Good Friday morning!
I’ve been out of pocket for a few days, so I haven’t been able to post. It’s good to be back online!
In the news today…
Coal:
- The Columbus Dispatch reports an advisory board which oversees Ohio’s coal-mining reclamation fund will look into a reinsurance policy to help shoulder the financial burden should one of the largest permit holders abandon its mine.
- Public News Service reports the RECLAIM Act will give coal communities $1 billion to clean up abandoned mines and boost local economies.
- Utility Dive reports the Sierra Club wants Arkansas regulators to direct SWEPCO to update and refile its IRP to include an economic analysis of shuttering the Dolet Hills coal plant.
- InsideEPA reports Republicans see no advantage to a coal visit with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; the previously offered invitation was taken back by Rep. Andy Barr.
- The Hill and Grist report the Mueller report reveals Russian social media accounts targeted U.S. division over the coal industry as part of its effort to sway the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
- Bloomberg reports global coal markets are up but American miners are still losing due to the competition with natural gas in the U.S.
- The Indianapolis Star reports former U.S. EPA head Scott Pruitt has registered as an energy lobbyist in Indiana as fossil fuel companies seek to block the planned closure of coal plants.
- MiBiz reports a proposed settlement between Consumers Energy and environmental groups would move up the closure of a large coal plant in Michigan.
- Argus reports environmental groups are suing the Interior Department in hopes of blocking Alton Coal Development from expanding its coal mine in Utah.
EPA:
- E&E News PM reports a coalition of 21 attorneys general submitted comments urging EPA not to withdraw the legal justification for its limits on power plant mercury emissions.
- InsideEPA reports a former EPA air chief warns environmentalists and Democratic states that they lack legal standing to challenge the rollback on MATS because they cannot show any injury from undoing the finding.