WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today joined House colleagues in an effort to lower gas prices by attempting to move forward legislation promoting the use of coal-to-liquids technology.

“Montana has the largest recoverable coal reserves in the United States,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “That means there’s the potential for a lot of economic development, a lot of good paying jobs, and, especially, a lot of energy.  Yet, House Leadership has failed to bring a bill to the floor that will put this Montana made energy resource to use.  Congress is wasting a big opportunity to ease the pain at the pump by failing to utilize a resource that’s readily available at home.”

The bipartisan Coal to Liquids Fuels Act, sponsored by Rehberg, would encourage the use of clean coal-to-liquid technology by authorizing the Secretary of Energy to enter into loan agreements with qualifying coal-to-liquid projects. Today, Rehberg signed a discharge petition to bring the bill to the floor.  If the petition reaches 218 signatures, House rules require the legislation to receive an up-or-down vote.

“A critical part of a comprehensive energy plan is letting investors now that when they’re working to develop and commercialize this technology, they’re not doing it alone,” said Rehberg.  “We have yet to provide enough incentives to encourage the construction of a single coal-to-liquids facility within the United States.   This is an issue that needs to be addressed now.”

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