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To: GonzoGOP; Faketan

The Fischer–Tropsch process is being used now to gassify coal. We have LOTS of coal.


41 posted on 01/08/2010 6:33:59 PM PST by narses ('in an odd way this is cheering news!'.)
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To: narses
We have LOTS of coal.

Lots, even in all caps, doesn't even begin to describe the reserves in just the US. And if you convert it to oil you can use all the low quality Midwest coal that isn't as good in power plants. Most of that stuff isn't even being mined any more.

Still cheaper to drill for oil and lots still to be drilled. But even when that runs down (note I don't say out) we will just switch to something else.

Stupid history fact. The main cause of the industrial revolution was the exhausting of timber reserves. The supplies became so short that the Royal Navy posted armed guards around stands of Oak to protect their shipbuilding materials. So they developed substitutes, Coal for heating, Iron for building, the they developed the coke so as to be able to use charcoal in the steel making process and completely removed their reliance on timber.

When coal and Iron ran short in WWII we developed substitutes. Industry switched from coal to oil power and much of what was made from iron ans steel started to be made from plastic.

Resource shortages are not new. Conservatives and isnsutrialists use technology and science to find substitutes, adapt and overcome. Its the panic struck libs and greens who want to go back into the caves.
44 posted on 01/08/2010 6:42:51 PM PST by GonzoGOP (There are millions of paranoid people in the world and they are all out to get me.)
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