In the news today and from the weekend…
Coal:
- E&E Greenwire and Argus report the Department of Energy will make $122 million available — on a competitive basis — to create innovation centers aimed at finding new uses for coal.
- E&E Greenwire reports the Interior Department has dropped its appeal of a federal court order requiring a tougher environmental review of a proposed coal mine expansion in Montana.
- Argus reports Colorado Springs Utilities will close its remaining coal plants by 2030 as part of its plan to cut carbon emissions.
- E&E Energywire reports two utilities in the western region announced plans Friday to close their coal stations — the latest in a series of moves by Western power companies to shutter the former workhorses of their electric fleets.
Minerals:
- Mining.com reports Energy Fuels has opened the only mill in the U.S. able to process uranium-rare earth ores.
- RealClearEnergy carries an op-ed by Dan Brouillette in which he develops a plan to tackle China on the subject of critical minerals supply.
EPA:
- Politico Pro and E&E News PM report a university study released Friday concludes that lowering the national air quality standard for particulate matter would save more than 143,000 lives over a decade in a direct rebuttal to EPA’s proposal to keep the standard as is.
Fossil Fuels:
- Financial Times reports the Trump administration has slashed amounts companies must pay for access on government-owned land.