In the news today…
Coal:
- Washington Examiner reports Secretary Perry said Thursday that clean coal technology and nuclear power are the way to reduce emissions and face down global warming, and technologies such as carbon capture are necessary to achieve these goals.
- E&E Greenwire reports Secretary Rick Perry announced $24 million in research grants for carbon capture technologies, which he said would allow the country to continue to produce coal and natural gas “with near-zero emissions.”
- Argus reports US coal will remain a swing export supplier in the global market, but higher cost and logistical challenges will likely cap participation.
- Argus reports a tight supply may support US coal demand, but producers may be forced to trim production.
- Forbes reports scientists have developed a method to pull CO2 from the air and turn it into coal.
- E&E Climatewire and the Associated Press report the Navajo Generating Station (NGS) coal plant is moving forward with plans to close the facility this year as efforts for the Navajo Transitional Energy Company to take over come to an impasse. The Trump administration has fought for the plant in its efforts to revive the coal industry.
Power Grid:
- E&E Energywire reports an Illinois bill would set a 100 percent renewable energy goal by 2050, would direct the Illinois EPA to establish rules to regulate carbon emissions and aims to slash tailpipe emissions by incentivizing electric vehicle adoption.
EPA:
- E&E Greenwire reports the Senate has confirmed EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.
Green New Deal:
- The Hill reports Senate Democrats introduced a joint resolution Thursday meant to unify the party around a common climate change plan as Republicans seek to rip the party over the “Green New Deal.”