They might be upset to find the U.S. is likely to kill multiple birds with a single stone by lowering energy cost, negating the carbon argument, and making raw materials less expensive with a single move. Cost of energy remains the primary limitation restricting economic growth.
Last month a grant was established to underwrite development of a synthesis gas project to be located in North Dakota for utilization of varied grades of coal as an additional fuel source for Allam Cycle power generation. The first pilot plant located near Houston has focused upon testing with natural gas as the fuel. The coal process as fuel source for this specific system will now be developed.
In the context of selling bulk pipeline grade CO2 for boosting oil and gas recovery, atmospheric gases from dedicated air separation units, and chemical feed-stock recovered from fuel processing and combustion gas scavenging, LCOE for NG operation has been calculated to be possibly as low as $9 per MW of electricity produced, under ideal market conditions. Straight-up electrical generation cost without secondary product income sources is projected as $42 per MW.
In Kingsport Tennessee, Eastman Chemical operates three gasification plants using nearby SW Virginia coal.
They were designed by close Jaycee friends of mine and at least one close friend was an operations engineer there. They have been running since 1980.
Eastman has several turbines producing electricity. They recently converted one to natural gas from coal.
With gas so cheap, one wonders if the North Dakota project will be profitable