In the news today…
Climate:
- The Washington Post and E&E Climatewire report coal emissions globally are on the rise; in 2018 emissions grew at the fastest rate since 2013.
- The Washington Post reports global greenhouse gas emissions tied to energy use hit a record high of 33.1 billion tons in 2018, growing by 1.7 percent, according to a report from the IEA. Fossil fuels powered 70 percent of global electricity demand last year, and carbon dioxide emissions from coal plants worldwide surpassed 10 billion tons for the first time, the report said.
- Politico reports House Democrats intend to release legislation tomorrow to demand that the United States devise a plan to meet the emissions-curbing commitments of the Paris climate agreement, according to five sources.
Energy:
- E&E Energywire reports Irving, a Texas-based Energy Corp., is behind legislation to help redevelop central and southern Illinois coal plants into utility-scale solar and energy storage.
Coal:
- E&E Energywire reports South Carolina lawmakers and utilities are fighting over the future of the coal fleet in the Southeast.
- Argus reports Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy supplier, is seeking state approval to eliminate coal-fired generation while increasing renewable energy generation and reducing carbon emissions by 2040.
- Utility Dive reports a majority of coal plants are vulnerable to replacement by local wind and solar power alternatives, particularly in the Southeast.
- The Casper Star Tribune reports Wyoming’s largest coal mines are likely to see reduced production in 2019.
- The New York Times carries a letter to the editor in which the reader argues that miners can be transitioned into work restoring the land around coal mines.
- The Houston Chronicle reports Indiana is getting about $8.1 million in federal funding to help clean up and re-purpose abandoned coal mines.
- Bloomberg reports Vietnam’s plans for $7.8 billion in gas-fired power plants may see the nation become one of the world’s newest liquefied natural gas importers and cut its coal use.
EPA:
- InsideEPA reports groups from the oil and utility sectors support EPA’s proposal to no longer set greenhouse gas limits for new coal plants based on carbon capture and sequestration (CCS).
- Bloomberg Environment reports EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler has formally recused himself from the ongoing Pebble Mine permitting process.
- InsideEPA reports the Trump administration is proposing to increase the budget for EPA’s toxics office as it works to implement the reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
- Argus reports two states, New Mexico and Michigan, are seeking to withdraw lawsuits challenging the implementation of the 2015 Waters of the U.S. rule.