liquids Development; Environmental Impacts of Coal-to-Liquids Production; Impediments to Private-Sector Investment; CHAPTER SEVEN- Designing Incentives to Encourage Private Investment; Designing an Effective Long-Term Public-Private Relationship; Assessing Financial Effects Under Conditions of Uncertainty; Findings and Policy Implications; Promoting Competition; Summary

CHAPTER EIGHT- Moving Forward with a Coal-to-Liquids Development EffortPrevailing Uncertainties; The Military Perspective; Federal Policy Options; An Insurance Policy; Air Force Options for Coal-to-Liquids Industrial Development; Scoping Federal Efforts: How Much Is Enough?; A Stable Framework for Reducing World Oil Prices; 119APPENDIX A- Cost-Estimation Methodology and Assumptions; APPENDIX B- Greenhouse-Gas Emissions: Supporting Analysis; APPENDIX C- A Model of the Global Liquid-Fuel Market; References