A look at a planned plant in East Dubuque, Ill., billed as the first U.S. plant that commercially would convert coal into liquid fuel for use by over-the-road trucks, buses, ships and airplanes:
THE PLAYERS: Rentech Inc., a Denver-based firm specializing in coal-to-liquids technology, is looking to convert the plant from its existing use making fertilizer supplied to Midwest farmers. St. Louis-based Peabody Energy Corp. says it will contribute nearly one million tons of coal a year and up to $10 million in development funds to the project. Peabody also gets an option to buy a 20 percent stake.
TIME FRAME: Rentech says construction could begin within months and be completed by 2010.
THE OUTPUT: The companies say the plant would produce some 400,000 barrels of liquid fuel and about 545,000 tons of nitrogen fertilizer products a year.
THE COST: Rentech says the project could cost nearly $1 billion.
