FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Steven Tomaszewski
May 23, 2006
618/344-3065; 618/322-9246

Washington, DC…..Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-19) introduced legislation
today (May 23) that would extend the existing alternative fuel tax credits to liquid
fuel derived from coal.

"While we are facing record high oil prices, all fuel prices have risen as well. This
has caused increased transportation cost on all goods and other products derived
from petroleum," Shimkus explained. "Our nation also has the largest reserves of
coal in the world - nearly 250 billion tons of recoverable coal.

"By using an existing technology called the Fischer-Tropsch process, coal can be
converted cleanly into liquid fuel," he added.

This legislation would extend the 50 cents per gallon alternative fuel credit or
alternative fuel mixture credit that exists under the Highway Reauthorization and
Excise Tax Simplification Act (2005) to fuel derived from coal. The credit would
also be extended from the current expiration of September 30, 2009, to
December 31, 2020.

"Any coal to liquid (CTL) refinery would take five to seven years to be constructed,
which would be beyond the current expiration," Shimkus noted. "In addition, a CTL
facility would cost at least $7 billion to construct. Investors will not move forward
without knowing that they will have the ability to take advantage of these credits."

While Shimkus serves on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, he has
enlisted bipartisan support from members of the Armed Services, Resources, Science,
and Ways and Means committees for this legislation.
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