Montana tribe: $7B coal-to-liquids plant needs more federal support or investors will shy away

Mont. tribe: Coal-to-liquids needs support in DC

BILLINGS, Mont. — Leaders of the Crow Tribe say a $7 billion coal-to-liquid fuels plant proposed for their Montana reservation could founder unless the federal government throws its support behind the industry.

Crow Chairman Cedric Black Eagle said Wednesday a perceived anti-coal attitude in Washington, D.C., will scare off potential plant investors.

A federal tax credit recently expired for 50 cents on each gallon of liquid fuels derived from coal. Black Eagle says that could put on hold the project that’s been billed as a means to pull the rural reservation out of poverty.

He says the anticipated start of construction for the plant has been pushed back from 2012 to 2013.