Blog

29Dec

New Year, New Hope

December 29, 2016 In old Europe, people ushered in the new year by emptying their chamber pots into the street. Not to put to fine a point on it, but something akin to this exuberant house cleaning is occurring in this town. Men and women with a radically different take on the country’s energy industry […]
20Dec

Stream Rule – Destined for the Dumpster

December 20, 2016 Although bitterly opposed by the mining industry, states and Native American communities among others, the stream rule finalized Monday by the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) serves a very useful purpose.  It shows what’s wrong with this administration’s regulatory policies and the malign motivation behind them. The stream rule achieves a rare […]
14Dec

Pruitt Comes to Town

December 14, 2016 It’s been a frightful cacophony. The mournful lamentations, the rending of robes, the wailing and keening over the nomination of Attorney General Scott Pruitt have echoed throughout the Acela corridor. “This can’t be happening!”  “This” being the election. Now Armageddon is at hand, we’re warned, if this climate change apostate, this unrepentant […]
06Dec

Today We Salute America’s Miners

December 6, 2016 Every December 6, we celebrate National Miners Day, a day to appreciate, honor and remember miners of past, present and future. Despite the key role mining plays in virtually every aspect of our daily lives, it is likely the most important profession most Americans don’t spend a great deal of time thinking […]
22Nov

Thanksgiving – for a New Start from a New Government

November 22, 2016 Tens of thousands of people connected to the coal mining industry suddenly have something to be thankful for on Thanksgiving.  It isn’t only miners that are facing a brighter holiday season. It’s the many others whose livelihoods depend on coal miners to keep the proverbial turkey on the table. Some work in […]
17Nov

What Wasn’t Surprising

November 17, 2016: We too were surprised by the election outcome. President-elect Trump’s shocker may have been more unexpected than Bob Dylan’s Nobel Prize win. What didn’t surprise us, however, was the revolt of the working class, the blue-collar vote that massively went to Trump and ultimately proved decisive.  We weren’t surprised because many of […]
09Nov

A New Administration and a New Congress Means a New Beginning

November 11, 2016 The U.S. mining industry looks forward to working with the Trump administration and the 115th Congress on a wide range of issues of mutual interest. Meeting the needs of the American people cannot be accomplished without a robust mining industry. And a robust mining industry is only possible with reasonable laws and […]
02Nov

Climate Goals are Global – So Is Energy Demand

November 2, 2016 Next week finally marks the long-awaited event. No, not that one.  We’re referring to the UN climate conference in Morocco Nov. 7, the day before the other event. For energy and climate policy watchers, the frequent gathering of the global green swarm – NGOs, industry reps, government officials – will hopefully shine […]
26Oct

The Reality of Regulatory Costs

October 26, 2016 In a Facebook interview last week, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy acknowledged the obvious: her support for the environmental left’s “keep it in the ground” policy (“I think we share the same goal”), that coal state economies are suffering (they’re “in trouble” she allowed) and EPA’s regulations likely contributed (they may “steepen the […]