[bert]

Here in East Tennessee, we have in operation two plants that produce methane from coal. The gassification plants have been in more or less continuous operation since the early 80’s. The plants are the basis for thousands of jobs and have made the owner the world low cost producer of many chemical products.

A third operational plant was recently announced to gassify coal in a nearby city.

There is also a fourth, a DOE joint venture pilot that has been out of operation for perhaps 15 years.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Here in East Tennessee, we have in operation two plants that produce methane from coal. The gassification plants have been in more or less continuous operation since the early 80’s. The plants are the basis for thousands of jobs and have made the owner the world low cost producer of many chemical products."

All true, but that doesn't generate LIQUID fuels, which are the most viable form for transportation usage. BUT, it is even easier to produce methanol from coal than it is methane. So everybody wins.