Coal-to-Gas Plant Announced in Mingo County
UPDATE 5/9/11 @ 11:20 p.m.
MINGO COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Big plans are in store for a coal-to-gasoline project that could change the energy landscape -- not only in West Virginia -- but across America.
The first coal-to-gasoline plant plans to bring 3,000 construction jobs and 300 permanent ones to Mingo County, not to mention indirect jobs.
"We have to be more secure as a nation," U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said. "We have to be more independent, and that independence comes from using more of our resources locally."
TransGas plans to build a nearly $4 billion facility in Mingo County over the next four years, which is projected to produce 18,000 barrels of gasoline everyday from 7,500 tons of coal.
"The people of West Virginia and of Mingo County should be extremely proud," said Adam Victor, owner and president of TransGas. "People in West Virginia have been extremely motivated. They're inspirational, and I'm confident that there's going to be several other projects after this project here in Mingo County."
Victor says the technology has been used in Germany and South Africa for decades and, with gas at a high price, a project like this just makes sense.
For the past six years, the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority has been looking to bring energy solutions to the southern part of the state.
"We've been doing a lot of due diligence on this because it looked like it made economic sense," Mike Whitt with the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority said. "We finally found a developer that's going to bring the project to fruition."
Victor says air quality permits already have been obtained and, by 2016, the plant should be up and running.
"The only roadblock that I could see is if Washington retroactively enacts environmental regulations that would negate the permits," Victor said.
County leaders say this will help create a new job base and diversify the economy.
"It's unbelievable what it's going to do to this whole region and in Mingo County in particular," Whitt said. "It's going to at least triple our tax base."
"Once you get the first one, everybody knows it can work because the technology's been working for 50 years now in South Africa and Germany," Bill Raney with the West Virginia Coal Association said. "Let's bring it to America and make it work for us and our children."
The Adams Fork Energy plant will be built on 300 acres in Wharncliffe, W.Va., and is expected to produce more than 750,000 gallons of gasoline a day.
The Mingo County Redevelopment Authority conducted a ground-breaking ceremony Monday for the new TransGas Development Systems coal liquefaction plant at Gilbert.
Once it's operational, the plant will convert 7,500 tons per day of regional coal into ultra clean gasoline. The plant is expected to create nearly 300 full-time jobs.
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin says West Virginians should be proud that Mingo County is at the center of a new frontier in energy technology.
The Mingo County Redevelopment Authority will conduct a ground-breaking ceremony Monday for the new TransGas Development Systems coal liquefaction plant at Gilbert.
The coal-to-gas plant is expected to triple the tax base in Mingo County, and it will be the first of its kind in the United States.
Once it's operational, the plant will convert 7,500 tons per day of regional coal into ultra clean gasoline.
Authority Director Mike Whitt said the project will create a new marketplace for coal-derived fuels, and one that could jump start the entire country's need for energy independence.
The plant is expected to create nearly 300 full-time jobs.
We will have a crew at the ceremony. Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the very latest information.
Some local residents said it was the best news they've heard about jobs and the economy in a long time. Others, however, are concerned about the environmental impact of removing more coal from West Virginia's mountains.
Like many Mingo County residents, Tammy Brown is out of a job. News of a new coal-to-gas plant opening in Mingo County near Gilbert, however, is just the kind of news Brown and her husband liked hearing.
It's good news for the coal business," said Nick Runyon. "We need some jobs here."
TransGas Development Systems proposes building a coal-to-liquids plant in the next couple of years. The facility will employee nearly 3,000 workers to build it and about 200 to run the plant.
For some, the announcement raises concerns about the environmental impact of such a plant, while others call it the industry of the future and a much needed jobs boost.
"I'm not a tree hugger, but if there weren't trees or mountains, there would be no jobs here," Brown said.
TransGas wants to raise the $3 billion to build the plant with an initial stock offering. Company President Adam Victor said he believes he can obtain the financing.
TransGas owns one gas-fired electric plant in New York, but has been unsuccessful with efforts to build plants in Brooklyn, N.Y., and near Syracuse in upstate New York.
TransGas hopes to get its state air quality permit in time to begin construction by 2010 and open the plant by 2013.
Original story
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) — TransGas Development Systems announced plans Tuesday to build a $3 billion coal-to-liquids plant in Mingo County.
Company officials made the announcement during the West Virginia Energy Summit.
According to a news release, the plant will be built in Mingo County’s new energy park near Gilbert. It is expected to operational by 2013
The construction phase is expected to generate 3,000 jobs. When fully staffed, the facility will employ as many as 200 workers.
TGDS estimates the facility will use up to 3 million tons of locally-mined coal a year to produce more than 6.5 million barrels of gasoline.
“West Virginia remains firmly committed to advancing coal-to-liquids technology. We are excited that TransGas Development Systems shares that goal and is prepared to invest in our state,” said Gov. Joe Manchin.
“As a supporter of coal-to-liquid technology and West Virginia coal, I am pleased to see this latest effort taking shape in Mingo County,” said Sen. Robert C. Byrd. “This project has the potential to bring many well-paying coal jobs to West Virginia, and that is always good news for our state.”
“What we need are serious initiatives that put West Virginia coal at the forefront of meeting our nation’s energy needs, while also creating good jobs and making meaningful investments in our state,” said Sen. Jay Rockefeller. “West Virginia needs to focus on projects that will deliver and put us on a path toward a promising energy future that I know we can and will achieve through tomorrow’s clean coal.”
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