Author Archives: Terry M. Jarrett

In the news today…

Coal:

• The Hill reports West Virginia coal miners on Thursday launched a campaign urging Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) to support a Democratic budget reconciliation bill that would extend funding for black lung patients.
• E&E Daily reports coal miners and their allies want West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin to work harder at resurrecting an industry tax to help workers suffering from black lung disease.

Land:

• Washington Examiner reports Republican Utahns in Congress are accusing Biden of misrepresenting support for his decision to add back lands covered by the Bears Ears National Monument, which former President Donald Trump had cut.

Grid:

• Utility Dive reports that grid operator PJM issued a new report meant to act as a planning roadmap as fossil fuel plants come offline and renewable energy and storage ramps up.

In the news today…

Mining:

• The White House released a statement on its IWG on Mining Law.
• E&E Daily reports the White House earlier this week hosted a mining policy summit with industry executives, environmentalists and representatives from tribes and labor unions, according to a summary released late yesterday evening.
• Reuters reports the U.S. Department of Defense has asked Congress to let it fund facilities in the United Kingdom and Australia that process strategic minerals used to make electric vehicles and weapons, calling the proposal crucial to national defense.
• E&E News PM reports California Democratic Rep. Jared Huffman today stood outside the Capitol to call on President Joe Biden’s EPA to quickly veto the Pebble mine in Alaska.

Infrastructure:

• Washington Examiner reports the White House is making moves intended to speed up environmental reviews and permitting for infrastructure projects under pressure from industry and lawmakers in both parties to enable faster approvals.

Grid:

• Reuters reports that U.S. clean energy advancements in recent years could be derailed without a massive investment in transmission and grid infrastructure.

In the news today…

Mining Law:

• The Washington Post reports prominent congressional Democrats are pushing to update the nation’s 150-year-old mining law, as President Biden seeks to spur the production of critical minerals used in electric vehicle batteries and other green technologies.
• Daily Caller reports several top Democrats doubled down on an effort Tuesday to reform a centuries-old mining law, introducing restrictions on future U.S. mining projects.
• E&E Daily reports congressional Democrats rallied outside the Capitol yesterday in support of a progressive mining reform bill scheduled for a hearing this week.
• Politico Pro reports a trio of Democratic lawmakers urged their colleagues on Tuesday to overhaul the statute governing the nation’s mining industry on the 150th anniversary of President Ulysses S. Grant signing the General Mining Law of 1872.

Coal:

• S&P Global reports U.S. coal miners, eager to sell into a reinvigorated market, are struggling to move their product as train lines tangle with a severe labor shortage.
• E&E Daily reports Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet will introduce a novel proposal to help fossil fuel communities upended by the energy transition.

Mining:

• Mining.com reports Tesla is open to buying a mining company if producing its own supply of electric vehicle (EV) metals would speed up worldwide adoption of clean energy technologies, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said on Tuesday.
• Reuters carries an op-ed which argues mining is probably the most vital sector to the global energy transition and the success of the much-vaunted net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 targets, but it’s currently the laggard in the process.
• E&E Daily reports congressional Republicans have barreled headlong into a dispute between commissioners at the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, as documents suggest deeper troubles at the agency.

Minerals:

• Washington Examiner reports another automaker is warning that an inadequate battery supply chain will threaten manufacturers’ viability in the coming years as they build more electric vehicles.
• E&E Daily reports the House backed a $40 billion Ukrainian aid package last night that contains hundreds of millions for critical minerals production and support for that country’s nuclear regulators.

In the news today…

Minerals:

• Nebraska Examiner (Neb.) carries an op-ed by Barry Butterfield, a civil engineer who worked in the public and private sector for over 40 years, in which he argues we must make a major push to create new uranium mines and reopen old mines that have been closed, such as Crow Butte.
• Washington Examiner carries an op-ed by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito in which she argues the United States has a permitting problem.
• E&E News PM reports an Obama-era Interior Department official has registered to lobby for the developer of a proposed lithium and boron mine in Nevada.

Mining Law:

• The Hill carries an op-ed which argues as critical mineral demand rises to power technologies like electric cars, trucks and buses that help us move toward a 100 percent clean grid, we must also make sure that the way we extract these resources is sustainable, ethical and pro-worker, as well as abides by environmental and human rights laws.

In the news today and from the weekend…

Mining Law:

• E&E Daily reports a House Natural Resources subcommittee will consider legislation backed by progressive Democrats to overhaul the nation’s mining laws as the administration looks to boost domestic production of minerals critical to the green economy.

Mining:

• Inside Sources reports President Joe Biden has made two commitments on green energy. One is to dramatically increase the use of green tech like electric vehicles (EVs), windmills and solar power. The other is to build that new tech here in America.
• E&E Greenwire reports a global water crisis — extreme drought, waning water supplies and tightening regulatory oversight — is putting billions of dollars’ worth of assets in the mining, oil and gas, and utility sectors at risk as climate change accelerates, according to a first-of-a-kind analysis.

Minerals:

• Bloomberg and the Washington Post carry an op-ed which argues the future of U.S.-made electric-vehicle batteries might be found in a modest white shed in Tamarack, Minnesota, population 104.
• Reuters reports U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said on Thursday that the United States was working on a strategy to ensure steady uranium supply and that the country should not be sending any more money to Russia for the nuclear reactor fuel.

Grid:

• Wall Street Journal reports that energy shortages are growing across the U.S. because electricity supplies aren’t keeping up with demand amid transition to cleaner forms of energy.

In the news today…

Mining:

• North of 60 Mining News reports on the history of the General Mining Law.
• E&E Daily reports Democrats and Republicans alike say now could be the time to overhaul the 150-year-old federal law governing mining, but finding enough common ground to strike a deal will prove challenging.
• The Hill carries an op-ed which argues that passing the Clean Energy Minerals Reform Act of 2022 gives us the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the fossil fuel industry, protect the environment and at-risk communities, as well as develop a sustainable economy once and for all.

Minerals:

• E&E News PM reports without safeguards put in place by the U.S. government, President Biden’s recent order freeing up federal funds for mining-related projects could potentially wind up fueling human rights abuses and environmental destruction overseas, an international nonprofit group warned White House officials last month.

SEC:

• Roll Call reports Republican lawmakers and scholars are ratcheting up their arguments that the Securities and Exchange Commission lacks the statutory authority to require public companies to disclose climate-related financial risks.

In the news today…

Coal:

• Politico Pro reports a major Indiana utility is delaying the planned shutdown of a coal-fired power plant until 2025, citing “uncertainty and delays” in the solar panel industry triggered by the Department of Commerce’s investigation into solar module imports.
• E&E Energywire reports Indiana utility Northern Indiana Public Service Co. said it will delay retirement of its largest coal-fired power plant by two years because a Commerce Department investigation is leading to supply chain uncertainty for solar projects needed as a replacement energy source.
• Argus reports US thermal coal exports declined from a relatively high year-earlier level for a second consecutive month in March.

Energy:

• Washington Post reports the energy meeting on Monday night led by Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) attracted seven Democrats and four Republicans, who discussed the possibility of crafting a bipartisan energy package that includes provisions to reform the permitting process, tax polluting imports, and spur more mining for critical minerals, according to attendees.

World News:

• Washington Examiner reports India announced this week that it is boosting its coal production to record highs, seeking to secure supplies and counteract the adverse effects of a nationwide fuel shortage, which has strained its power supply and touched off rolling blackouts during a blistering heatwave.

In the news today…

Mining:

• E&E Daily reports three ambitious public lands bills with broad local support failed to advance yesterday as Senate Republicans sent a clear message to their Democratic colleagues that they will strongly oppose legislation that bans energy development and mining on federal land.

Minerals:

• E&E Greenwire reports North Dakota is challenging the federal government’s awarding of lucrative mineral rights under a Missouri River reservoir to the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, otherwise known as the Three Affiliated Tribes.

Coal:

• Argus reports US coking coal mining company Warrior will relaunch its Blue Creek project in Alabama this year, with expected output of roughly 4.8mn short tons/yr (4.35mn t/yr) of high-volatile A coking coal over its first decade of operation from mid-2026 onwards.
• Argus reports operational and transportation issues at Consol Energy eased last quarter, setting up the Northern Appalachian coal producer for stable shipments this year.

In the news today…

Coal:

• S&P Global reports U.S. coal miners are experimenting with greener business projects as long-term demand for the carbon-intensive fuel collapses around them.
• Argus reports US coal producer Alliance Resource Partners expects US coal export prices will stay higher than the domestic market for at least the next 18 months.
• E&E Energywire reports one of America’s largest coal mining companies has taken a fledgling electric-vehicle-charging company under its wing and will use its deep connections to open doors at the country’s electric utilities.

Minerals:

• Politico Pro reports the Biden administration is rolling out more than $3 billion in spending to spur production and recycling of battery components that are crucial for the deployment of renewable energy and electric vehicles.
• E&E News PM reports the Biden administration today unlocked $3.1 billion to create a domestic supply chain for advanced batteries used in electric vehicles and energy storage.
• Mining.com reports from Bloomberg the Biden administration will spend more than $3 billion to support the domestic manufacturing of advanced batteries used in electric vehicles and energy storage, officials said Monday.
• CNN reports President Joe Biden is building on his electric vehicle goal with a $3 billion investment Monday aimed at boosting the US supply of lithium ion batteries through the bipartisan infrastructure package.
• Sierra Sun Times reports the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality approved an aquifer protection permit late last Thursday for a uranium mine near Grand Canyon National Park.

Energy:

• Argus reports the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) is heading into the summer cooling season with insufficient firm generation that could result in a shortfall of capacity during periods of peak load.
• New York Times reports after Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the United States slapped bans on Russian energy sources from oil to coal. But one critical Russian energy import was left alone: uranium, which the United States relies on to fuel more than 90 nuclear reactors around the country. That dependence on Russia is breathing life into ambitions to resurrect the uranium industry around the American West — and also evoking fears of the industry’s toxic legacy of pollution.

Water:

• E&E Greenwire reports environmental advocates and the nation’s largest pipeline and electricity associations are lobbying the White House, hoping to shape a controversial Clean Water Act rule that could determine just how much say — and time — states and tribes have over a broad range of projects, including pipelines and other infrastructure.

In the news today and from the weekend…

Mining:

• Associated Press and Washington Post report President Joe Biden is turning to a Cold War-era law to boost production of lithium and other minerals used to power electric vehicles, but experts say the move by itself is unlikely to ensure the robust domestic mining Biden seeks as he promotes cleaner energy sources.
• E&E Greenwire reports a uranium mining project near the Grand Canyon is one step closer to opening after receiving a water permit from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
• Arizona Republic reports the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality issued an aquifer protection plan permit to Pinyon Plain Mine on Thursday, putting the mine’s operators a step closer to starting uranium extraction.

Minerals:

• Bloomberg Hyperdrive reports Bill Ford and Mary Barra offer assurances their electric vehicles are well-sourced — at least for the next few years.

TGIF!

In the news today…

Mining:

• RFD TV reports dozens of groups shared their stories with the Surface Transportation Board about how delays and costs are impacting their ability to ship their product.
• E&E News PM reports President Biden is asking Congress for more money to help Ukraine — and the U.S. mining industry.
• Mining.com reports Canadian miner Teck Resources Ltd on Wednesday beat market estimates for quarterly profit on the back of higher copper and coking coal prices, sending its shares 8% higher.

Solar:

• Utility Dive reports that the U.S. solar industry is “in a state of panic” as it delays projects and lays off workers in the face of the Commerce Department’s panel imports probe, the threat of new tariffs, and interconnection delays.

In the news today…

Mining:

• E&E Daily reports Ryan Zinke’s ties to the fossil fuel industry are coming under increasing scrutiny as the former Interior secretary attempts to win a House seat.
• E&E Greenwire reports a U.K. human rights organization today accused a major mining industry responsible sourcing initiative of being a “laundromat” for conflict minerals.

Environment:

• Mining.com carries an op-ed from Reuters which argues not one of the biggest listed Western mining companies has an executive with the title of chief ESG officer, and only one has a person with a somewhat similar title.
• Inside EPA reports EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) has decided to review the Biden administration’s proposed definition of waters of the United States (WOTUS), though the board’s ability to shape any final rule is uncertain given the pending Supreme Court case that could limit the agency’s authority in how it determines the scope of the Clean Water Act.

Coal:

• Washington Examiner reports in an interview with the Washington Examiner, Sen. Steve Daines, who traveled to Ukraine earlier this month, said the crisis in Europe should serve as a “wake-up call” for the U.S. as it seeks to build out its own domestic production.
• WV Public Broadcasting reports representatives from the coal industry testified in Washington Wednesday about rail service issues that could put a strain on the nation’s power grid.
• E&E Climatewire reports in a typical upswing, Arch Resources would be expected to spend money to boost output. Instead, the company has set aside $100 million to cover reclamation obligations.

In the news today…

Mining:

• E&E News PM reports House Natural Resources Chair Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced they introduced two bills that would update the nation’s primary mining law, the General Mining Act of 1872.
• Politico Pro reports Democratic lawmakers in both the House and Senate on Tuesday introduced similar versions of a bill to reform hardrock mining taxes and cleanup rules against a backdrop of soaring demand for minerals.
• Bloomberg reports Arch Resources Inc. will give investors a dividend of $8.11 a share, as a global boom in coal helped the U.S. mining giant post its strongest earnings in five years.

Coal:

• Argus reports US coal producer Arch Resources expects increased domestic demand for thermal coal this year amid higher natural gas prices.
• Axios reports there’s a huge gap between the persistence of coal consumption and rapid moves away from the most carbon-heavy fuel needed to keep global climate goals viable.

Energy:

• E&E Daily reports Democrats aren’t giving up on a reconciliation package, despite a new round of bipartisan talks led by Sen. Joe Manchin that threatens to complicate a “Build Back Better” revival.

World News:

• Associated Press reports China is promoting coal-fired power as the ruling Communist Party tries to revive a sluggish economy, prompting warnings Beijing is setting back efforts to cut climate-changing carbon emissions from the biggest global source.

In the news today…

Energy:

• E&E Daily reports the energy industry is picking sides in the primary race between incumbent West Virginia GOP Reps. David McKinley and Alex Mooney.

Coal:

• CPR News reports the newest generator at Colorado’s largest coal-fired power plant would shut down by 2031, four years earlier than what was initially agreed upon by operator Xcel Energy and government agencies, according to a new version of a settlement proposal obtained by CPR News Friday.
• E&E Climatewire reports when Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) explains why he has blocked key parts of the president’s climate agenda, he often points to his support for an “all-of-the-above energy” strategy. But when it comes to energy production, the senator’s home state of West Virginia is far from being diverse. Its power is derived almost entirely from coal.

World News:

• The Washington Post reports China already consumes and produces about half the world’s coal and continued expansion of output and capacity make achieving its climate goals look ever more remote.
• Reuters reports the global capacity of power plants fired by coal, the fossil fuel that emits the most carbon dioxide when burned, rose nearly 1% last year as the world recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a research report by a U.S. environmental group.