Bloomberg

08Apr

China’s Coal Playbook Is Winning

As the world grapples with yet another global energy shock, one reality is becoming increasingly clear: China prepared for this moment and is emerging as a winner. China has prioritized energy security, anchoring its economy in abundant domestic coal while simultaneously investing in electrification and renewables. Today, that approach is paying dividends. China’s resilience offers […]
11Mar

Another Global Pivot to Coal?

War in the Middle East is continuing to upend energy markets. With natural gas supply dramatically reduced with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and natural gas prices soaring globally, the pivot to coal has begun. Buyers from Europe to Asia are scrambling for natural gas substitutes. Rising prices for thermal coal – still […]
11Mar

Burgum and Wright Look to Coal Power

How can the U.S. win the AI arms race with China and preserve reliable and affordable power for all Americans? Secretary of the Interior and Chair of the Energy Dominance Council, Doug Burgum, had a clear answer: use the coal fleet. In a TV interview with Bloomberg News (watch the clip below), Burgum said the […]
30Dec

2024 in Review

Happy almost new year! Before we turn the page on 2024, it’s worth looking back on the stories and major developments that shaped – even reshaped – the energy landscape over the past 12 months. Years of warnings about rapidly eroding grid reliability collided with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA’s) regulatory agenda and the […]
04Dec

Europe’s Masterclass on What Not to Do

The trajectory for the nation’s electricity supply is alarming. Reserve margins are rapidly eroding, power demand is soaring and the price of electricity has jumped nearly 30% since 2019. With the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency keeping its boot on the neck of the power sector and the Department of the Interior deciding in the 11th hour […]
13Nov

Pumping the Brakes on Coal Plant RetirementS

In the wake of the election, with a major pivot on energy and regulatory policy coming in January, utilities are already publicly announcing they’re likely to postpone, or scrap altogether, plans to close coal plants. Utilities desperately need existing capacity as reserve margins shrink and power demand soars. Southern Company Chief Executive Officer Chris Womack […]
31Jul

Pssst: Global Coal Use Hit Another Record in 2023

Where is the U.S. failing miserably in the climate fight? Look no further than the development and bungled deployment of advanced coal technology, namely carbon capture and storage (CCS). Why is coal technology so important? Simply, coal remains the world’s leading fuel for electricity generation and the world has never used more. Global coal use […]
14Feb

Not So Fast, We Need Those Plants

Concern about its ability to keep the lights on has led FirstEnergy, one of the nation’s largest regulated utilities, to walk back the proposed closure of two of its coal power plants. The decision to continue the operation of the utility’s two West Virginia coal plants past 2030 – the Fort Martin and Harrison power stations […]
27Sep

A Transition to Deindustrialization?

The European energy crisis is not over. The fear of natural gas rationing may have abated but the costs of Europe’s energy policy missteps continue to reverberate. There has been so much energy demand destruction in Europe from high energy prices that European economies are barely keeping their heads above water. In fact, for some, […]