Good Monday morning! I hope everyone had a safe and relaxing weekend!
In the news today and from the weekend…
News from the Hill
- E&E reported that House and Senate leaders yesterday announced they had reached a deal on a $1.4 trillion fiscal 2021 spending omnibus, pandemic relief legislation and a number of major items that will ride along including: language from the “Water Resources Development Act of 2020;” directions for increased spending and the demonstration of a number of new technologies needed to help combat climate change, including carbon capture; an extension of the Black Lung Excise Tax; a delay of the phaseout schedule for the renewable and investment tax credits, with the PTC extended for one year and the ITC extended for two; and a two year extension of the Section 45Q carbon capture incentive; among other items.
Coal
- E&E reports on IEA’s projections that global demand for coal is projected to increase 2.6% next year due to rising consumption in Asia and an anticipated spike in electricity use worldwide.
- The Roanoke Times published an editorial about the shift in the Virginia Coal industry towards met coal.
Minerals
- The New York Times reports that, in its final days, the Trump administration is pushing through approvals of certain mining projects.
- The Minneapolis Star Tribune has a point, counterpoint examining both sides of the arguments around the Twin Metals mining project.
International News
- The New York Times reports that a coal shortage in China has the government rationing electricity for millions.