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<br />r-., <br />""r:.... <br /> <br />Federally-leased, and royalties would augment the U.S. Treasury. <br />Low-cost coal would become an attractive alternative for replacing <br />oil and gas currently being used for power generation. <br /> <br />Should AQUATRAIN coal be exported, the lower freight rate <br />would make U.S. coal competitive in the international market <br />and give strong incentive to Pacific-rim countries to again <br />purchase U.S. coal. To utilize our western U.S. coal, these <br />countries currently would have to pay a substantial additional <br />premium above the cost of coal from other countries. AQUATRAIN's <br />lower coal transport rates could result in a positive impact <br />on the balance of trade through increased coal sales abroad. <br /> <br />Coal makes up almost 80 percent of total U.S. energy reserves, <br />yet these reserves are being used to meet only about 20 percent <br />of America's energy needs. Oil and gas comprise about 7 percent <br />of total U.S. reserves, yet are being used to meet about 75 <br />percent of our Nation's energy needs. Unless our coal rescurces <br />become economic, America must continue to rely on imported <br />fuels to fill the gap between reserves and needs. <br /> <br />New coal transportation modes such as AQUATRAIN are positive <br />elements toward energy independence. <br /> <br />44 <br />