The Crow reservation sits atop some of the nation’s largest coal reserves—an estimated 9 billion tons of recoverable resources. Yet only limited mining has occurred, and the tribe's economy remains hobbled by high rates of poverty and unemployment.
Venne predicted environmental groups and other “outsiders” would line up to oppose the tribe’s plant proposal. But he added they would have a hard time arguing against economic development on the reservation. “People have to realize, this is one of the poorest counties in the whole nation,” he said referring to Big Horn County, which includes most of the reservation.
No large-scale coal-to-liquids plants have been built in the United States, although several are proposed or are on the drawing boards in Wyoming, Ohio, West Virginia, and elsewhere. Soaring construction costs and other hurdles have derailed some projects—including one in Montana, near Roundup.
But Crow leaders said they are confident high oil prices will spur increased interest in synthetic alternatives such as coal-derived diesel. Future expansions of the Many Stars plant could eventually bump up production to as much as 125,000 barrels of fuel a day.
Approximately 1 ton of coal would be needed for every barrel of fuel produced by the plant.
“With the vast reserves we’ve got, there’s no sense in us not being a major player,” said Crow legislator Conrad Stewart.
Australian Energy’s Chief Executive Allan Blood has started two similar projects in Australia, including a $2 billion plant announced in June that would convert coal into liquid fertilizer. The second project recently was sold to Shell and Anglo American for $5 billion, according to Australian news reports. Neither is yet producing fuel.
Several Australian-American Energy executives were on the Crow reservation anticipation of the tribal legislature’s action. They said they were pleased with the agreement. South Africa is home to the only existing commercial-scale coal-to-liquids plants, built during the apartheid era after oil imports into the country were blocked by international political sanctions.
"If markets develop, the Basin’s production is poised to expand more than two-fold in the next 10 years," said John Hanou, vice president, Hill & Associates. "Given the Basin’s tremendous reserve of low-cost, medium and high-sulfur coal, existing producers are all planning expansions, in addition, many newcomers also are entering the market with plans to develop a multitude of mines."
The Illinois Basin’s turn-around has been long-coming. The region suffered great losses due to Phases I and II of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, when utilities switched to low-sulfur Powder River Basin coal to meet the new mandates. By 2000, production had declined to 89 million tons from 145 million tons in 1989. In 2007, production rebounded somewhat to 97 million tons, due to shortages in the eastern U.S and new scrubbing at several power plants.
"Basin production capacity will probably expand to 103-104 million tons in 2008," said Hanou. "Based on our 10-year analysis, we have identified enough projects to suggest that Illinois Basin production could expand to more than 250 million tons per year by 2017 with an upside potential to produce more than 350 million tons, assuming demand is present."
The Illinois Basin contains a tremendous underground reserve base, which is five to 10 times larger than the Pittsburgh No. 8 seam reserve base in Northern Appalachia. As the surface reserves deplete and as demand increases, these reserves will likely be developed in the next 10 years.
The top three producers currently (Peabody, Alliance, and Murray) control 57% of the market; however, by 2011, we estimate that this will fall to about 42%. Peabody is likely to retain its lead in 2011, but if The Cline Group is successful in developing the mines that the company has proposed, Cline will likely become the largest producer in the Illinois Basin post 2011.
Hill & Associates' latest review of the Illinois Basin is published in the Coal Supply Service. This update encompasses Indiana, Illinois, and West Kentucky and includes mine-specific data on coal reserves, quality, production costs, and capacity at active, idled, and proposed mines. In total, more than 240 mines and reserves are analyzed.
"Until now, customers with an old nonstandard size motor were faced with a challenge–either modify a piece of machinery to accept a new standard size motor or continue to rewind the existing motor even as its performance continued to decline," explained Gerardo Elias, Marketing Manager. "Our new Custom motor program will enable these users to exactly replace or even upgrade an existing motor within the physical limits of their machinery or process."
Elias noted that WEG had a long tradition for building custom motors. "For example, our motor experts designed and installed the world’s largest induction motor at the Collahuasi mine in northern Chile to drive long conveyor belts removing copper ore and overburden. This motor weighed 15,000 kg and delivered 2,788 HP with an efficiency of 97.5%. And while not every custom motor will be this large, we are committed to meeting our customers needs going forward." www.wegelectric.com
Lieberman-Warner would increase petroleum prices by 5.9% by 2015, according to Duke University. Other studies indicate the plan would push prices higher. The survey found 71% of Americans reject spending more for electricity, with 16% opposing spending any more than 12% extra for electricity. A study commissioned by the American Council for Capital Formation and the National Association of Manufacturers estimated Lieberman-Warner would increase electricity prices by 13%-14% by 2014. Other studies estimated higher increases. When gasoline and electricity price increases are taken together, 90% of Americans reject the Lieberman-Warner plan’s costs—even the low range of projected costs.
"As incredible as it sounds that 90% of Americans reject the Lieberman-Warner plan’s costs, the actual number who reject it may be even higher. Electricity and gasoline price hikes are only two of the costs of this proposal," said David A. Ridenour, vice president of the National Center for Public Policy Research. "The price for food and consumer goods would also increase and many Americans would lose their jobs. You can’t merely accept energy price increases and opt out of all the other costs."
The poll was conducted by Wilson Research Strategies, which surveyed 802 likely voters. It included 37% registered Democrats, 30% Independents, and 29% Republicans. It has a margin of error of +3.46% at 95% confidence interval.
Automatic functioning of AEPBs is required under Title 30CFR 75.523-3(b)(1) and (2). To insure compliance and correct operation, any 400 & 600 series scoops originally manufactured according to Bucyrus hydraulic schematics No. 220534, L-410181X20 or L-012334X1 must be maintained in accordance with Bucyrus hydraulic schematics No. 220534, L-410181X20, Revision “E”, and L-12344X1, Revision “D.” These revised schematics incorporate special notes which describe the potential issues with the AEPBs, and define the part number and installation procedure for a valve which will operate at very low pilot pressures. The following inspection can determine if a scoop’s AEPBs are in compliance:
Please contact a field representative for assistance in correcting the noncompliance. The potential malfunction of the AEPB, however, may not be limited to this manufacturer only. www.msha.gov