US coal liquefaction program

The US government's complete strategy for commercializing coal liquefaction includes financial assistance for qualifying coal liquefaction projects through an independent federal entity, the US Synthetic Fuels Corporation (SFC), to private developers of commercial projects under the authority of the Energy Security Act. This potential financial assistance, along with direct technical assistance, serves to reduce overall risks both to first-of-a-kind pioneer synfuels projects and potentially to the nation itself. The authors describe the status of the technology, the needed improvements, strategies, current program activities, new initiatives, and a funding summary for each liquefaction method. An appendix identifies active US projects in the program. 3 figures.