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03/02/10 Lignite to Crude Oil – New Technology could have Big Local Economic Impact |
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A new process that turns lignite into crude oil could prove to have a big impact on the local economy, according to State Representative Allen Maxwell of Monticello. Maxwell says the process has been developed through research conducted at a Texas university. <Voice of Maxwell> Lignite is a fossil fuel composed primarily of carbon and hydrocarbons and is also known as brown coal. Maxwell says there is a 9 billion ton resource of it right here in south Arkansas. And he says being able to cleanly mine and process it into oil could mean major economic opportunities for the local area. <Voice of Maxwell> The state representative is gathering a group of state and local economic and community leaders to travel to the University of Texas at Arlington to look into the process. <Voice of Maxwell> Maxwell said the trip is being organized for the first of April. State Representative Allen Maxwell serves the 10th district of Arkansas in the State House of Representatives. |