The press release simply said that Mongiardo, along with Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Len Peters and private industry leaders, would be meeting with officials at the Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy to discuss “future energy opportunities.”

But further requests revealed that list of industry leaders includes top executives from Clean Coal Power Resources Paducah, which has been offered more than $500 million dollars in incentives from the state to build a coal to diesel plant.  Kentucky officials have remained publicly committed to the plant.  A trip to D.C. might secure more of a commitment from Washington, since the most recent Energy and Water Appropriations bill provides funds for fuel plant development.