Unresolved Issues Resulting from Changes in DOE's Synthetic Fuels Commercialization Programs

摘要

On June 30, 1980, with the passage of the Energy Security Act, the Congress authorized a substantial financial and planning assistance program designed to spur development of alternatives to imported oil. As part of this effort, the Congress intended to accelerate the development of synthetic fuels in the United States. In an effort to achieve a 'fast start' the act authorized an interim program, which is being implemented using existing Federal departments, particularly DOE, while awaiting the establishment of the Synthetic Fuels Corporation (SFC). The interim program at DOE was funded at over $5.5 billion. This funding is broken down as follows: $3 billion for incentives to develop synthetic fuels for defense needs (Defense Production Act). Incentives would be in the form of loan guarantees, purchase commitments, and price guarantees; $2 billion for incentives to produce synthetic fuels from oil shale, tar sands, coal-oil mixtures, coal, and hydrogen production by electrolysis (Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act). Incentives were available in the form of loan guarantees, purchase commitments, and price guarantees; and $.5 billion for synthetic fuel feasibility studies and cooperative agreements. Feasibility study grants are intended to accelerate assessment of the technical and economic feasibility of proposed commercial synthetic fuel plants by funding such efforts as preliminary designs and environmental monitoring and analysis.