In the news today…
Electric Vehicles:
- Real Clear Energy carries an op-ed from Retired Major General Robert Ratliff, in which he argues that the future of EVs and other green technologies is promising but our import reliance on the critical minerals that are their foundation poses serious strategic and economic risks.
Coal:
- E&E News PM reports the Trump administration plans to advance two coal mine expansions in Colorado and New Mexico.
- Billings Gazette reports Republican lawmakers in Montana have filed new legislation preventing a South Dakota utility from charging its customers more than $40 million for the operating costs of a troubled coal-fired power plant it hopes to buy for $1.
- Casper Star Tribune reports the fate of a coal export bill that gives Wyoming lawmakers the option to hire private lawyers to sue Washington State remains uncertain.
- PoliticoPro reports the coal industry is feeling pressure from the divestment movement.
- Bloomberg reports Vistra CEO Curtis Morgan stating the end of fossil fuels, as covered at CERAWeek.
EPA:
- E&E Greenwire reports EPA has announced three long-term goals for cleaning up the Bonita Peak Mining District Superfund site in southwestern Colorado.
Green New Deal:
- Axios reports Top House Republicans are urging Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to hold hearings on the Green New Deal as they seek to cast the progressive policy as bad for poor Americans.
- The Hill reports Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) set a procedural vote on the Green New Deal resolution in the chamber for the week of March 25. The bill would need 60 votes to move forward, which is not seen as likely through its lack of Republican support and a plan by Democrats to vote “present” on the resolution.
Electric Grid:
- E&E Energywire reports operators of the nation’s electric power networks are struggling to catch up with changing generation and fuel sources, technologies, and threats.
- The Washington Examiner reports FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee is assessing whether the grid has resiliency as it transitions into renewables.
Energy:
- Argus reports the U.S. Department of Energy is offering up to $30 million in funding for research projects studying carbon capture systems at coal and natural gas plants.
- Utility Dive carries an article which purports a clean energy system, including the use of carbon capture and sequestration, will be much cheaper than a system based entirely on renewables.
- Utility Dive reports Kansas City pledges a carbon-free government by next year.
- Wisconsin State Journal reports Madison Gas & Electric has successfully rejected a resolution from its shareholders to transition away from coal and be on 100% renewable energy by 2050.