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There is more and more talk of the U.S. returning to a coal-based energy economy, with very little seeming to actually be done about it. Scientific American takes a look at what it would take to make coal our primary energy resource (again). Partly, it would take the seemingly magical Fischer-Tropsch..

Lillian R. Mongeau
By Lillian R. MongeauMay 17, 2006
Lillian R. Mongeau
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There is more and more talk of the U.S. returning to a coal-based energy economy, with very little seeming to actually be done about it. Scientific American takes a look at what it would take to make coal our primary energy resource (again). Partly, it would take the seemingly magical Fischer-Tropsch process, which converts coal to fuel, but is only economically viable if oil is over $60 or so barrel. Wouldn't we like fuel prices to go lower than that? When are the cars that run on trash coming?

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