DOES POLLUTION FOLLOW COAL CONVERSION TO OTHER FUELS?

Well, South Africa should know something about this as they are the worlds largest producer of coal to oil. The oil companies, in this region, are not the sole owner of the property they government in the region owns part of the company and a certain amount of the shareholders of a company must be have ownership by Africans of at least 25%.

The South African government has committed to ensuring that black-owned companies have access to the energy sector. Under its black economic empowerment (BEE) program, the South African government has set targets for the percentage of each industry to be controlled by black-owned corporations. Large, predominately white-owned corporations have sold assets to achieve this objective, with the first sale occurring in late 2000. BEE firms are commonly referred to as “empowerment” firms.

South Africa maintains membership in the African Union (AU), the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), and the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU).

IF YOU WERE AN ENERGY GIANT, WOULD YOU WANT TO BUILD A MULTI BILLION DOLLAR SYN FUEL PLANT WITHOUT BEING IN TOTAL CONTROL OWNERSHIP? (jas)
(You can’t do that in South Africa?)

HOW ABOUT THIS DEAL?.

BUILD A MULTI BILLION DOLLAR SYN FUEL FACILITY IN A COAL STATE AND GET THE GOVERNMENT TO PITCH IN WITH TAX CREDITS?

THAT WAY YOU AVOID THAT LIMITED 25% IN SOUTH AFRICA AND FUTURE FEARS OF BEING NATIONALIZED?

Now you are sole owner with the government paying for your start up cost and big dividend checks to the shareholders. Is this reverse psychology or what?

Well what about the SHAREHOLDERS of the COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY?

WHAT WOULD BE KENTUCKY TAXPAYERS ROI (return on investment) IN EXCHANGE FOR THE $350M?

No such reliable figures exist, but they should if this project goes forward. Why not?

Just now the environmental concerns are being demonstrated in South Africa where they produce the largest supply of Syn Fuels \ Coal to Oil in the world.

COULD THIS ALSO BE ABOUT FUTURE POSITIONS IN THE ENERGY MARKET WITH MINIMUM RISK?

In South Africa Laws are currently being developed and implemented to lessen environmental damage and pollution. The use of leaded gasoline will end in 2006, and all motor fuels (diesel and gasoline) will be required to contain less than 500 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur by that time.

Motor fuel sulfur content will further be reduced to 50 ppm by 2010. The South African Petroleum Industry Association (SAPIA) estimates that the refining industry will need to invest $950 million to reach these new fuel specifications. Many petroleum retailers in South Africa switched from lead to MMT (a manganese-based additive) to boost octane. Because manganese is also a toxic metal, BP introduced South Africa ’s first unleaded fuel that is free of heavy metals in September 2003. In June 2004, BP opened the first lead-free station in South Africa .

The National Environmental Management Air Quality Bill (NEMAQ) provides for the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism’s (DEAT) establishment of national norms and standards for ambient air quality, emissions, air quality monitoring and air quality information management.

In recent years, a growing environmental movement in South Africa has challenged strip-mining operations in a sensitive wetland area, drawn international attention to pollution and conditions at the countries refineries, and legally challenged the establishment of South Africa’s pebble-bed modular reactor (PBMR) program in Koeberg. Environmentalists oppose development of the PBMR, insisting that the scheme’s environmental impact assessment is flawed.

In June 2004, the South African government confirmed that the country would be forced to rely on nuclear power in the near future, encouraging environmental groups to focus on positive aspects of the project, including a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

Sources for this report include: Africa Energy Intelligence; African Energy; Afroil; AFX News; Agence France Presse; AllAfrica.com; Associated Press; Business Day (South Africa); Business Wire; CIA World Factbook 2004; Coal Week International; Department of Minerals and Energy; Economist Intelligence Unit ViewsWire; Eskom; Factiva; Financial Times; Hart’s Africa Oil and Gas; International Monetary Fund; Inter Press Service; McCloskey Coal News; Mining Journal; National Electricity Regulator Electricity Supply Statistics: 2001; Oil and Gas Journal; The Oil Daily; Petroleum Argus; Petroleum Intelligence Weekly; Reuters; South African Chamber of Mines; South African Petroleum Industry Association (SAPIA); South African Press Association; U.S. Energy Information Administration; World Bank; World Gas Intelligence; Xinhua

I am disgusted by Jody Richards. No tough questions ask to give away 350 million in tax dollars to Peabody Company. No tough questions about the carbon that cannot be recaptured by this process. No tough questions on the effect on the environment. No tough questions about the amount of cheap coal that will be needed and thus the amount of mountains in Eastern Kentucky that will be destroyed. The Coal Companies and the politicians talk about jobs. Give me a break. LESS miners are working in the mines today than did 20 years ago and much more coal is being mined today than 20 years ago. We arent stupid. It is all about MONEY. They save one dollar a ton of coal by mining Mountaintop removal! One dollar. Greed lives. The politicians are a joke, I am beginning to think. The coal companies lube the war chests of these politicians and they dont ask tough questions. The people in Eastern Kentucky surely are expendable people according to Frankfort.
Give me 350 million dollars and I might consider Kentucky for my company too. We have some gullible and shallow politicians. I hope we have more that have guts, but I will not hold my breath. To see the Democrats agree with Mitch McConnell, Jim Bunning, Ernie Fletcher and David Williams and then want our devoted support at election time is wearing thin.

The stock for Peabody has dropped some, but not a lot. Previous to the energy task force meeting in Washington, Peabody stock was $8.50 per share. It made a high of $60.00, and then settled to around $40.00. It is much better than the previous $8.50.

In this article Peabody talks about the congestion of the coal market in Australia.
Peabody wants to buy EXCEL in the land down under but only want to offer around $8.63 per share. Stockholders of EXCEL are troubled by the poor performance of EXCEL and are considering a leverage buy out to Peabody.

If Peabody gets our Commonwealth tax credits then their stock would possible be rated as a strong buy, due to government involvement with Peabody. And, Peabody already has a problem in Illinois with a proposed power plant that is stalled due to environmental problems. With this impasse, I can see why we did not see anyone sitting at the table from Illinois to offer incentives for the Peabody Coal to gas project. There is a lot more to this discussion than investments and jobs.

Peabody Energy May Feel Some Body Blows
Word Count: 571 | Companies Featured in This Article: Peabody Energy
Peabody Energy (BTU: NYSE) By A.G. Edwards ($43.11, July 24, 2007)
WE HAVE CHANGED OUR INVESTMENT RATING on the common shares of Peabody Energy to Hold from Buy.
Concurrent with the second-quarter 2007 earnings release, Peabody lowered its 2007 outlook primarily as a result of reduced sales due to rail and port congestion in Australia. The company also cited lower production to better match coal demand in light of growing utility stockpiles, as well as higher fuel costs and currency impacts.
The company forecasts that 2007 total production will be between 240 million and 247 million tons

Typical We are 250 million in debt thanks to ERNIE FLECTCHER giving everything away to get re-elected, now we are broke having to make major cuts in education, putting us back 25 years and our wonderful politicans give a PRIVATE FOR PROFIT COMPANY PEABODY COAL 300 Million to build a coal gas fusion plant. AND NO ONE CARES THAT THEY DID IT>

VOTE ALL THE CROOKS OUT!!!!!