Other than tell you this is a good financial opportunity, this article provides little context for the repercussions of this technology. In the U.S., at least, the coal industry has lobbied for taxpayer underwriting to transform millions of tons of coal into diesel and other liquid fuels. The expensive, inefficient process releases large quantities of carbon dioxide. The total emissions rate for oil and gas fuels is about 27 pounds of carbon dioxide per gallon, counting both production and use, while the estimated total emissions from coal-derived fuel is more like 50 pounds of carbon dioxide per gallon. Additionally, the coal-to-liquid plants would accelerate the destruction of mountains in Appalachia unless surface mining were further regulated, increasing hazardous and acidic waste, contaminated groundwater, and clearcutting of native hardwood forests. You may not eat coal, but you cannot raise food in areas disrupted by climate change. Corn ethanol was the only "renewable" touted in the energy bill, with tax breaks expiring for wind and solar. Would investors be Motley Foolish to promote another technology that leads us further down the path to dependency on carbon fuels?