Good Monday morning!
In the news today and from the weekend…
Coal:
- E&E News PM reports EPA is again zeroing in on Texas coal-fired power plants, six years after then-President Donald Trump’s administration scrapped an earlier plan for slashing the sector’s sulfur dioxide emissions.
- Axios reports the Environmental Protection Agency is said to be nearing the release of draft rules to force carbon emissions cuts at the nation’s power plants.
Minerals:
- The Maine Monitor reports a bill prompted by the discovery of a world-class lithium deposit in Newry would dramatically change Maine law to allow mining of metals in open pits of any size, with up to 100 acres actively mined at any time.
Carbon Capture:
- The New York Times reports that the Environmental Protection Agency is set to release new standards for new and existing power plants that could boost the installation of carbon capture and storage technology to reduce emissions, according to three people briefed on the rule. The proposed rule, which is likely to meet immediate court challenges once released, would mean almost all coal and gas-fired power plants would have to slash or capture nearly all of their carbon dioxide emissions by 2040, according to three people familiar with the proposal.
- E&E Energywire reports the White House is months late in establishing two task forces to identify permitting issues for carbon capture and storage, prompting criticism from Republicans.
- E&E Energywire reports one of the biggest U.S. supporters of carbon capture technology called Monday for adjusting a federal tax credit as part of a new policy blueprint, following a report from the International Energy Agency that found a need to boost capture capacity significantly by 2030.
WOTUS:
- Inside EPA reports the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is temporarily blocking enforcement of the Biden administration’s rule revising the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) in Kentucky in order to provide a federal court in the Commonwealth time to consider state and industry motions for a preliminary injunction pending appeal.