In the news today…
Mining:
- Politico Pro reports Minnesota regulators on Friday launched a court-ordered process for assessing the risks to clean water from waste from the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota.
- Politico Pro reports workers at the Shoal Creek coal mine in Alabama have reached a collective bargaining agreement with Peabody Energy Corp. that paves the way for the mine to reopen.
Minerals:
- The Salt Lake Tribune reports high uranium prices and new rare earth production capabilities at the White Mesa Mill could revive the aging facility in San Juan County.
- The Detroit News and Axios report Ford’s CEO is calling to make EVs more affordable and bring mining back to the U.S.
Coal:
- Mining.com reports a labor shortage and reluctance to open new mines has left U.S. coal companies struggling to keep up with surging global demand.
- Metro News reports the president of the West Virginia Coal Association described keeping three coal-fired power plants in West Virginia open as important for local communities and the state.
- Politico Pro reports academic endowments are entering a new normal after the richest school in the world followed the lead of other colleges and universities to divest from fossil fuels.
- Washington Examiner reports China’s decision last week to stop building coal plants overseas suggests Beijing is not ready to grapple with curbing its appetite at home.