-----Original Message----- From: OrionWorks - Steven V Johnson > I think this whole thing is a setup.
Great drama! This conclusion is almost as good as the film, "The Formula" ;-) Funny you should mention that film, Steven. Especially in the context of current economic considerations. The plot involved a "formula" devised by the Nazis in WW II to make gasoline from peat and subgrade coal, eliminating the need to import oil - which did happen in actuality. In the movie, a major oil company (with morals akin to BP perhaps), finds out about the technology and tries to destroy the formula, along with anyone who knows about - including George C. Scott. That is the preposterous part. Anyway, there was indeed a German archive for this kind of technology - that was no gimmick, and indeed it was 'put on ice' by the oil companies in 1945 for a determined time period since there was an oil glut then. After which, the technology was indeed investigated by at least one Texas University (A&M) but that was back when oil was $10 barrel or less so it went nowhere. Actually, the State of Texas has far more energy in low grade coal than in oil - so it would benefit the State as a whole to exploit it. There really is no conspiracy since in general, the same people own the mineral rights to both. It is only recently that the cost comparison has made a major shift, and as long as oil stays at $70 - it would probably be economically viable - if not extremely profitable to do this in 2010. For all we know, this could be underway by a few oil companies, as we speak. They want to sell transportation fuel and don't give a hoot where it comes from. It makes more sense for them to convert subgrade coal than to buy a billion dollar oil rig. Anyway - here is a slightly dramatized take on the back-story (from yet another very authoritative source :) http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20078987,00.html There is (was) a more accurate version of this historical account somewhere on the net, at least years ago there was, but it did not turn up in Googling just now ... Jones
