Author Archives: Terry M. Jarrett

In the news today and from the weekend…

NEPA:

• E&E Greenwire reports the Trump administration’s rollback on NEPA is a solid win for the mining industry.

Coal:

• E&E Energywire reports and CONSOL Energy issues a press release announcing its investment in the coal-to-products industry through acquisition.
• WSAZ reports Ramaco Carbon is opening a facility in West Virginia to research how to use coal to create advanced carbon products and materials.
• Argus reports a federal bankruptcy judge has approved the bidding procedures in Murray Energy’s Chapter 11 case, setting final deadlines for the company’s auction.
• E&E Energywire reports Kansas needs better tools to help beat back rising electric rates, including a mechanism to ease the transition away from coal.
• Reuters reports coal-fired power plants are closing fast in the U.S. despite President Trump’s pledge of support for the industry.
• Associated Press reports Blackjewel alleges former CEO Jeff Hoops took millions of dollars from the company for personal gain.

Minerals:

• The Texas Observer reports President Trump’s changes to NEPA could invite more uranium mining to south Texas, which would invite pollution risks.
• Mining.com reports Apple Inc is trying to become a “closed-loop” manufacturer that relies on recycling, not the mining industry, for necessary minerals, which some industry analysts have said is impossible.

In the news today…

Coal:

• The Powell Tribune carries an op-ed by Sen. John Barrasso in which he argues that stopping coal export terminals will only create increased pollution as Russia will fill the gap left by American coal.
• Argus reports U.S. coal production likely ended 2019 at a 41-year low.
• Argus reports Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association will close its last two coal-fired power plants over the next 10 years.
• E&E Climatewire reports Colorado Gov. Jared Polis applauds the decision to shut down Tristate’s two coal-fired power plants.
• Argus reports the Dolet Hills coal-fired power plant in Louisiana has been approved for retirement, scheduled for no later than the end of 2026.
• Argus reports the Asbury coal plant in Missouri will retire on March 1.
• S&P Global reports the Oak Grove coking coal mine in Alabama has been idled with no information on a restart available.

Minerals:

• E&E News PM reports the U.S. and Canada will jointly work to curb their dependence on overseas minerals.

NEPA:

• North of 60 Mining News reports mining and other trade organizations welcome the White House’s proposed revisions to NEPA.
• Inside EPA and E&E Greenwire report White House officials announced a sweeping overhaul of NEPA implementing rules.
• E&E Daily reports Democrats are eyeing a legislative response to the Trump administration’s proposed NEPA overhaul.

In the news today…

Mining:

• Capital Research Center carries a four-part series on Federal Land Withdrawals, arguing in favor of mining on federal lands to decrease U.S. import reliance.

Emissions:

• E&E Climatewire reports states face difficulties in lowering emissions from cars.

Coal:

• E&E Energywire reports a recent study found that more than 26,000 lives were saved by shuttering coal-fired units across the U.S. between 2005 and 2016.
• The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the coal company that laid off dozens of employees last month without pay had failed to post a performance bond with the state, possibly in violation of state law.
• Charleston Gazette-Mail and E&E Greenwire report Panther Creek Mining of West Virginia will lay off 65 workers in March.
• Arizona Republic reports one of three generators at the Cholla coal-fired power plant in Arizona will close this year.
• E&E Greenwire reports The Montana Department of Environmental Quality and Navajo Transitional Energy Co. have agreed to a 65-day extension of an earlier interim waiver of sovereign immunity, keeping the Navajo Nation coal mine open possibly another two months.
• Utility Dive reports Xcel Minnesota claims running coal seasonally will save customers money and reduce emissions.

Carbon Capture:

• The Farmington Daily Times reports a group of mine workers asked the PRC to allow Enchant Energy to take over and retrofit the San Juan Generating Plant with carbon capture technology.

FERC:

• Politico Pro reports Sen. Kevin Cramer plans to vote against the nomination of James Danly because he worries the nominee is unwilling to save coal and nuclear plants from closure.

In the news today…

FERC:

• The Northwest Indiana Times (IN) carries an op-ed by Matthew Kandrach, president of Consumer Action for a Strong Economy (CASE), in which he supports FERC’s recent action on PJM’s Minimum Offer Price Rule (MOPR) to level the playing field in electricity markets.

Coal:

• The Atlantic reports coal consumption fell 18 percent last year, its largest drop ever recorded.
• Argus reports US coal exports recovered slightly in November after reaching a three-year low the previous month.
• Argus reports Arizona utility Salt River Project decided to retire both units of its 773MW Coronado plant in 2032 rather than retire one unit seven years earlier.

Minerals:

• Mining.com reports Hecla Mining has produced the highest amount of gold in the company’s history and has also ratified a collective bargaining agreement which ends the 34-month strike at the Lucky Friday mine.
• Mining.com reports USGS scientists mapped a rare earth element deposit located in the Mountain Pass region of the eastern Mojave Desert near Las Vegas, Nevada.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA):

• E&E Climatewire reports any changes to NEPA would be implemented after the election, and the impact to NEPA will change heavily based on who wins the election.

In the news today…

Coal:

• Power Magazine reports transformative coal technologies will be necessary for future industry success.
• The Gillette News Record reports coal bankruptcies dominated headlines in 2019.
• E&E Climatewire reports legislation to ease the closing of the San Juan Generating Station has led to new challenges in implementation.
• The Wheeling Intelligencer reports new legislation to change the authority of who determines property owner compensation in mine subsidence cases.

Mining:

• GreentechMedia reports the mining industry is increasingly turning to clean energy for its operations.
• The Arizona Daily Star reports the U.S. federal government will appeal a judge’s ruling against the Rosemont Mine.

Minerals:

• The Salt Lake Tribune reports a copper mine in Utah is seeking permits for an experimental method of extraction.
• Mining.com reports prices for precious metals are likely to rise further in 2020.

Carbon Capture:

• The Casper Star-Tribune reports on carbon capture technology’s prospects for the coal industry.

Happy new year!

In the news today…

Mining:

• The Washington Examiner and Mining.com report Joe Biden said miners, particularly coal miners, need to find jobs of the future by transitioning to jobs such as those which involve programming.
• E&E Greenwire reports a permitting decision for the Pebble mine will be delayed, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.

Coal:

• E&E Climatewire reports the Navajo Nation has suffered setbacks with the retirement of the Navajo Generating Station.
• The Hartford Courant reports Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. is limiting its insurance coverage of companies tied with coal and other fossil fuels.
• Power Magazine carries an op-ed which argues, despite setbacks over the past decade, nuclear and coal power continue to provide reliable baseload generation to billions of customers around the globe.

In the news today…

Mining:

• The Wall Street Journal reports the next boom in electric vehicles could be the world’s mining fleet as the industry moves away from diesel.

Coal:

• The Courier Journal reports, despite the president declaring that the ‘coal industry is back,’ jobs and production are down in Kentucky.
• The Conversation reports coal bankruptcies are the latest reminder that it is past time for a just transition for coal miners.
• Argus reports U.S. thermal coal exports fell for an eighth month in September, led by a decline in bituminous shipments.
• Argus reports CONSOL Energy maintained its sales outlook for 2019 despite challenges in the coal industry.
• Argus reports Hallador Energy’s sales increased to 2.1 million short tons in the third quarter, up from 2 million short tons a year earlier.
• E&E Greenwire reports Bob Murray may have been the last coal magnate of his type now that he has stepped down as CEO of Murray Energy.

EPA:

• E&E News PM reports PacifiCorp is asking EPA to scrap part of a regional haze reduction plan as it requires a retrofit that will cost millions and result in “no measurable visibility improvements.”

In the news today…

Environment:

• Bloomberg Environment reports the Justice Department may further restrict the use of supplemental environmental projects (SEPs) which allow businesses to conduct environmental projects to lower transgression fees.

Mining Law:

• The Hill reports Democrats are preparing to counter White House efforts to allow mining near the Grand Canyon.
• The Arizona Daily Star posted a letter to the editor in response to an article on Rep. Grijalva’s  mining reform bill, claiming the Representative is uninformed about mining law.
• Mining.com reports Hudbay Minerals will appeal the court ruling that barred the miner from building a major copper mine in Arizona.

Coal:

• E&E Greenwire reports Robert Murray will step down as CEO and president in the wake of his company’s filing for bankruptcy.
• Argus reports Peabody Energy lowered its U.S. thermal outlook amid weak electricity demand and decisions to close some Illinois basin properties.
• Argus reports U.S. thermal coal prices were unchanged while natural gas prices rose.
• E&E Daily reports the Murray Energy bankruptcy sparked alarm concerning the miners pension fund.

Minerals:

• E&E Energywire reports lithium could be California’s next ‘gold rush’, given the demand for lithium in electric vehicles.

FERC:

• Utility Dive reports 11 attorneys general urge FERC to respect state energy rights, which allow states to shape their own resource mixes.

In the news today…

Emissions:

• E&E Daily reports Sen. McConnell joins Sen. Barrasso in support of S. 2662, which revamps the New Source Review program.

Mining:

• Greenwire reports Earthworks wants an investigation into possible insider trading by an investor involved in EPA’s actions surrounding the proposed Pebble Mine.
• E&E Daily reports President Trump nominated former Ohio regulator Lanny Erdos to director of OSMRE.

Coal:

• Politico Pro reports FERC’s decision on how it will define grid resilience will be a consensus decision that is supported by all members.
• Science Daily reports replacing coal with other energy sources saves billions of gallons of water.
• E&E Energywire reports renewable power capacity is expected to increase 50 percent globally over the next five years, but coal will still dominate, according to an IEA report.
• Argus reports thermal coal prices are unchanged in the over-the-counter market.
• Argus and S&P Global report Arch Coal expects its Powder River Basin volumes to be lower this quarter than the third quarter’s two-year high.

In the news today…

Coal:

• The Bismarck Tribune reports coal communities in North Dakota and Montana look to an uncertain future among coal power plant closures.
• The Southern Illinoisan carries an op-ed which argues that Illinois must embrace renewable energy jobs as the coal industry dwindles.
• Argus reports Blackjewel and Contura Energy have transferred ownership of two coal mines in Wyoming to FM Coal affiliate Eagle Specialty Minerals.
• E&E Daily reports a Pennsylvania bill would provide a tax credit to help power plants burn coal from cleaning up old piles of mining waste.

Electric Grid:

• The Park Record reports PacifiCorp is providing an example of how quickly renewables are being adopted while coal is being removed from energy portfolios.
• Argus reports MISO expects to significantly cut coal-fired generation looking out to 2033, with wind and solar expected to replace most of the displaced power.

Minerals:

• The Elko Daily Free Press carries a negative op-ed which argues hardrock mining companies create high amounts of pollution and that mining law needs to change to cover clean up costs of mining.
• WV News reports WVU received $5 million to construct a rare earth elements recovery site at a new acid mine drainage treatment plant.
• Reuters reports Rio Tinto is studying ways to extract lithium from waste rock at a mine it controls in California.

EPA:

• E&E News PM and Politico Pro report a panel of judges grilled EPA regarding a set of decisions related to MATS and may ultimately send the rule back to EPA.
• Politico Pro reports EPA will publish its repeal of the Obama administration WOTUS rule today.

Public Lands:

• The Hill reports Sens. Tom Udall and Michael Bennet have introduced a resolution that would require conserving 30 percent of the United States’ lands and oceans by 2030.

In the news today…

Minerals:

• The Miami Herald reports Standard Lithium will be testing a new method for pulling battery-grade lithium from a saltwater sea under Arkansas soil.
• The Los Angeles Times reports EnergySource is operating a geothermal lithium plant in southern California.
• The San Francisco Chronicle reports Midas Gold is asking for a lawsuit to be put on hold so it can mine in central Idaho and clean up old mining sites.
• E&E News PM reports the White House has given itself another month to address mining industry concerns about how American nuclear plants get their uranium.

Coal:

• The Rocket Miner carries an editorial which states the current decline in coal is different than previous boom and bust patterns and Wyoming needs to turn to new industries to grow.
• The West Virginia Record reports two former coal miners filed lawsuits against a respirator manufacturing company, claiming the respirators failed to protect them.
• The Casper Star Tribune and WyoFile report Wyoming lawmakers met to find effective policy changes to protect the state and counties from the outbreak of coal company bankruptcies.
• WyoFile reports a new Wyoming law aimed at extending the life of coal-fired power plants is being tested now as PacifiCorp looks to shut down coal plants in Wyoming.
• E&E Energywire and Argus report the University of Notre Dame is shuttering its coal-fired power plant a year ahead of schedule and turning to renewable energy sources.

EPA:

• E&E Greenwire reports an unofficial panel of air quality experts has tentatively concluded the EPA’s fine particulate matter standards need significant tightening.

In the news today…

EPA:

• Inside EPA reports industry groups are praising EPA’s decision to forgo setting financial responsibility requirements under the Superfund law for the electric power generator sector, while environmentalists argue the approach increases risks of contamination.
• Inside EPA reports environmental groups have begun to outline issues they intend to raise in their litigation challenging EPA’s ACE rule, targeting the ACE rule’s narrow interpretation as unlawful.
• E&E Greenwire reports a pair of judges would like to investigate whether they should drop the case over the Obama administration’s Clean Water Rule in light of the repeal and eventual replacement of the WOTUS rule.

Coal:

• The Casper Star-Tribune and E&E Greenwire report the federal government has been investigating coal operator Blackjewel for potential fraud since before the company filed for bankruptcy.
• Argus reports the U.S. Interior Department has asked a federal bankruptcy court to extend the deadline for some of Blackjewel’s financial restructuring while it completes an investigation into potential fraud.
• Argus reports U.S. electric power sector coal use will fall by 14 percent this year according to the EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook.
• Politico Pro and E&E Energywire report a federal judge blocked the parts of an Obama-era Interior Department rulemaking that updated how royalties are calculated on coal mined from federal lands.
• E&E Energywire reports Xcel Energy Inc. is planning new investments in wind and solar in order to shut down coal plants and shift the market towards electric vehicles.
• WV Metro News reports three underground coal mines and two preparation plants in West Virginia have been idled by Blackhawk Mining and its subsidiaries.

Mining:

• E&E Greenwire reports the proposed Twin Metals copper-nickel mine is one of many controversies over public lands.
• E&E Greenwire reports Senate Indian Affairs Committee ranking member Tom Udall led a field hearing on the Southwest’s legacy of uranium mining.
• Politico Pro and E&E News PM report a coalition of Alaskan groups sued EPA on Tuesday over its withdrawal of an Obama-era proposal that would have preemptively vetoed the construction of the Pebble Mine.

In the news today…

Mining:

• The Arizona Daily Star reports a former Coronado National Forest supervisor says his experience with the Rosemont Mine shows it’s time to overhaul the 1872 Mining Law.
• The Journal reports a West Virginia researcher believes West Virginia’s coal mines can be used as sources for rare earth elements.
• Deseret News (UT) and Salem News (OH) carry an op-ed by Michael Stumo, CEO of the Coalition for a Prosperous America, in which he argues the U.S. needs to encourage domestic mining of critical minerals in order to compete with China in the clean energy and advanced technology industries.

Minerals:

• The Farmington Daily Times reports Rep. Grijalva traveled to Window Rock, Arizona to learn about the legacy of uranium mining on Navajo land.

Coal:

• The Hartford Courant reports Deputy Secretary Dan Brouillette, who would likely succeed Energy Secretary Rick Perry should Perry resign, would also support subsidizing coal plants.
• Ohio Valley ReSource reports worker training programs alone will not be enough to save those in coal country.
• Colorado Politics reports PacifiCorp’s decision to move away from coal-fired power could hasten the closure of the Craig power plant in northwest Colorado.
• Argus reports BLM is proposing trimming the amount of land it makes available for coal leasing in the Powder River Basin.
• E&E Energywire reports the Lignite Energy Council in North Dakota is advertising that a new Tesla Model X electric car is powered by coal.
• KXLH reports residents of a West Virginia coal town say that now is the time to rebuild and sustain the coal industry which built their towns.

FERC:

• E&E Energywire reports FERC has dismissed Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association Inc.’s bid to fall under the agency’s oversight, setting back plans that could have preserved the utility’s use of coal power.

In the news today and from the weekend…

Electric Grid:

• The Harrisburg Patriot-News (PA) carries an op-ed from Forrest Remick, emeritus professor of Nuclear Engineering at Pennsylvania State University and retired commissioner of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, in which he argues that the loss of baseload power in Pennsylvania, and other states, is a reliability and affordability crisis driven largely by out-of-market subsidies for renewable sources of energy.

Mining:

• The Minneapolis Star Tribune carries an op-ed asking Gov. Tim Walz to stop the Twin Metals mining project in order to preserve the environment.

Coal:

• Deseret News reports PacifiCorp released a draft of its new 20-year energy plan that includes the closure of 83 percent of its coal units by 2038.
• Utility Dive reports Pennsylvania has committed to joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a mandatory carbon cap and trade program in the Northeast.
• E&E Greenwire reports a federal bankruptcy judge has approved the Navajo Transitional Energy Co.’s takeover of Cloud Peak Energy Inc.
• E&E Cliamtewire reports coal is being increasingly shunned by investors, pushing people into other markets.
• The Wall Street Journal reports Murray Energy has entered a forbearance agreement to buy time to negotiate a restructuring deal possibly before a potential filing for bankruptcy.

Minerals:

• GreenBiz reports modern society requires mined metals, but mining comes with environmental consequences as well.

EPA:

• E&E Climatewire reports EPA discouraged federal judges from delaying action on the ACE rule litigation, while challengers want to wait until EPA’s revised NSR program is complete.

In the news today…

BLM:

• The Union of Concerned Scientists carries an opinion piece which argues that William Perry Pendley has too many conflicts of interests to adequately fill his position at BLM.

Coal:

• E&E Energywire reports coal use in the southeastern United States is significantly decreased according to an IEEFA report.
• E&E Greenwire reports the former Blackjewel mines in Wyoming will reopen under new ownership, and roughly 500 employees will be rehired.
• The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports Murray Energy has entered into forbearance agreements with its lenders after failing to make loan and interest payments due last month.
• E&E Climatewire and The Seattle Times report Pacificorp will retire 16 of its 24 coal units over the next decade and replace them with solar and wind power.
• The Associated Press reports Navajo Transitional Energy Co. will retain 1,200 employees at the three coal mines in Wyoming and Montana that it just bought through a bankruptcy auction.

Minerals:

• The Chicago Tribune reports mining produces minerals necessary for modern life, but it also cause damage to the environment.
• InsideSources carries an op-ed which argues that there is a vast ocean of mineral wealth in New Mexico and officials should not cave to environmentalists to stop mining projects.
• Mining.com reports the price of copper has weakened again, signaling a short term difficulty in trade due to lower for longer price.
• Mining.com reports copper is suffering both supply and demand hits, causing both trouble with production and in trade.
• The Financial Times reports, despite the call for a green revolution, copper prices continue to fall, even though copper is essential in green applications.

EPA:

• E&E Climatewire reports EPA is expected to soon propose plans to make future Clean Air Act rules look less beneficial and more costly.

In the news today…

Mining:

• E&E Greenwire reports Acting Bureau of Land Management chief William Perry Pendley has a long history of supporting coal leasing and minerals land sales.
• E&E Greenwire reports that Interior Secretary David Bernhardt signed a secretarial order keeping William Perry Pendley at the helm of the Bureau of Land Management for an additional four months.

Minerals:

• The Boston Herald carries an op-ed which argues the decline in U.S. mining is detrimental to our economy and national security, using uranium mining as an example.
• The Wall Street Journal reports that demand for nickel, driven by EV batteries, is outpacing supply.
• Bloomberg reports that President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have discussed the necessity of securing reliable quantities of critical minerals and rare earths.

Coal:

• The Charlotte Business Journal reports pollution controls at a Duke Energy coal plant are not working efficiently due to decreased activity from the plant.
• The Navajo Times reports delegates and shareholders were not notified that Navajo Transitional Energy Company intended to buy Wyoming coal mines.
• The Billings Gazette reports a study finds the purchase of coal mines by Navajo Transitional Energy Company to be ‘prudent’, despite objections from the Diné communities.
• E&E Greenwire reports nearly 70 people have been arrested at a protest outside a coal-fired power plant in New Hampshire.
• E&E News PM reports North American Coal Corp. is urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to move forward with litigation on the ACE rule.
• The Financial Times reports on how Britain has for all intents and purposes phased out coal.
• S&P Global reports on the White House’s intent to nominate the FERC general counsel for a commission seat.

NAAQS:

• Inside EPA reports the “shadow” advisory committee, composed of members of a disbanded EPA panel, will review a draft EPA policy assessment in favor of tightening the fine particulate matter NAAQS.