Author Archives: Terry M. Jarrett

In the news today…

Coal:

• S&P Global reports Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC sees a $64 billion spending opportunity on top of double-digit earnings accretion for more than a dozen utilities that decide to retire uneconomic coal plants and replace them with cheaper renewables by 2025.
• Argus reports the Wyoming legislature has advanced a trio of bills aimed at expanding the market for Powder River Basin coal.
• WV Metro News reports the West Virginia House of Delegates is considering a tax break for struggling coal-fired power plants.
• The Concord Monitor reports the Merrimack Station power plant has won another year’s funding from a New England program and will be able to stay open at least through mid-2024.

WOTUS:

• Inside EPA reports the Trump administration’s new rule revising the definition of WOTUS could expand coverage over intermittent waters compared to the Obama-era rule.
• E&E Greenwire reports green groups are planning to sue the Trump administration over its rollback on WOTUS for violating the Endangered Species Act.

NSR:

• Inside EPA reports EPA released new draft guidance recommending “plantwide applicability limits” to avoid stringent NSR permits.

World News:

• Argus reports Chinese firms will be able to apply for exemptions to import tariffs on nearly 700 products, including thermal coal.

Climate:

• WCCO reports the Minnesota House Climate Action Caucus has proposed a $191.5 million spending plan to address climate change that includes investments in efficiency, solar and electric vehicles.

In the news today…

Coal:

• E&E Greenwire reports the Navajo Nation’s coal company has signed a limited waiver of sovereign immunity in order to operate its mines in Wyoming.
• The Casper Star Tribune reports, while many states and utilities are moving away from coal, others are putting mechanisms in place to give coal plants a second chance.
• The Casper Star Tribune (WY) carries an op-ed by Dr. Virendra Mathur in which he argues that advances in coal technology are giving coal a bright future.

Climate:

• The Kansas City Star  reports that Kansas’ renewable energy resources can help the state with climate change planning, according to advocates.
• Reuters reports that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos says he will spend $10 billion to fund scientists, activists, nonprofits and other groups fighting climate change.

Happy President’s Day!

In the news today…

Coal:

• MiBiz reports a municipal utility in western Michigan prepares to retire a 70 MW coal plant, but questions remain over how it will add natural gas generation.
• Prairie Public News  reports a utility seeks to add natural gas capacity while retiring two more coal units at a power plant near Bismarck, North Dakota.
• S&P Global reports nearly 20% of the coal delivered in the first three quarters of 2019 went to power plants that are set to close by 2025.

Renewables:

• Utility Dive reports U.S. renewable electricity capacity has doubled since 2010 while actual generation jumped 77% in that time, according to a new report.

Climate:

• Ohio Valley Resource reports that despite strong political support for the coal industry in West Virginia, state lawmakers are starting to pay attention to climate change.

EPA:

• The Hill reports that President Trump has nominated Douglas Benevento to serve as the deputy administrator of the EPA and Mark Menezes to take on the role as deputy Energy secretary. Benevento has worked for the EPA since 2017 and previously worked for Xcel Energy Inc., and Menezes has served as Energy under secretary since 2017 and previously worked as an executive at Berkshire Hathaway Energy.

Happy Valentines Day!

In the news today…

Mining:

• Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly reports it is the most minerals-intensive time in history, which calls for faster permitting processes.
• E&E Greenwire reports the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources appealed the ruling that rejected permits for the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine.

Coal:

• Argus reports legislation in Virginia threatens to force the retirement of nearly all its coal plants in the next five years.
• Argus reports more U.S. coal plants are likely to close in the coming years according to Wood Mackenzie.
• Axios reports Delta Airlines is spending $1 billion over the next decade to go carbon neutral.
• S&P Global reports a bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would expand tax credit for carbon capture projects.

Renewables:

• The Casper Star Tribune reports Wyoming lawmakers have proposed a bill that would penalize utilities that rely on renewable sources of energy.

NEPA:

• Politico Pro reports the Southern Environmental Law Center asked a federal court to block CEQ from advancing its proposed changes to NEPA.

In the news today…

Minerals:

• The Salt Lake Tribune reports the U.S. uranium industry would benefit from the proposed uranium reserves in the White House budget.

Coal:

• The Associated Press reports Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon advocated for stopping the closure of coal plants during his State of the State address.
• E&E Greenwire reports mines Murray Energy had originally separated from its bankruptcy have now filed for Chapter 11 relief.
• Inside Climate News reports a push to revive coal mining in Tennessee, particularly on land designated as unfit to mine by the Obama administration.
• Argus reports wind generation outpaced coal-fired power in ERCOT for the fourth straight month in January.
• The Grand Forks Herald carries an op-ed by Michael D. Mann, executive director of the Institute for Energy Studies at UND’s College of Engineering and Mines, in which he advocates for the value of coal-fired generation and the necessity of more efficient, cleaner coal power plants through the Coal FIRST initiative.

Carbon Capture:

• E&E Daily reports Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said the guidance for utilizing a carbon capture and sequestration tax credit will be issued within weeks.
• The Wall Street Journal reports growing popularity for carbon capture and efforts by oil corporations to cut the costs and energy requirements of carbon capture.

FERC:

• Politico Pro and E&E Daily report the White House renominated James Danly to FERC.

EPA:

• Inside EPA reports EPA’s latest analysis of TRI data shows that total disposal fell by 9 percent between 2007 and 2018; EPA’s new interactive graphic on metal mines and TRI is referenced.

Happy Lincoln’s Birthday!

In the news today…

Coal:

• WBOI reports the Indiana NAACP is calling on lawmakers to reject a bill which keeps coal plants open longer due to the negative health impacts on low-income and minority communities.
• FOX9 reports many coal plants are left to run while in the red, passing costs onto consumers.
• Axios reports Dominion Energy vowed to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 through moving away from coal and investing in technology like carbon capture.
• S&P Global reports EIA expects U.S. coal output to fall 13.7% in 2020.

Renewables:

• The Associated Press reports Virginia lawmakers passed sweeping legislation to bring Virginia to 100% renewable energy by 2050.

Mining:

• E&E Greenwire reports a federal judge ruled the Fish and Wildlife Service must redo an endangered species analysis to approve the Rosemont Copper project in Arizona.
• E&E Greenwire reports Twin Pines Minerals has withdrawn a request to mine near the Okefenokee Swamp, but plans to reapply with a proposal for a smaller project.
• E&E News PM reports the Army Corps of Engineers circulated a preliminary final environmental impact statement for the Pebble mine project which suggests the mine will be able to move forward.
• E&E Daily reports Rep. McCollum asked USDA Inspector General Phyllis Fong to help press the Forest Service to respond to her request for documents in her case to ban mining near Boundary Waters.

NEPA:

• E&E News PM reports House Democrats introduced a resolution opposing proposed changes to NEPA.

EPA:

• E&E Greenwire reports five environmental groups are suing EPA, alleging that it hasn’t met Clean Air Act requirements under Good Neighbor plans.

In the news today…

Coal:

• Argus reports the Indiana House of Representatives approved a bill that would require the state’s utility commission to review any proposed coal-fired power plant retirements.
• Utility Dive carries an op-ed in which the author argues that Indiana’s new law, which requires review before a coal-fired power plant can be retired, benefits no one.
• Utility Dive reports Xcel Energy is changing the operations of its coal fleet, with a goal of reaching 100 percent carbon-free power by 2050.
• Argus reports a U.S. court order to review the protection status of a bat species could affect surface coal mining projects in the eastern part of the country.
• E&E Energywire reports the closure of a North Carolina coal plant last week is fueling a debate about the benefits of natural gas as a replacement.

Emissions:

• Wisconsin State Journal reports lawmakers have introduced a state bill that would require utility regulators to consider the social costs of carbon emissions when evaluating new power plants and transmission lines.
• Inside EPA reports industry groups are warning EPA that provisions in its proposed Clean Air Act new source review rule are unclear and could have unintended harmful consequences.

In the news today…

Coal:

• NPR Illinois: Springfield utility officials claim keeping the city’s coal plant running will require millions of dollars.
• Utility Dive: Dairyland Power Cooperative will retire its 345MW coal plant in 2021 following approval of a new natural gas plant.
• Navajo Times: The Navajo Transitional Energy Company has denied news reports stating the company is behind on federal and county taxes.
• NPR: Hopi tribal members face a lack of coal fuel since the mine they had relied on closed last fall.
• Argus: Alliance Resource Partners expects production to fall by 9 percent this year in response to weak domestic and international demand.

Mining:

• E&E Daily: House Democrats are insisting the Forest Service reverse a decision allowing Midas Gold Corp. to self-review a proposed gold project in Idaho.
• Associated Press: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed designating habitat areas for two protected crayfish species in the coalfields of Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia.
• Appalachian News Express: Kentucky Division of Mine Safety has revoked permits from and ordered the closure of four of American Resources Corporation mines, citing permit violations.
• Argus: A U.S. bankruptcy court will hear an update next month on the dispute over compensation of mining shovels between FM Coal and Komatsu Mining.

NEPA:

• E&E Greenwire: Environmental groups and congressional Democrats are asking for the comment period for proposed changes to NEPA to be extended six more months.

EPA:

• Inside EPA: EPA staff’s ISA that examines the health effects of PM is making few changes from the proposed version criticized by agency science advisers.
• Inside EPA: The Science Advisory Board has dropped the consideration of ‘co-benefits’ from the MATS rollback report.

Electric Vehicles:

• Detroit Free Press: GM commits to $2.2 billion investment and 2,200 jobs at Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant to make it a state-of-the-art facility building electric and self-driving cars.

Climate:

• InsideClimate News: The U.S. Supreme Court may be the final stop for state and local lawsuits seeking climate damages from oil and gas companies.

In the news today and from the weekend…

Coal:

• Energy News Network reports a utility in Michigan is running coal plants even when cheaper resources are available, costing customers tens of millions of dollars a year.
• E&E Greenwire reports many coal companies, notably the Navajo Transitional Energy Co., owe massive royalties, which could leave taxpayers footing the bill for reclamation activity.
• S&P Global reports the finance world is increasingly considering environmental, social and governance factors in its investments, making it difficult for coal to find its place.

Mining:

• Juneau Empire reports Gov. Mike Dunleavy told the mining industry Alaska is open for business during an annual mining conference in British Columbia.
• Mining.com reports Newmont Goldcorp has earned a ‘B’ in the Carbon Disclosure Project’s climate change assessment.

FERC:

• Argus reports Bernard McNamee plans to step down from FERC later this year but has expressed willingness to stay in order to maintain the commission’s three-member voting quorum.

Carbon Capture:

• E&E Energywire reports DOE and the U.S. Energy Association will tour the U.S. this spring and summer on a carbon capture “roadshow” to bring together relevant parties to “hammer out solutions.”
• E&E Energywire reports Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon acknowledged that climate change is a man-made problem and suggests carbon capture technology as a possible solution.

Climate:

• Forbes reports the inconvenient facts surrounding the Australian bush fires-namely, according to the latest research looking at the issue, the role of human-caused climate change in Australian bush fires has not yet been detected.

In the news today…

FERC:

• The Lansing State Journal (MI) 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 MOPR to level the playing field in electricity markets.

Solar:

• The Milwaukee Independent reports Milwaukee’s solar group-buying program had its most successful year yet in 2019 with 48 homeowners adding installations.
• AdVantage reports a southern Illinois school district is moving forward with solar installations at multiple schools that are expected to cut electricity costs.
• Park Hills Daily Journal reports a solar project installed two years ago in eastern Missouri is working as city officials expected.

Coal:

• Mining Technology reports major mining companies are moving away from coal.
• Energy News Network reports Ohio nuclear and coal subsidies could cost ratepayers more than $1 billion per year.
• The Terre Haute Tribune-Star reports Hoosier Energy announced plans to close the Merom Generating Station, a coal-fired plant, by 2023.
• Gillette News Record reports the University of Wyoming includes funds in their budget to build a coal-fired power plant which only emits water and carbon dioxide.
• E&E Energywire reports Arizona Public Service Co. announced it will generate all its power from carbon-free sources by 2050 and could be coal-free by 2035.
• E&E Daily reports EDA, which supports struggling coal communities, is one of the federal agencies the White House is trying to kill.
• The Associated Press reports a proposal to make it more difficult to close Indiana coal-fired power plants advances, but faces objections from consumer and environmental groups.

Minerals:

• Politico Pro reports USA Rare Earth is seeking to restart a domestic supply chain for rare earths.

Mining:

• The Washington Times (DC) carries an op-ed from William Shughart, the research director at the Independent Institute, that takes the environmental movement to task for opposing the mining that produces the essential materials for green energy technology.

In the news today and from the weekend…

Mining:

• Inside EPA, Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly and North of 60 Mining News report hardrock mining and land revitalization projects have been added to the list of sectors that are automatically eligible for FPISC’s fast-track process under FAST-41.
• The Salt Lake Tribune reports the White Mesa uranium mill in Utah has laid off a third of its workforce.
• Mining.com reports Lithium Americas Corp’s Nevada mine has moved closer to receiving the necessary permits and could get final permits to build by 2021.

Coal:

• Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that Xcel Energy is proposing to run two of its four coal generators just part time to save ratepayers money and reduce carbon emissions.
• The Salt Lake Tribune and US News and World Report report coal mining, while important to the local economy, can have detrimental effects on the environment, specifically water quality.
• Utility Dive reports Indiana has introduced a bill that would restrict utilities from reducing their coal plants’ generation unless mandated by the federal government.
• The Associated Press reports Illinois approved the first of three permits for a coal company’s plan to discharge waste water from its mine into the Big Muddy River.

Supreme Court:

• Business Insider reports on the life of Supreme Court Justice John Roberts Jr.

Carbon Capture:

• Axios reports Microsoft has pledged to become carbon negative in 10 years by creating a $1 billion fund to accelerate the global development of carbon reduction, capture and removal technologies.

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.