In the news today…
EPA:
- Inside EPA reports the comment period on the EPA’s proposed Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule ended on Wednesday night and a final rule from the EPA is expected later this year. Hal Quinn is quoted.
- E&E Energywire reports President Trump’s proposed Clean Power Plan replacement “wouldn’t stand a chance in court”, a coalition of attorneys general wrote this week. The chief legal officers of 19 states, all Democrats, on Wednesday laid out a detailed challenge of the Trump administration’s efforts to curb carbon dioxide emissions.
- Inside EPA reports National Bituminous Coal Group (NBCG), a coal industry coalition is warning EPA that it must scrap its Clean Air Act section 112 mercury and air toxics standards (MATS) for power plants before it can lawfully finalize its proposed section 111(d) Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) utility greenhouse gas rule, saying the air law prohibits regulation of utilities under both sections.
Coal:
- S&P Global Platts reports NERC has warned that an accelerated retirement of coal-fired and nuclear power plants over the next several years could lead to power outages, temporary shortfalls in surplus generation and transmission problems in several regions. As a result, grid operators may need to rely more heavily on special contracts that pay generators to remain online until those risks are abated.
- E&E Greenwire reports the Trump administration has put a request for mining 5 million tons of North Dakota coal on a fast track that has coal companies cheering and environmentalists contemplating legal action.
- Associated Press reports he Navajo Transitional Energy Company said it’s now considering ownership of the Navajo Generating Station at the invitation of the tribe. Clark Moseley, the company’s chief executive, said he expects to have a plan for the 2,250-megawatt plant in place by the end of the year.
Minerals:
- E&E News PM reports Minnesota regulators Thursday awarded a series of permits to PolyMet Mining Inc. 14 years after it proposed a major open-pit copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota.
- Reuters carries a column from Andy Home, in which he writes about our weakened industrial base and over reliance on imports of raw materials like metals.
Energy:
- Axios reports leading officials of the world’s biggest countries, fossil-fuel companies and finance banks are meeting later this month in Scotland for one of the largest-ever summits on technology capturing carbon dioxide emissions.
- Real Clear Energy carries a piece from David Holt, president of the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), in which he writes that improved regulatory policies and initiatives, improved technology and billions of dollars in investment has helped America continue its role as a world leader in energy conservation.