Posted on 01/10/2007 7:19:48 AM PST by Red Badger
The Billings Gazette reports that the head of BNSF Railway Co. has sent an engineering team to Montana to analyze a possible coal-to-liquids project.
In September 2006, BNSF and Tenaska, an independent energy developer, announced they were conducting a joint feasibility study including the exploration of multiple locations for the siting of commercial-scale, Fischer-Tropsch coal-to-liquids (CTL) facilities to produce an assured supply of cleaner diesel fuel at stable prices. BNSFs 6,300 locomotives burned 1.4 billion gallons of diesel in 2005.
As part of the project analysis, BNSF signed an agreement with Syntroleum Corporation to purchase quantities of Fischer-Tropsch diesel fuel to test its suitability for use in locomotives with more than 3,000 horsepower.
BNSF remains interested in at least a study in Montana, according to the paper.
"We are still studying the economic and technical feasibility of the technology, [BNSF spokesman Pat Hiatte] said. Montana locations, along with other locations, are being considered. Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer is aggressively pursuing prospects for developing CTL technology in the state.
Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.......
If you want on or off the DIESEL "KnOcK" LIST just FReepmail me........
This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days......
"BNSFs 6,300 locomotives burned 1.4 billion gallons of diesel in 2005."
Ouch, that'll put a divit in your bottom line.
But in how many miles? and how many tons of freight? They want to make their own fuel, and that can have a huge impact on their profit margin! and lessen the demand on fuel for trucks and cars at the same time!.........
Why bother? burn dookey.................
http://www.truehealth.org/methane2.html
That's why.........
Hey, I'm all for it...anything to stick it to the ragheads!
Did you check the article? Methane is much more plentiful and easier to get. As long as animals eat, including people, or as long as plants rot, methane is produced. It works better in engines, better milage, more power and far less waste. Engines will last much longer. Methane IS the 100 mpg carburator that people have always claimed that their cousins buddies dad made and was bought by the oil companies.
Coal can be made into methane as well..........
Industrially, methane can be created from common atmospheric gases and hydrogen (produced, perhaps, by electrolysis) through chemical reactions such as the Sabatier process, Fischer-Tropsch process. Coal bed methane extraction is a method for extracting methane from a coal deposit.
sadly the benefit of methane gets lost when you have to drag cattle trucks full of farting cows along with the rest of the freight! ;-)
What does Australia have in Coal deposits?
A lot more than Saudi Arabia, apparently.......
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