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The Important Difference Between Capacity and Security

To hear environmental groups and renewable boosters tell it, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) recent action to restore competition to PJM Interconnection’s capacity market was a terrible solution in search of non-existent problem. The capacity market is supposed to ensure that PJM’s customers will have adequate generating capacity, including a strong reserve of power, […]

Coal Undergirds Grid Reliability

Via Fredericksburg.com: Which is it? Is the coal industry on the ropes or is it roaring back? The real answer: It’s complicated. Perspective is required to understand where the coal industry currently stands. While it may seem like distant history, the effects of the prior administration’s anti-coal regulatory spree persist. From 2011 to 2016, coal […]

NMA Welcomes FERC Action to Restore Electricity Market Integrity

The National Mining Association (NMA) today issued the following statement from Rich Nolan, NMA President & CEO, responding to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) decision to expand PJM’s Minimum Offer Price Rule (MOPR). “Competitive electricity markets have been compromised by an epidemic of out-of-market payments. Today’s decision by FERC correctly aims to quarantine the […]

Campaigning on a Platform of Job Losses and Power Outages

Presidential hopeful Michael Bloomberg recently announced that if elected he will phase out coal power in the U.S. by 2030. He made this proclamation standing in the pouring rain in front of a retired coal power plant, telling the handful of people gathered that the photo-op was “one of the dumbest things we’ve ever done,” […]

Don’t Bet Only on the Sun and the Wind

Via Morning Consult: Some scientists say we’re in a climate emergency. Can the production and use of energy be transformed soon enough to prevent the worst effects of global warming? Yes, if market prices are permitted to signal the most cost-effective adjustments. But we can’t pretend that solar and wind alone will be enough.  The […]

Investors First, Ratepayers Second

New natural gas power plants are being added to the electricity grid at a remarkable speed and scale. And while it’s been fashionable to believe the overwhelming impetus for this building spree has been cheap natural gas that could potentially save consumers money, while also reducing emissions, that line of thinking now has nearly as […]

Recognizing the Irreplaceable Contribution of our Miners

Every December 6 marks National Miners Day, an important opportunity to recognize the contribution of the nation’s miners and the significance of mining to everyday life. National Miners Day shines a spotlight on the exceptional contributions and sacrifices of the nation’s miners. More than 300,000 Americans are directly employed as miners, and another 1 million […]

Coal’s Future: Reviving Coal’s Staying Power

Via My Journal Courier: Which is it? Is the coal industry on the ropes or is it roaring back? The answer is: it’s complicated. Perspective is required to understand where the coal industry currently stands. While it may seem like distant history, the effects of the prior administration’s anti-coal regulatory spree persist. From 2011 to […]

U.S. Must Address Cyber Threats to its Power Grid

Via LehighValleyLive.com: At any one time, the United States uses more than 400,000 megawatts of electricity. That’s a lot of power, and it takes a lot of non-stop work to keep it flowing. But how safe is America’s power grid from cyber attacks and other disruptions? Cyber intrusions are no longer a theoretical possibility. In March, hackers […]

Thanksgiving in Coal Country

While media continue to look for new and exciting ways to attack this president, one that doesn’t hold water is the criticism that, despite his promises, he hasn’t delivered anything meaningful for coal country. To be clear: there are significant challenges facing today’s coal industry. Immediate action must be taken to rebalance and restore competition […]