For Immediate Release
September 29, 2005
Contact: Anna Gustafson
Office of Sen. Rhoades
717-787-2637
Rep. Bob Allen
125th District
Contact:  Patricia A. Hippler
House Republican Public Relations
(717) 772-9846
www.pahousegop.com
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Rhoades, Allen Praise WMPI Project as Key Step Toward Energy Independence

Commonwealth joins consortium to purchase clean, zero-sulfur diesel fuel

HARRISBURG – Rep. Bob Allen (R-Schuylkill/Berks) and Sen. Jim Rhoades (R-29) today praised WMPI President John Rich for bringing Schuylkill County another step closer to having the nation's first waste-coal-to-diesel plant, creating an estimated 1,600 jobs and putting the state and nation on the path toward energy independence.

The lawmakers joined Rich, Gov. Ed Rendell, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty, and other federal, state and local officials Thursday to announce the Commonwealth has joined a consortium that will purchase nearly all of the cheaper, cleaner diesel fuel that will be produced at the Mahanoy Township facility.

"This is outstanding news for Schuylkill County, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States of America," Rhoades said. "This is a win-win situation for everyone involved – it creates jobs, makes good use of waste coal and is an important first step toward energy independence. Once again, Pennsylvania is a leader among states."

"Oil is big business, and right now, most of those jobs are overseas. Building the coal-to-diesel facility right here in Schuylkill County will provide a much-needed boost to our local and state economies," Allen added. "I applaud John Rich's vision and determination – he has worked hard to make this project a reality, and we all stand to benefit."

Rich called the state's support of the project unprecedented. "This project will create hundreds of high-quality, high-paying jobs while taking an extremely meaningful step toward reducing our dependence on foreign oil," Rich said. "No other state in this country can make that claim."

Rich plans to break ground in the spring on a $612 million facility in Mahanoy Township that will turn waste coal into clean, zero-sulfur diesel fuel. The fuel can be refined for use as diesel, jet fuel or home heating oil. The consortium announced Thursday that will buy the estimated 40 million gallons of fuel produced at the plant annually is led by the Commonwealth but also includes private sector businesses such as Worley & Obetz Inc. and Keystone Alliance, a fuel purchase group for the trucking industry. The U.S. Department of Defense has also expressed interest in the fuel product and was represented at the announcement.

In addition to the cheaper, cleaner fuel, the plant will also produce waste heat in the process that will be used to generate 41 megawatts of low-cost electric power, enough to power more than 40,000 homes.