stepman, Silverado didn't have the patent on the process, it is held by the US Government. And it is just a patent for making a stable slurry. Now the slurry is a part of the process to achieve a end use product but it can be and is done by companies that produce coal based fuels.
The company admitted in 2008 that there is no deal for a plant. The BCSC cited Silverado on the subject of the greenfuel project and it was one of many reason for that CTO.