The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel
June 1, 2009, Editorial

Boston-based General Synfuels International has entered the race to
economically produce fuel from oil shale. The firm has announced it will
begin doing research on 500 acres of private land in Western Colorado on a
new gasification technology for oil shale.

A GSI press release said the process has low environmental impacts, and is
"energy self-sustainable." What's more, the company says there is the
potential to recover 700 million barrels of oil or oil equivalent from the
500 acres on which it will test its product.

Those are some impressive claims, especially the amount of fuel from a
relatively small tract of land. But a modicum of skepticism may be in order.

After all, since the early years of the past century, energy companies and
oil shale boosters have been predicting the great discovery that would make
oil shale development profitable was just around the corner. And when it
arrives, we've regularly been assured, oil will flow from the rock of the
Piceance Basin in amounts that would make a Saudi sheik blush.

Two of the greatest difficulties facing a potential oil shale industry are
the impact it would have on the environment - especially its water demand -
and the amount of energy it will require.

If GSI does have a process that has relatively low environmental impact and
a strong energy-in, energy-out ration, it will be a welcome addition to the
developing oil shale technology. The fact that the company is conducting its
research on private land without seeking any government assistance at this
point is also commendable.