Coal in the News

13Feb

Coal Must Remain in Energy Mix

Via The Grand Forks Herald: In an era of fracking for oil and natural gas and growth in solar and wind power, who knew the plain old coal plant could have value in a carbon-constrained world? And yet, coal generation has turned out to be a surprising bright spot in energy tech’s universe of late. […]
31Jan

Coal Competitors Have Unfair Advantage

Via The Wheeling Intelligencer: West Virginia has long been a coal state. And there are understandable reasons why many in the state view the rise of alternative sources of power with concern. The loss of much of the nation’s coal fleet has at times been met with frustration and confusion. Are renewable sources of power […]
16Jan

FERC’s MOPR Decision Bolsters US Energy Security

Via RealClearPolitics: “What was apparent during this weather event was the continued reliance on baseload generation,” Bruce Walker, Assistant U.S. Energy Secretary, January 2018, after the Winter Bomb Cyclone FERC’s recent minimum offer price rule (MOPR) decision was about preserving U.S. energy security and restoring competition to PJM Interconnection’s capacity market. That’s because the purpose of a capacity […]
14Jan

What They Are Saying: CEQ Issues Proposed Rule to Modernize its NEPA Regulations

Thursday, January 9, President Trump announced a proposed rule to modernize and accelerate environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), so infrastructure can be built in a timely, efficient and more affordable manner. “The purpose of NEPA is noble; its application, however, has gone off the rails. The action by the Council on […]
09Jan

Proposed NEPA Changes Provide a Positive First Step in Addressing Permitting Inefficiencies

The National Mining Association (NMA) today applauded the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) long-awaited proposed changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) governing regulations. “The mining industry is all too familiar with the project delays and escalating costs associated with NEPA compliance,” said Rich Nolan, NMA president and CEO. “Our permitting process is broken, […]
07Jan

World’s Power Demand Requires Fossil Fuel Energy

Via The Huntington Herald-Dispatch: Approximately 40% of the world’s electricity is produced by burning coal. Coal is the world’s reliable energy foundation, and it’s expected to remain the leading fuel for power generation well into the future. Energy from coal power increases productivity. It builds and illuminates schools, cleanses water, powers farm machinery, drives robot […]
06Jan

Can America’s Electricity Markets Become Competitive Again?

Via The Tribune-Democrat: Americans keep hearing bold claims about wind and solar power.  Advocates say wind and solar are growing more affordable, and are cheaper than natural gas or coal. But much of their advantage actually stems from significant taxpayer support. And without such hefty subsidies, a different picture emerges. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission […]
23Dec

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 […]
19Dec

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 […]
16Dec

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 […]