Tell the whole truth about China's coal-to-oil plans, Mr. Rich

The Hazleton Standard-Speaker recently reported on the Department of Energy's release of the environmental impact statement for the planned waste coal-to-oil plant in Gilberton, Pa. The story quotes John W. Rich Jr. of Waste Management and Processors, the firm building the plant, on the need to keep pace with China's race to adopt the technology:

"We're being outdone by the Chinese ... We're getting beat to the punch."

In another story about the Gilberton plant in today's Pottsville Republican Herald, about the opening of a 30-day comment period on the plant's environmental impact, Rich again holds up China as a model the U.S. should be following:

"The Chinese are taking up the market," Rich said. "It's a horrible situation. The most powerful country in the world is losing its standing."

In fact, China is actually considering canceling its coal-to-oil plans over concerns about high cost, low efficiency, massive greenhouse gas emissions, and intense water usage. I wonder why Rich doesn't mention that?