Rentech Creates Synthetic Fuel From Natural Gas And Coal

[Guest]

Chicago (IL) - Rentech, a company that turns hydrocarbons such as coal and natural gas into alternative fuels, says it has begun producing an "ultra clean synthetic fuel".

Rentech Creates Synthetic Fuel From Natural Gas And Coal : Read more

 

[JonnyDough]

Turning coal into gasoline is just like turning coal into oil and then refining that oil into gasoline. All we're doing is replacing the natural process of coal becoming oil over a long period of time. Instead of drilling up oil, we strip mine it as coal and turn it into oil. Either way it's not going to be good for the environment, and it's going to use a lot of energy and create a lot of extra heat in the refinement process, before we even get to the part where we burn it in our vehicles. The real issue isn't whether or not it works, it's that the resources they used to do this research might have been better spent on a long term and even more environmentally friendly solution. Don't get me wrong, to sustain our SUV and consumerism lifestyle we "need" a lot of oil and gas. But the fact is that what we need is a real change, not continuance in the means to an end.