21Oct

An Energy and Emissions Reality Check from Candidate Biden

In a townhall last week, Joe Biden sought to distance himself and his energy plan from the Green New Deal. “The difference between me and the new green deal is they say, automatically, by 2030 we’re going to be carbon free. Not possible,” Biden said. He continued, making a case for investment into carbon capture, […]
14Oct

Policy Crippled California’s Grid. Is Yours Next?

The rolling blackouts that stunned California this August were caused by extreme heat and poor planning according to a new report from the three organizations in charge of the state’s supply of power. The “root-cause” report, which outlines a range of failures, should be setting off alarms with regulators, lawmakers and consumers across the country. […]
08Oct

Missing the Mark, Again

This column has often highlighted The New York Times’ aggressive attempts to deify the prior administration, overlook facts and vilify coal. And The Times’ latest piece on the industry, the challenges it’s facing and the administration’s response, is no exception. The Times was hardly the first outlet this election cycle to cover the subject, but […]
01Oct

Preparing for an Electrified Future

The electrification of America is not only happening, it’s picking up speed. Just last week, Tesla announced its ambition to slash the cost of lithium-ion batteries and produce a $25,000 mass-market electric vehicle (EV). Two days later Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California will mandate a shift to EVs and the phase out of internal […]
24Sep

Balance is Good! Dispatchable Fuel Diversity to the Rescue this Winter

Just imagine the outcry if there was an energy price spike during this unprecedented economic crisis. What if the price at the pump jumped to $5 per gallon or electricity prices suddenly jumped by 50%? With the nation already reeling and tens-of-millions of families barely staying afloat, spiking energy prices would likely be the straw […]
17Sep

The Urgency Continues to Build for U.S. Leadership on CCUS

The clean energy technologies we will need tomorrow hinge on innovation today. That is the bottom line of a new International Energy Agency (IEA) study that analyzes what is needed to achieve global emissions reduction goals. What’s abundantly clear from IEA’s analysis is that the favorite technologies of American climate hawks – namely wind and […]
16Sep

The Pivot Away From Baseload Power Is Coming With Unacceptable Costs

Via Inside Sources: There is an electricity reliability and affordability crisis unfolding in the United States. Rolling blackouts in California are the latest, alarming warning of its widespread arrival. Even before Californians found themselves facing the colossal challenge of a new round of devastating forest fires, they have been dealing for weeks with what some […]
14Sep

U.S. Labor Secretary Tours W.Va. Mine

Via WSAZ: Coal miners in West Virginia got a visit from the Trump administration Wednesday. U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia spent time in Grafton and Bridgeport to talk about mine safety and the importance of coal mining to the nation’s economy. Secretary Scalia toured the Leer Mine Complex, which is operated by Arch Resources […]
14Sep

Banks: States Should Attach Value to Coal

Via The Roanoke Times: Coal plants are providing a stable and secure supply of electricity in many parts of the United States. This “baseload” power from coal, an often forgotten workhorse of electricity generation, accounts for about 25% of the nation’s generating capacity. As a former communicator for the National Coal Association and other fossil-fuel […]
09Sep

Mandating Higher Electricity Rates

It’s no secret that consumers across the country – particularly in the midst of an economic crisis – can’t afford to pay more for electricity. But higher electricity costs are coming as states, utilities and potentially the federal government push increasingly ambitious plans to rapidly move away from baseload power. Duke Energy’s recently announced Integrated […]