Monthly Archives: July 2023

Happy Monday!

In the news today and from the weekend…

Grid:

• Energy News Network reports Minnesota utilities say they are prioritizing landowner and community engagement along the route of a planned 180-mile, $970 million transmission line that will eventually connect central and northern Minnesota.

Coal:

• E&E Energywire reports the head of the globe’s top coal industry group is on a quest to prove that 100 percent renewable energy “doesn’t work.” This week, she’s bringing that message to Washington.
• Argus reports eastern US railroad Norfolk Southern (NS) expects coal volume to rise in the back half of 2023 as strength in export markets offsets weaker utility demand.

Permitting:

• Reuters reports the White House Council on Environmental Quality proposed revisions to the National Environmental Policy Act aimed at accelerating permitting for new clean energy projects. The council said the proposal, which is aimed at encouraging more “programmatic” environmental reviews of multiple projects rather than individual ones, would build on permitting reforms included in Congress’ debt-ceiling deal.
• E&E Energywire reports the Biden administration’s latest effort to speed up environmental reviews for clean energy projects appears designed to weather the legal challenges it will likely attract, analysts say.
• Argus reports clean energy and other infrastructure projects could finish federal permitting at a faster pace, with a greater focus on climate effects, under a proposal to overhaul environmental reviews.

Minerals:

• E&E Climatewire reports the U.S. is waging a global charm offensive to obtain the minerals it needs to replace fossil fuels with cleaner energy. Its latest target is a resource-rich country wedged between China and Russia, two U.S. adversaries.
• Cowboy State Daily reports the U.S. Senate passes an amendment aimed at increasing domestic advanced nuclear reactor fuel production and jumpstarting uranium mining in Utah and Wyoming.

In the news today…

Grid:

• Utility Dive reports that Tesla’s Musk urges the power sector to anticipate higher demand—“a tripling of electrical output.” “My biggest concern is there’s insufficient urgency and people just don’t understand how much electricity demand there will be,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Tuesday at a Pacific Gas & Electric summit.
• Utility Dive reports utilities and others work to develop better ways to predict and manage grid loads to prevent electric vehicles from overwhelming the grid.
• Bloomberg reports that PJM Interconnection LLC has declared a level one emergency alert for the 13-state eastern US grid and called on all power plants to operate at full capacity Thursday, July 27, during a heat wave.

Mining:

• The New York Sun reports mining companies and environmental groups are battling over mines on American soil as the demand for critical minerals such as lithium increases.
• The Wall Street Journal Reports that the Biden Administration’s climate goals have clashed with his “Made in America” incentives regarding minerals needed for electric vehicles.

Electric Vehicles:

• Canary Media reports seven major automakers including General Motors, Honda, and Stellantis announce a joint venture to build at least 30,000 fast-charging stations across North America in an attempt to compete with Tesla’s charging network.

WOTUS:

• AgDaily reports the Waters Advocacy Coalition has sent a letter to the EPA urging them to reconsider their interpretation of the definition of Waters of the United States, as the EPA has failed to hold a public hearing on the matter.

Coal:

• Argus reports US coal-fired generation and coal consumption fell year-over-year in May for a fifth straight month as milder weather curbed overall electric power demand.

Commentary:

• Star Tribune carries an op-ed from the head of a trade group representing Minnesota electric cooperatives, who says the state’s new carbon-free power targets can’t jeopardize affordability and reliability.

In the news today…

Grid:

• Bloomberg reports that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is backing federal government intervention when transmission line projects get “stuck at the state level,” according to a copy of his opening remarks for a hearing being held today. Manchin, in his latest push to pass a broad permitting reform plan, said he would not support a plan that would be used “as just another subsidy for intermittent renewable energy.”
• The Washington Post reports the Texas power grid is in danger again because of the inability of renewables to meet energy demand in the state during the hot summer months.
• Bloomberg reports that California’s main power grid operator issued an emergency watch notice for Tuesday evening as residents cranked up air conditioning during a heat wave.
• KSHB reports that a Kansas utility says it stays in close contact with the regional grid operator to ensure adequate power supplies during extreme heat.

WOTUS:

• Politico Pro reports in a letter to the top leaders at EPA and the Army Corps Monday, the Waters Advocacy Coalition, which represents dozens of industry groups on the Waters of the U.S. issue, laid out its demands.

In the news today…

Grid:

• E&E News reports that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer calls on federal regulators to enact rules to speed clean energy and transmission deployment as bipartisan permitting reforms appear unlikely to pass.

Mining:

• Mining.com reports a fall in global copper prices is forcing small and medium size mine operators to cut back on production.
• Mining.com reports an Australian mining company’s Arizona zinc-lead-silver project has taken a $1.3 billion non-cash impairment expense due to COVID-19, inflationary pressures, and dewatering requirements.

Energy:

• The Washington Post reports there is dissent among GOP lawmakers on green funding for renewable energy projects and that over 547 wind and solar projects have been blocked this year by state and local lawmakers amid community backlash.

Permitting:

• E&E Daily reports as prospects remain murky for bipartisan permitting reform in Congress, top Senate Democrats are turning to new strategies.

Good Monday morning!

In the news today and from the weekend…

Grid:

• Canary Media asks, why aren’t Texans paid to help prevent blackouts during heat waves? As the state endures another bout of extreme heat, experts lament its lack of incentives to recruit residents to help ease demand on the stressed grid.
• Ironton Tribune reports that Ohio received a $14.2 million federal grant to modernize the state’s electric grid and reduce the effects of severe weather.

Mining:

• E&E Greenwire reports BLM approved a NASA request to shield land in Railroad Valley from mining to ensure it can be used for satellite calibration.
• Wall Street Journal reports the U.S. is playing catch-up in battery supply chains dominated by China.

Permitting:

• Argus reports Republican and Democratic negotiators still see a chance for passing legislation later this year to revise the permitting process for electric transmission lines and pipelines.

Climate:

• Reuters reports that the group of 20 members did not reach a consensus for phasing down fossil fuel use after some unnamed producer nations objected to the proposal. The G20 members, which account for more than three-quarters of global emissions, issued an outcome statement and a chair summary instead of an expected joint communique following a four-day meeting in India.

TGIF!

In the news today…

Grid:

• Wisconsin State Journal reports a federal appeals court says environmental groups cannot challenge a Wisconsin transmission line’s route through a wildlife refuge until after federal regulators make a final decision on the project.
• Marshall Independent reports Xcel Energy plans to add a circuit to its CapX2020 transmission lines in Minnesota to handle more wind energy.
• Reuters reports that the California power grid operator ended an emergency alert issued for a brief period on Thursday in anticipation of higher-than-expected demand as homes and businesses crank up air conditioners to escape high temperatures.

Have a great weekend!

In the news today…

Grid:

• KENS reports that the Texas state power grid saw record-breaking demand of more that 82,500 MW on Wednesday, but generation by wind and solar facilities have kept the grid stable.
• Utility Dive reports that NYC could face up to 446 MW power deficit in 2025, due to electrification and peaker retirements, according to NYISO. Completion of the Champlain Hudson Power Express transmission line, which will bring power to New York City from Quebec, is expected to improve reliability margins beginning in 2026.

Electric Vehicles:

• Chicago Tribune reports that electric truck startup Rivian plans to open its first showroom in Chicago in the coming months.
• Chicago Sun-Times reports that wrapping up a weeklong trip to the U.K., Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he is actively pursuing partnerships with electric vehicle companies.
• CNBC reports that Tesla posted net income of $2.7 billion in the second quarter, an increase of 20% compared with last year, as the company anticipates an upcoming third-quarter production slowdown amid summer shutdowns for factory upgrades. Chief Executive Elon Musk said the company will make the Cybertruck “in high volume next year” and will start delivering the electric pickup this year.

Permitting:

• Politico Pro reports a Chamber of Commerce event on critical minerals Wednesday showed the interest in securing supplies needed for the clean energy transition cuts across parties and industries. Rich Nolan is quoted.
• E&E Daily reports a week before they head home for a lengthy August recess, lawmakers said talks on permitting overhaul are continuing, though one prominent lawmaker acknowledged: “The wind is sort of out of the sails.”

Mining:

• Axios is hosting a discussion titled “Mining for the Future” featuring Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.).

In the news today…

Grid:

• Canary Media reports that General Motors, Meta, Walmart and other major corporations partner with think tank RMI on an effort to accelerate clean energy deployment through transmission, virtual power plants and other methods.
• Utility Dive reports that PJM Interconnection says 70% of unplanned outages during December 2022’s Winter Storm Elliott stemmed from gas-fired power plants.
• Reuters reports that global power demand growth is set to rebound in 2024 after slowdown, IEA says. An ongoing energy crisis and an economic downturn is expected to slow global power demand growth in 2023, but a probable rebound in 2024 means more renewable capacity needs to be developed, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Wednesday.

Mining:

• Washington Post reports a proposed copper mine near two national parks is turning into a test of values — how to protect wilderness while supplying critical minerals.

In the news today…

Grid:

• Mining.com reports that the Department of Energy has to hurry if it wants to allocate the tens of billions in grants and loans made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.
• Argus reports coal-fired generation in the PJM Interconnection decreased by 37pc last month amid additional coal unit retirements and other market factors.

Minerals:

• E&E News Greenwire reports that the Biden administration wants minerals needed to build out electric vehicles and green the grid. Mineral-rich African countries could be where it finds them.
• Bloomberg reports a $37.5 million grant to Graphite One acts as a relaxed form of venture capital as the White House supports nascent parts of the domestic cleantech supply chain.
• E&E News PM reports the Biden administration is offering up $37.5 million for graphite mining in Alaska and processing in Washington state, a strategic move to help build out part of the electric vehicle battery supply chain that China now dominates.
• Time and The Maine Monitor reports on a lithium deposit in Maine.

Mining:

• E&E Energywire and Politico Pro report a federal appeals court on Monday upheld the Biden administration’s approval of a contested lithium mine in northern Nevada, angering environmentalists even as supporters said it was a victory for batteries in electric vehicles.
• The National Interest reports Beijing’s decision to lash out against U.S. curbs on advanced technology sales may have inadvertently alerted the world to the risks that its effective monopoly poses to vital supply chains.
• E&E Daily reports the House Natural Resources Committee will vote this week on legislation to undo the ban on new oil leasing and mining around a national park in New Mexico.

Good Monday Morning!

In the news today and from the weekend…

Grid:

• Utility Dive reports that US Grid congestion costs jumped 56% to $20.6 billion in 2022.
• Reuters reports that New York’s grid operator warns New York City could see power shortfalls by 2025 that could force polluting peaker plants to remain in service.
• Daily Press reports that residents in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula call for cheaper and more reliable electricity during a state-backed listening tour.

Minerals:

• Wall Street Journal carries an op-ed which argues Congress and the Biden administration should make critical mineral dominance a priority.
• E&E Daily reports House Republicans are heading to Arizona this week for a field hearing on critical minerals in a state that’s emerged as a focal point in debates on and off Capitol Hill.
• Casper Star Tribune reports on the status of Minnesota mining projects.

TGIF!

In the news today…

Coal:

• Argus reports leaders of the US’ largest coal-producing state and some coal executives said the administration of President Joe Biden’s coal leasing practices are interrupting production from federal lands.
• Argus reports coal export loadings at Hampton Roads, Virginia, rose again in June, with two of the region’s terminals handling more coal than a year earlier.

Minerals:

• E&E Greenwire reports the E.U. is set to sign off on its negotiating mandate for a critical raw materials agreement with the United States next week, three E.U. officials said.

Mining:

• E&E Daily reports that House Republicans would take a budgetary buzzsaw to energy and environmental agencies the Biden administration and Democrats had buttressed after years of stagnant funding.
• E&E Daily reports one of the chief negotiators of the debt ceiling deal and a longtime proponent of permitting overhaul is still looking for a grand bargain on the matter, but he acknowledged Thursday that a deal is still a ways off.
• E&E Energywire reports that Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm’s search for clean energy solutions has led her to a strategy that dodges permitting problems, saves money and could bring large amounts of renewables online, but remains largely unused.
• E&E News PM reports House Republicans are continuing to seek deep cuts to climate, clean energy and environmental programs with their latest funding bill, released Thursday morning ahead of a Friday markup.

In the news today…

Grid:

• Natural Resources Defense Council reports that clean energy advocates say recent capacity auctions show that the “antiquated, status quo grid” isn’t equipped to handle the transition to electrification and rising demand.
• Reuters reports that the bipartisan debt deal approved by Congress in recent weeks will limit the duration of environmental impact studies for energy projects but left out important legislation to expand power transmission capacity between regions.
• E&E News reports that soaring temperatures are testing an electric grid in transition. As summer heat continues to scorch the nation, a key question is gaining urgency: Will the grid hold up?

Coal:

• Argus reports that US coking coal exports rose by 4.9pc on the year and 18.1pc on the month to 4.3mn t in May, driven by increases in shipments to India, Brazil and China.

Minerals:

• Axios reports a major analysis finds good and bad news about minerals that power climate-friendly energy and transport.

Permitting:

• E&E Daily reports Congress returns from a two-week recess with a host of unresolved issues, including one big one: permitting reform.

Happy Monday!

In the news today and from the weekend…

Grid:

• Inside Climate News reports that wind and solar are helping to prop up the Texas state power grid through record-breaking summer temperatures, but experts say grid constraints are limiting their output.
• E&E News reports that high temperatures and a transitioning electric grid combine for a summer likely to influence future energy policy decisions in Texas and beyond.
• OPB reports that a utility industry report predicts Pacific Northwest electricity demand will increase by nearly 25% in the coming decade, primarily driven by data centers and semiconductor manufacturing.
• WWMT reports that a new report recommends transitioning Michigan’s power grid to smaller, decentralized generation sources to meet expected shifts in demand caused by electrification and electric vehicles.

Mining:

• Bloomberg reports China’s decision last week to impose new controls on the export of gallium and germanium — niche metals used in a variety of high-tech industries — was partly a display of power.
• E&E Daily reports House Republicans this week plan to scrutinize President Joe Biden’s handling of coal leasing on federal land, a controversial issue that’s generated legal brawls and pitted the mining sector against environmental groups.

Permitting:

• E&E Daily reports Congress returns from a two-week recess with a host of unresolved issues, including one big one: permitting reform.

Electric Vehicles:

• Washington Post reports that the Biden administration’s push for electric vehicles is up against union criticism over relatively low-wage jobs and the closure of gasoline-powered car factories.

TGIF!

In the news today…

Grid:

• Indiana Public Broadcasting reports that Indiana consumer advocates say Duke Energy and AES could have done more to prevent extended power outages caused by storms last week.
• Utility Dive reports that Pacific Gas & Electric, California’s largest investor-owned utility, has applied for an approximately $7 billion loan from the federal government to upgrade its electric grid. PG&E, which was pushed into bankruptcy in 2019 over billions of dollars in liabilities from wildfires caused by its power lines, plans to invest roughly $18 billion through 2025 to protect its infrastructure from the threat of fires, the utility said in a plan filed with regulators in March.
• Utility Dive reports that Republican Sens. John Barrasso, Wyo., and Shelley Moore Capito, W. Va., are asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to hold technical conferences to review how the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants could affect grid reliability.

Mining:

• E&E Greenwire reports the Biden administration is hoping to complete its first-ever expedited review and approval of a domestic mine and processing facility in southern Arizona as soon as 2026 — an accelerated timeline that’s raising concerns among local environmental groups worried about impacts on vulnerable and endangered species in the Patagonia Mountains.

Coal:

• Argus reports coal-fired generation in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) fell to a multi-year low for June as electric utilities continue to rely more on gas-fired generation this year.

In the news today…

Grid:

• Utility Dive reports that Republican U.S. senators press federal regulators to hold meetings on how the EPA’s proposal to restrict greenhouse gas emissions from power plants might affect grid reliability.
• Detroit News reports that Michigan utility Consumers Energy plans a pilot project to bury power lines in six counties to help improve grid reliability.

Mining:

• WFIN reports a Biden administration proposal that would lock up federal land and block traditional uses of public land like energy development is facing stiff opposition from a wide range of stakeholders.
• E&E Greenwire reports the Biden administration is nearing completion of a highly anticipated blueprint for revamping the nation’s 150-year old mining law — a set of policy recommendations for hardrock mining originally slated to be released last year.

Minerals:

• Bloomberg reports McKinsey & Co. joined the growing chorus warning that metals considered key to the clean-energy transition face shortages in coming years, potentially suppressing the adoption of electric cars, wind turbines and solar panels.

Coal:

• Argus reports coal-fired power generation in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) declined from year-earlier levels for the sixth month in a row in June despite restrained use of renewable power.

In the news today…

Grid:

• Inside Climate News reports that Indiana, Illinois and Ohio could gain billions of dollars in investments and thousands of jobs with the expedited buildout of renewable energy projects in grid operator PJM’s territory, according to a new report.

Minerals:

• Roll Call reports lawmakers are mulling a slew of new authorities and reporting requirements designed to shore up the U.S. supply chain of critical minerals as tensions with China deepen.
• Washington Post reports on why critical minerals are important.

Coal:

• NPR reports the Labor Department is proposing a new rule limiting miners’ exposure to silica — a toxic dust created by cutting into rock that has been linked to a recent epidemic of severe black lung disease among coal miners.

World News:

• Politico Pro reports new export controls on gallium and germanium are widely seen as a retaliation on Dutch ban on sensitive chip equipment for China.