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A Majority of Americans Support Safeguarding Base Load Energy

Via World Coal: As the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) this week closed its comment period on a proposal from the Department of Energy (DOE) that FERC take swift action to address threats to baseload power provided by coal and nuclear, the majority of Americans showed support for the proposal. According to Morning Consult for […]

U.S. Becoming Too Dependent on Natural Gas for Energy

Via the Las Cruces Sun-News: There is no overstating the extent to which the United States is quickly becoming over-dependent on one fuel for production of electricity – natural gas. This growing reliance exposes consumers of natural gas and electricity to the risk of sudden spikes in prices – and a loss of reliability. Parts […]

US Electric Grid is Too Vulnerable to Not Have a Backup Plan

Via The Hill: If there is one undisputed role for the federal government, it is to protect its people as best it can. From national defense to public health, governments of every party can agree on this much. Today, a debate is simmering over a new but little-known threat — the weakened reliability of the […]

North Carolina Could Benefit from Changes to Electric Grid

Via The Herald-Sun: America’s energy sector has reached an interesting crossroads. After eight years of the Obama Administration working to dismantle the nation’s coal fleet, the Trump Administration has upended the apple cart. Earlier this year, Energy Secretary Rick Perry commissioned a study that noted a sizable decline in America’s “baseload” power, and urged steps […]

A Ghostly Story

October 31, 2017 Here’s a scary thought for Halloween. Imagine you’re a well-paid Washington reporter covering, say, the environment and energy beat. You’ve reported on the colossal loss of coal jobs in Appalachia – more than 60,000 since 2010 [MISI consultants, Oct. 26] – and you wrote sympathetically about federal job training programs promised for […]

Pruitt Is Right To Withdraw Obama’s Clean Power Plan

Via The Daily Caller: Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt is fully justified to withdraw the Obama administration’s expensive and useless Clean Power Plan (CPP). After all, it only controls emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is simply plant food. The Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Changecites over 1,000 peer-reviewed studies showing that rising atmospheric CO2enhances […]

Coal and Nuclear Plants Needed to Meet Missouri’s Energy Demands

Via The Kansas City Star: When I served on the Missouri Public Service Commission, I spent time studying the different utilities that supply electricity throughout our state. And along the way, I learned some surprising facts about our power grid. For starters, we still depend on a lot of coal-fired power. In 2014, coal generated 83 […]

Wisconsin Could Benefit from Revisions to Electric Grid

Via The La Crosse Tribune: America’s energy sector has reached an interesting crossroads. After eight years of the Obama administration working to dismantle the nation’s coal fleet, the Trump administration has swept into office and upended the apple cart. Earlier this year, Energy Secretary Rick Perry commissioned a study to assess the health of America’s […]

The Clean Power Plan Is Irrelevant

Via Forbes: Signed under the Obama administration but still not enacted, The Clean Power Plan (CPP) called for a 32% reduction in power sector CO2 emissions by 2030 (compared with 2005 levels) but is now in the process of being repealed under the Trump administration. This decision is consistent with American norms because it leaves […]

Don’t Overlook Coal’s Continued Importance

Via RealClearEnergy: Contrary to popular opinion, coal is still critically important to meeting our nation’s energy needs. Coal is America’s number one source of electricity, accounting for 32 percent of electricity production, and it generates more than half of the power in states with heavy industries like Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Colorado and Utah. Coal is also […]