In the news today…
Coal:
- The Associated Press reports the federal funds for black lung treatments are being drained due to inaction by Congress through tax cuts.
- Australia’s Mining Monthly reports that Peabody Energy CEO Glenn Kellow sees technology as the key to coal’s future.
- Yellowhammer reports the met coal industry is booming and essential to the economic success of Alabama’s Port of Mobile.
- The Daily Sentinel reports a federal agency has approved a proposal to let the West Elk Mine produce coal from beneath 1,700 acres of national forest roadless acreage in the North Fork Valley, Colorado.
- Gillette News-Record reports the U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta toured coal-mine sites and praised the industry, making statements on how to best achieve sustained growth in mining.
- E&E Energywire reports the Trump administration may invoke the Defense Protection Act to keep coal plants alive in order to promote grid resilience in the marketplace.
- The Casper Star Tribune reports Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon vetoed a coal export terminal bill due to concerns over the Legislature’s ability to pursue independent legislation.
- Washington Examiner Daily on Energy reports 19 states are opposing EPA on the roll-back of Obama-era emission rules for new coal plants which requires new plants to include carbon capture technologies.
Carbon Capture:
- E&E Energywire reports the Department of Energy is pushing IRS to release guidance which would promote tax incentives for the carbon capture, utilization and storage industry.
- E&E Climatewire reports President Trump’s top economic adviser Ken Hassett holds that a carbon tax would be an effective way to address greenhouse gas emissions.
Fossil Fuels:
- Greentech Media reports thirty-three banks invested a combined $1.9 trillion in fossil fuel companies since 2015, the year of the Paris climate accord.
FERC:
- PoliticoPro reports the White House has dropped plans to nominate David Hill to a seat on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission after pressure from Energy Secretary Rick Perry and from major coal companies headed by allies of President Donald Trump.
EPA:
- InsideEPA reports industry groups are pushing for a decision on the legality of the Clean Water Act’s WOTUS rule in order to better define “waters of the United States” and end the patchwork of policies on the law’s reach.
- InsideEPA reports small business groups support the EPA’s plan to narrow the Clean Water Act’s reach but lack consensus on whether the agency’s proposal achieves that goal, with some urging for major changes to provide greater clarity.
World News:
- The Financial Times reports the first deep coal mine in the UK for more than 30 years was given the go-ahead on March 19.