NMA president and chief executive Kraig R. Naasz said the Act provides front-end financial assistance for developing large-scale coal liquefaction plants and with these incentives, ultra-clean diesel and other transportation fuels would be available for domestic use in place of costly imported energy.

“The American mining industry is grateful to the House, and especially to the Resource Committee and its chairman, for enacting practical solutions that will help spur development of domestic energy and attract more professional geologists and engineers needed to develop US coal and mineral resources,” Naasz said.

He said the Act also authorises financial assistance to mining engineering and geology schools and related scholarships.

“Despite the great demand for coal and minerals from American mines, the US graduates fewer than 100 mining engineers annually. This rate is grossly inadequate to replace the mining engineers nearing retirement, let alone meet the growing demand for new mining professionals.”

Naasz said both programs developed under the Act are valuable investments that will pay dividends in the nation’s future.