The future regional distribution of national synthetic fuel capacity. Final report

The purpose of this study is to examine the factors which have and will continue to influence plans for the eventual locations of future facilities to produce synthetic liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons from either coal or oil shale. The objective is to refine the analyses of where these plants are most likely to be placed regionally. The first section of this report examines previous case studies followed by an analysis of technological constraints on power plant location. The locational decision-making process is looked at from the basis of four anticipated types of energy producing facilities -- oil producing companies, interstate pipeline transmission companies, regional gas distributors, and energy consulting companies. The final section addresses two potential issues of the findings--forecasting and modelling of regional energy development, and policy-based decision-making.