The coal-to-liquids technology license arrangement was signed Monday in Washington, DC, where the US Chamber of Commerce hosted officials from the People's Republic of China Ministry of Commerce as well as from the US Department of Commerce.

“The White House and the Chinese government both see the immense value of EmberClear's agreement with HCERI, not only in terms of the jobs it will help support but more importantly, it is the cleaner energy we'll be able to provide to Americans in addition to the improved energy security,” EmberClear chief executive officer Albert Lin said.

“This partnership is a strong example of how American energy companies can work with Chinese partners to provide new lower emission energy solutions while simultaneously creating jobs here in America.

“The impressive track record of Chinese investment and technical achievement in this field has given rise to a surge of global demand for this type of clean energy technology from other countries, utilities and consumers sensitive to climate change.”

The company said the fuel generated from the facility was intended to be sold in the US, with the advanced thermal-chemistry technology allowing production with lower emissions than traditional refineries utilizing crude.

Approximately 1000 jobs are projected to come from the project.

Neither timelines nor cost projections were disclosed.

Both China and the US, as two of the world’s largest reserves holders, are working on energy independence solutions.

Lin said the two countries had tremendous technologies for making coal a better and cleaner energy source.

“The world is primed to take advantage of China's investments and deployments of technologies converting coal to all sorts of energy sources with far lower emissions,” he said.

“In particular, making electric power and gasoline.

“Both will create thousands of construction jobs and bring in billions of dollars to the region where our plant will operate for many years.”