Synthetic-fuel plant plans advance

The federal government will fund a study on sealing
carbon dioxide in old oil wells.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

WELLSVILLE — U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson of St. Clairsville, D-6th, and John Baardson, president and CEO of Baard Energy, have delivered good news for the holidays.

On Thursday they announced:

U Construction on a $5.5 billion synthetic-fuel plant could begin as early as next summer. Wilson stressed the plant would create about 2,000 construction jobs, 200 full-time jobs at the plant and about 750 coal-mining jobs.

U The U.S. Air Force on Tuesday certified another plane to use a 50-50 mixture of regular and synthetic fuel. All of the types of aircraft in the Air Force will be certified to use a mixture of regular and synthetic fuel by about 2012, when the proposed plant could be open, Baardson said.

U The proposed production that will use waste wood during the burning process would help national goals to reduce carbon dioxide.

UA $984,000 federal grant was awarded to study the injection of carbon dioxide produced at the proposed coal-to-liquid fuel plant. The award was first announced Wednesday.

Wilson said the funding was part of $6.3 million he has secured for the district.

The carbon dioxide that will be produced during the proposed fuel production will be injected into oil wells that will then be sealed.

Baardson said carbon dioxide is already being forced into oil wells throughout the nation to bring as much oil as possible to the surface for use. The technology is readily available.

The U.S. Department of Energy will study the injaection of carbon dioxide into a well in eastern Ohio. Baardson said he has already started the effort with talks with the Ohio Geological Society.

Baardson said the injection technology “is well understood.”

The proposed plant would use the Columbiana County Port Authority’s rail, river and road terminal located on the Ohio River.

The plant would be near the authority’s port.

The state Environmental Protection Agency havs been working with Baard Energy to speed the permitting system.