In the news today and from the weekend…
EPA:
- Inside EPA reports the US Chamber of Commerce, National Mining Association, and America’s Power are asking to intervene on EPA’s behalf to defend the ACE rule.
- Politico Pro, E&E Greenwire and Inside EPA report EPA has released its proposed rule aimed at limiting states’ ability to block infrastructure projects using authority under the CWA.
Coal:
- Wyoming Public Media reports Contura Energy may plan to keep the mines it bought back from Blackjewel open for up to only 12 months in order to lower reclamation costs.
- The Casper Star Tribune reports the Blackjewel mines have yet to reopen despite sale approval from a federal judge.
- Bloomberg reports the Trump administration is using a “hot goods” tactic to support protesting miners; the tactic seeks to freeze the movement of goods produced by workers who were shorted on pay.
- Argus reports unpaid royalties owed to the federal government may be an impediment to the sale of Blackjewel’s western assets to Contura.
- E&E Greenwire reports the Wyoming coal industry is on shaky ground, with Blackjewel only serving as a sign of greater issues in the industry.
- The Hawaii Business Magazine carries an article which explores Hawaii’s lingering coal use and questions whether efforts to phase coal out can be successful without reliability concerns.
- Bloomberg reports a Pennsylvania power plant that was the center of President Trump’s effort to revive the coal industry will be closing 19 months ahead of schedule.
- Argus and E&E Energywire report FirstEnergy Solutions will shut its 830MW coal-fired Bruce Mansfield power plan two years ahead of schedule.
- Argus reports Alliance Resource Partners will shut down its Dotiki coal mine in Kentucky on August 16 due to lackluster demand.
- The Associated Press reports the mining region of northeast Washington state is struggling as the region’s biggest employers shut down.
- The Guardian reports the coal industry is in decline and is not going to bounce back, and many are turning to the Green New Deal for answers.
- The Lexington Herald-Leader reports Cambrian Coal LLC plans to sell off its assets in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.
Mining:
- Inside EPA reports a Minnesota appeals court has stayed a CWA discharge permit for a PolyMet mine near Lake Superior while a state trial court determines whether it was unusual for state regulators to keep out of the public record EPA’s critical comments about the permit.
- E&E News PM reports an American Indian tribe in Idaho has sued a Canadian mining company proposing a new gold mine at a site with historical water pollution problems.
- The Wall Street Journal carries an op-ed which argues that ‘renewable’ energy sources require nonrenewable sources such as metals and minerals that make them less economically viable than fossil fuel choices.
Energy Policy:
- E&E Energywire and Bloomberg report FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee is hosting a conference for energy industry players on “significant issues we are all confronting at this transformative period in our energy and policy landscape”.