In the news today…
Coal:
- The Wall Street Journal reports Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan made public commitments to environmental sustainability but continue to finance struggling coal and oil-and-gas producers.
- The Herald-Dispatch reports Arch Resources plans to open its new metallurgical coal mine near Philippi, West Virginia, before the end of August, company officials announced Tuesday.
- Politico Pro reports the Biden administration this spring cut the royalty fees a mining company is required to pay on coal dug up at two major operations on public land in the West, an Interior Department database shows.
- WEEK reports Illinois coal plant workers raise concerns about proposed state legislation that would close their facilities by 2035.
- Argus reports coal exports from Hampton Roads, Virginia, climbed in June to their highest level in more than a year, reflecting extended gains in thermal and metallurgical markets.
Energy:
- Politico Pro reports electricity generated from renewables was the second biggest source of power in the United States in 2020, lagging only natural gas-fired power generation for the first time, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
- Argus reports the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has objected to a Texas coal plant’s operating permit after environmental groups challenged a state regulator’s decision to issue the permit.
- Argus reports DTE Energy is considering moving up retirement dates for its coal plants, the utility’s executives said.
Carbon Capture:
- KFYR reports North Dakota’s state and industry leaders are putting tax dollars towards carbon capture technologies.
Mining:
- Mining.com reports a U.S. federal judge ruled on Wednesday that Native American tribes may join a lawsuit seeking to block Lithium Americas Corp’s proposed Thacker Pass mine in Nevada, the latest attempt to halt development of what could become one of the largest U.S. producers of the electric vehicle battery metal.
- Reuters reports Cosam Mullins mined coal in the western hills of Virginia for much of his working life. Now, with mining jobs hard to find, he’s cleaning up the mess the industry left behind.
- The Guardian reports coal miners and union advocates from across the country rallied in New York on Wednesday morning in support of Alabama miners who are four months into a strike against their employer, Warrior Met Coal.