[dangerdoc]

You take coal, Add heat and steam, out comes CO and hydrgen, together they are gassified coal otherwise known as syngas.

It can be turned directly to electricity in a fuel cell about 4 times more efficiently.

It can also be used to produce anything that comes from petroleum.

Gassified coal is our friend.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Absolutely. Its like putting in crap and getting out Leggo blocks of virtually any composition. Zero sulfur gasoline of any octane, diesel with cetane to the Moon, huge quantities of ethanol, perfect lubes, etc.
The system is a huge bet, however.