The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee heard a presentation from Dr. Harold Schobert, Director of the Energy Institute at Penn State University, on a project the Institute has underway to demonstrate the feasibility of turning bituminous coal into jet fuel.

The Institute has been working on the project at the request of the U.S. Air Force.

The coal-based fuel, JP-900, developed by Institute researchers has better performance specifications then JP-8, the current fuel, and can be manufactured for less than five cents per gallon more than JP-8. And, several of the byproducts of the manufacturing process can be used by other industries.

Schobert said JP-900 has other benefits, like having no carbon burn off, which virtually eliminates carbon in fuel lines and reduces sulfur and nitrogen oxide emissions and soot. He suggested that JP-900 could become the universal jet fuel for the Marines, the Air Force, the Navy, and for missile fuel.

Coal-based fuel can also use existing oil refinery infrastructure, while reducing our reliance on imported petroleum. Schobert said coal-based fuel production in Pennsylvania can benefit creating as many as 3,000 jobs. And, with a few small changes, coal-based fuel could be used in diesel engines.

Committee Chair Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) announced the next Committee meeting is set for April 4 and the agenda will include presentations on keeping Pennsylvania beautiful, including anti-littering efforts, as part of the Committee’s Earth Day celebration.

3/18/2005