China's search for clean fuel leads to W.Va. univ.

The Associated Press March 24, 2011, 10:33AM ET

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.
China is turning to West Virginia University for cleaner, affordable, domestic option for transportation fuel.

WVU Chemical Engineer Elliot Kennel is leading a team that will be conducting experiments to convert biomass and coal to transportation fuel. The project is being funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and using equipment donated by a Chinese energy business enterprise called Lu'an Group.

Officials with WVU's US-China Energy Center say China is planning to use coal-to-liquids technology to lessen its dependence on foreign oil. China has one of the world's fastest growing automotive markets.

Read more