Coal in the News

03Sep

The Straining Texas Power Grid Needs Some Pricing Help from Regulators

Via TribTalk: According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), July was the hottest month on record across the globe, with severe heat waves in Europe, Africa and parts of the United States boosting the overall average temperature. Alaska recorded its hottest July since record keeping began in 1925. Not surprisingly, when temperatures rise, […]
03Sep

Heatwave Sheds Light on Wind’s Limits

Via News-PressNow.com When I served on the Missouri Public Service Commission, my overriding priority was to ensure that Missouri residents didn’t experience power outages. This past winter, we learned some harsh realities about electricity generation in the face of unpredictable weather. During January’s brutal cold snap, Mid-continent Independent System Operator reported that frigid weather and […]
30Aug

Trouble in Texas Hints at Wider U.S. Power Shortages

Via The Mercury: In recent years, Texas has become a bellwether for advances in wind turbines and renewable energy. The wide-open, breezy Texas panhandle offers some of the best wind resources in the country. But some surprising shortfalls are emerging in Texas’ electricity production — and that could prove instructive for other states that are […]
29Aug

Calls to Eliminate Cheap, Plentiful Coal as a Key Energy Source Are Unrealistic

Via LifeZette: As the 2020 election draws closer [1], a number of candidates are calling for restrictive policies on the use of fossil fuels in the United States. Their overriding goal is to limit carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions — which they see as the primary driver of rising surface temperatures over the past century. They believe that, […]
22Aug

Don’t Overlook the Challenges of Integrating Wind and Solar Power

Via The Roanoke Times: Thanks to advances in technology, the price of generating electricity from solar and wind power has fallen significantly over the past decade. And that’s been helpful for America’s economy, including sectors like high-tech manufacturing and domestic mining that have contributed to these achievements. But even as the price of generating power […]
20Aug

Mandated Wind, Solar Power Makes Electric Bills Soar

Via The Wheeling News-Register: California continues to lead the nation in mandating the deployment of wind and solar power. Unfortunately, that translates into rising electricity costs that are now poised to climb higher. It’s a development that should concern families in every state. Since 2011, electricity prices in California have jumped 30 percent — the […]
07Aug

Rising Electricity Prices to Come as Wind, Solar Mandates Increase

Via The Arizona Capitol Times: California continues to lead the nation in mandating the deployment of wind and solar power. Unfortunately, that translates into rising electricity costs that are now poised to climb higher. It’s a development that should concern families in every state. Since 2011, electricity prices in California have jumped 30 percent – the most  […]
31Jul

Rising Electricity Prices are Coming

Via The Troy Daily News: California continues to lead the nation in mandating the deployment of wind and solar power. Unfortunately, that translates into rising electricity costs that are now poised to climb higher. It’s a development that should concern families in every state. Since 2011, electricity prices in California have jumped 30 percent — […]
29Jul

State Power Grids Feel the Strain of Summer Heat

Via The Tribune-Democrat: As the peak of summer arrives, Americans are turning up their air conditioners.  But this added demand for electricity can greatly tax power grids. And in some states, it could pose real problems.  As North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) CEO Jim Robb recently explained, backup power reserves in Texas are stretched […]
25Jul

Montana’s Energy Future Must be Guided by Facts

Via The Bozeman Daily Chronicle: Montana must continue discussions about our energy future. We respect the views Mary Sedwick expressed in letters to the editor. We all need to work for cleaner energy. Here things that need to be included in a fact-based energy policy dialog. NorthWestern Energy’s Montana electric portfolio is approaching 70% carbon […]