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 […]
09Sep

RGGI Will Not Benefit Pennsylvania

Via The Patriot-News: Gov. Tom Wolf is unlawfully scheming to circumvent the Pennsylvania General Assembly and, by his own estimates, impose a $2.36 billion tax on fossil fuel fired electric generation plants in Pennsylvania over the next 10 years. Governor Wolf’s goal is for Pennsylvania to join the 10-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) – […]
08Sep

Letter: Department of Energy Innovations Prime North Dakota Energy Industry for Growth

Via The Bismarck Tribune: North Dakota is a land of almost limitless potential due to its abundant natural resources. As the nation’s number six overall energy producer, and the second-largest crude oil producer in the nation, North Dakota depends on robust oil, gas, and coal industries to maintain a healthy economy. The Trump administration’s policies […]
02Sep

The World Still Desperately Needs Coal

Energy poverty and energy access remain the foremost energy challenges for much of the world. Great progress has been made over the past decade: the United Nations reports that the number of people without access to electricity has declined from 1.2 billion in 2010 to 789 million in 2018. But a new report finds that […]
26Aug

The More Expensive, Less Reliable Solution

In the wake of California’s rolling blackouts, there has been a deluge of explanations, excuses and suggested remedies for what went wrong and what needs to happen to ensure there isn’t a repeat. There are calls for demand response, a nationally integrated super grid, an over-build of renewables and energy storage on an unprecedented scale. […]
19Aug

When Warnings Become Blackouts

This was not part of the plan. In fact, some might wonder if there was a plan. In the midst of a heatwave, California can’t keep the power on. To ensure the grid for the entire Western U.S. doesn’t collapse, California’s grid operator has been forced to cutoff power for millions of people for hours […]
12Aug

Electricity Affordability is Underpinned by Dispatchable Fuel Diversity

With the economy still reeling from the pandemic, U.S. electricity demand is down this summer. And while coal generation continues to play an essential role in meeting demand across the country, especially on scorching summer days, coal generation has borne the brunt of unique near-term market conditions. However, analysts are already predicting a bounce back […]