Proposed Mackenzie pipeline spurs coal gasification mega-plan (Canada)

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/491444.html

A proposed Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline is still before the regulators and it’s already creating massive new plans for industrial development in the Arctic.

Vancouver-based West Hawk Development has unveiled plans to strip-mine extensive coal reserves along the Mackenzie River and begin building $2 billion worth of coal gasification plants to tie into the pipeline within four years.

"It’s a property we’re feeling very comfortable with in terms of generating natural gas from coal," West Hawk president Mark Hart said Monday.

Earlier this month, West Hawk announced it had bought about 1,100 square kilometres of leases in three areas of the Northwest Territories estimated to contain 2.1 billion tonnes of coal. Two of those are near Tulita, a tiny Dene community on the Mackenzie just west of Great Bear Lake.

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This is nothing new, I helped build a coal to gas plant in Pittsburgh in the mid 70s. It was doable then and it is doable now. Just think gas from coal abd no polution. Even though this has to be a bridge solution on our way to a better energy source, you have to wander why and who is holding up this method. O! I forgot we do know.