Found this in the online paper back home:
Crawford ethanol plant no longer a pipe dream

The article talks about the feasability of an ethanol plant in Crawford County and a biodiesel facility at the former Pennzoil refinery in Venango County.

Cool,
~Rob

 

If I'm not mistaken PA is also building a pilot coal gasification plant that will turn old coal mining waste tailing piles into diesel. Not only will this clean up an environmental mess but will produce 200 million gallons of diesel per year at a cost of $1/gallon.

 

SunCoke was going to build a coke plant in Cambria County, but they have run up against some environmental lawsuits.
Coke-plant backers, foes offer viewpoints

EDIT: That's not the plant you are referring to though Bill, This is and here is another link Public Abstract

~Rob

 

Rob, our Montana governor is pushing big time for gasification plants here.
So far the environmentalists are going for it. It will provide over 10,000 new jobs.
Montana alone has enough coal in it's SE corner to supply the US with transportation gas and diesel for approximately 200 years.

Today the US House is voting on a bill that gives even more handouts to big oil to increase refinery capacity. Why does an industry that made over one trillion dollars in profit last year need more taxpayer provided welfare and degraded environmental laws?
Why doesn't our government wise up and invest in these plants instead?
The only reason I can think of is that big oil has the government in it's pocket.