In the news today…
SOTU:
- Global Mining Review and World Coal Magazine carry new polling from Morning Consult, which found that U.S. voters want to see government action on a number of issues key to the mining industry – from encouraging domestic mining to prioritizing investment in advanced coal technologies.
- The Hill, E&E Daily and the Washington Post report in his State of the Union address, President Trump avoided mention of coal, renewables and climate change, instead championing the United States’ position as the top oil and natural gas producer worldwide. Trump also declared the U.S. a net energy exporter, though the EIA has projected that the country will eventually become a net energy exporter by 2020.
Energy Policy:
- E&E Daily reports Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski set the tone at this year’s first Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, with new ranking member Joe Manchin in lockstep. Murkowski also took the opportunity yesterday to highlight her long-running concerns about the nation’s dependency on foreign minerals.
EPA:
- Washington Examiner reports the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved Andrew Wheeler on Tuesday to be administrator of the EPA, which he currently leads on an acting basis.
Coal:
- Washington Examiner reports Joe Manchin vowed Tuesday to be a constructive leader in helping combat climate change, but said coal will continue to have a role in the future.
Uranium:
- E&E Greenwire reports House Natural Resources Chairman Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee Chairman Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.) sent a letter demanding Energy Fuels Inc. and Ur-Energy Inc. turn over all documents related to their lobbying of the Trump administration.
Infrastructure:
- POLITICO Pro reports the Trump administration has moved to significantly cut the length of time states have to block energy infrastructure projects over concerns about their impact to water quality — potentially a first step in their effort to curtail states’ authority over pipelines, coal terminals and other infrastructure projects.