The Alternative Fuel of the Future: Gasoline

Yes, developments like this aren't good news for those who are concerned about global warming - or even strip mining, for that matter. I'm not an expert on these things, but I imagine that a good deal of damage could be done in only 100 years. Still, we need to we realistic about ending our dependence on oil. It won't happen overnight. In the meantime, we need a better insurance policy against disruptions to our oil-based economy. The abiliy to manufacture synthetic fuel from coal would be a good insurance policy, even if we never use it.

The world is full of products that would greatly benefit the environment but have never been used - the battery that never dies, the light bulb that never burns out, the washing machine that doesn't need soap. Just think where we would be if our wonderful politicians were not so concerned about the losses for those manufacturers. Where was their concern for the manufacturers of the wagon wheel, oil lamps, type writers, record players, etc.

You make some good points. It's a fine thing that governments didn't try to save the dying industries that you mentioned. With that in mind, the answers to our energy questions won't come from centralized planners in Washington, London, Paris, etc.

This is where true innovations will occur to revolutionize energy sources especially with the use of self-assembling molecular compounds to exponentially increase processing. Add to that the efficiencies to be had through self-assembled nanomaterials for improving photo-voltaic conversion efficiency. On the other hand, Global warming is just politically motivated and financed 'Junk Science'. No one has shown the entire cycle of all ozone sources and sinks and the related control mechanisms--they assume most of mother nature runs open loop. Sounds like folks are believing the propaganda of PBS specials, but of course that's why global socialist bent foundations such as those created by Ford, Rockefeller, Carnegie,... finance these shows. The propaganda machine is well-oiled and financed. Just keep your eyes on the true science, and ask the obvious questions. Don't just take my word for it, just seek the truth.

I would like to see your true science: climate science is very well established and there is very little disagreement among anyone who is doing research that the planet is warming and we are playing a role in that. People who are getting other information should check their sources; the real questions now are on the finer points of climate dynamics, not whether it's changing or whether it's anthropogenic.

It's my understanding that coal based fuels are high in sulfur content, is there a simple way to reduce it ?

Has anyone considered the fact that we, the US, having such coal supply, would burn the coal anyway, releasing the same amount of CO2 in the atmosphere as we would before? This isn't so much a bad thing in my mind considering it does give the US a good domestic supply of oil.
Six in one hand, half a dozen in the other.