Coal conversion: a partial answer

Conversion of coal to oil and gas could provide the answer and eventually free the U.S. dependence on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mr. Hill feels. But unless the required coal conversion technology is developed soon, so that commercial plants can be built with confidence, a period of severe fuel shortage with consequent major economic and sociological disruptions may result. It is not enough that a switch to coal from oil and natural gas be made, but also much of that coal, by liquefaction and gasification, must be converted to synthetic oil and gas for continued use in those forms. Mr. Hill states that pushing forward is essential, for even with the R and D efforts invested in coal conversion so far, it will likely be 10 years before commercial plants are tested. Experience has shown that market penetration of new technologies is sometimes slow. For instance, it has taken 30 years for nuclear-generated electric power to achieve just a 10 percent share of the total electricity produced in the U.S. Environmental standards, Federal licensing regulations, and shortage of capital are among the factors that have delayed and continue to slow the development of nuclear power, and theymore » can be expected to retard the advancement of new technologies for coal conversion. (MCW)« less