Cincinnati’s WVXU: Coal-to-liquid debate in energy bill will impact Ohio if it passes or fails
Below find the public radio script for this feature that aired on Cincinnati’s WVXU.
Suggested host intro: An expansive energy bill is currently being debated in the US Senate. Whether it passes – or fails - the legislation will have major impacts on Ohio. Coal-to-liquid technology, gas prices, and greenhouse emissions are all facing scrutiny. Matt Laslo reports from Capitol Hill.
NARR: Major Coal producing states – like Ohio – already took a big hit this week. An amendment that would have authorized billions of dollars in loans to liquid to coal producers failed. That is the process where refiners turn coal into liquid fuel, to run your car. The US Air Force lobbied hard for the measure. Ohio Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown says coal will play an important role as America transitions to new forms of energy.
BROWN3-WIND NO COAL
:13 Obviously if we could provide all our energy with solar and wind starting tomorrow it would be a great thing – but we can’t. So you consider the options and I think we need to have a very strong push for coal
It is mostly Democrats that oppose the coal to liquid technology. Instead they are pushing bills to expand biofuel research and to increase mileage standards for cars. Democrats accuse coal to liquid of being bad for the environment. Earth Day Network’s Laurie Howell held up a piece of coal at a recent rally across from the Capitol. She says so-called “clean coal” is a misnomer…
ACT1(Howell1)(8.5): “It’s being billed as clean technology, but it’s not. Even to be billed a cleaner technology is not true, its effects on water alone, make it not a green technology.”
Corey Henry is a spokesperson for the Coal to Liquid Coalition. He says this technology is great for the country and for Ohio.
CTL1-OHIO
:16 For a coal producing state like Ohio you’re talking about more jobs for people to mine the coal and more jobs for people to build and work at the plants were this fuel would be produced, so for Ohio you are talking about significant economic benefits and contributions
Senator Brown supported coal to liquid.
BROWN1-COAL RENEWABLES
:09 You’re not for renewables or coal. You’re for renewables and a component of a very different coal that is environmentally a safer and cleaner coal
The production of coal to liquid plants will still go forward. The industry will just have to do it alone – without federal support. The oil industry also took a hit this week - the Senate Finance Committee approved a twenty nine billion dollar tax on the industry. Ohio Republican Senator George Voinovich doesn’t think the tax hike on the industry is the right answer. He wants the federal government to help expand oil refinery capacity. The Democratic majority has a different plan though. Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid accuses Republicans of being narrow minded when it comes to energy.
REID1-MORE OF THE SAME
:13 Our legislation would increase production of renewables. We do not believe in the President’s theory, the Republicans theory – drill, drill, drill – it reminds me of Iraq
Senator Voinovich does have a solution to the party bickering over energy issues.
VOIN2_ECONOMY
:14 We are not going to really deal with this unless the environmental groups, the energy people and the economists get in the same room and say “how do we work together to move forward and protect the environment but at the same time not destroy our economy”
No one has even proposed a time for that meeting yet. In the meantime Ohio will remain dependent on coal for close to ninety percent of its electricity. And Congress members say they will keep trying to find a way for America to be energy independent.
From Capitol Hill, I'm Matt Laslo, 91 point 7 WVXU.
