A packed meeting room at the Larry Joe Harless Community Center came to support the plant planning to create 300 permanent jobs. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Air Quality sponsored the public informational meeting.

The purpose of the public meeting was to provide information on the project proposal presented by TransGas Development, LLC and to accept comments on issues relating to the draft permit and preliminary determination by the WVDEP.

Public comment ends at 5 p.m. Dec. 18.

TransGas is planning on constructing an approximately 18,000 barrels per day coal-to-gasoline plant near Wharncliffe on the former Cobra Natural Resources Premium Mine Site. The proposed plant would be built on a reclaimed mountaintop removal site.

The plant plans to take non-compliant coal with high sulfur contents and break the coal down to capture its carbon content and turn the byproduct into gasoline.

According to the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority, TransGas will produce 750,000 gallons of gasoline from 8,300 tons of coal daily.

The crowd listened to a 45-minute presentation from WVDEP’s Joseph Kessler on the permit process and projected emissions figures on the proposed plant. Kessler explained the coal-to-liquid process the plant would utilize as well as how the byproducts and emissions would be addressed by the plant as outlined in the application.

According to Kessler, the WVDEP will review public comments and make a final decision on the plant’s future in the coming weeks. Kessler hinted to the crowd a decision could come promptly due to the plant’s unique and new technology.

“Currently there are no applicable GHG –green house gas– emissions standards permitting requirements for the plant,” Kessler said.

Mingo County Commissioners, representatives of Lincoln and McDowell Economic Development Authorities, representative of the WV Division of Energy president Jeff Herholdt and James Harless himself all spoke in support of the plant.

Harless received the biggest response of the evening from the crowd as the 90-year-old philanthropist attacked outside influences attempting to sabotage coal in the state. Harless said people battling coal and opportunities involving the coal industry such as the proposed CTL plant should focus their fight not on coal – rather they should be fighting for alternative fuels along with the use of coal.

“These people do not live here, they do not pay taxes here, they have no interest in our making sure our families are fed, they have no interest in our education system or development of our infrastructure,” Harless said to a roused crowd.

The Mingo County Redevelopment Authority estimates the plant will cost $2.5 to $3 billion for site preparation, construction and start up.