The Crow Nation signed a 50 year agreement with the Australian-American Energy Co. to build and operate a coal gasification Coal-to-Liquids plant on the reservation near Billings, Montana. Many Stars Coal-to-Liquids project will be a win-win project for the Crow Nation, the State of Montana and Australian-American Energy. The project is the Many Stars Project and is expected to cost $7.4 billion.

Governor Schweitzer was at the Many Stars Project signing ceremony. Mr. Schweitzer has long been a proponent of coal gasification for the State of Montana. Mr. Schweiter met representatives of Australian-American Energy and encouraged them to visit Montana and consider the state for a coal-to-liquids project.

The plant will convert 14,000 tons per year of coal to syngas and produce 50,000 gallons per day of liquid fuel such as diesel, naptha (gasoline) and jet fuel. The project will capture the CO2 and pump it through pipelines to be used by third parties for enhance oil recovery (EOR).

The project will create high paying jobs for the residents of the Crow Nation. Crow Chairman Venne said that the Crow Reservation has more than 10 billion tons of coal reserves and this plant will provide jobs and security for the residents. The agreenment between the Crow Nation and Australian-American Energy calls for the Crow Nation to provide the coal and water resources. The Australian-American Energy company will provide the financing and build and operate the plant. After the plant is paid off, the Crow Nation will receive 50% of the profits from the plant.