In the news today and from the weekend…
Coal:
- The New York Times reports a federal judge ruled that the Interior Department acted illegally when it sought to lift an Obama-era moratorium on coal mining on public lands.
- E&E Energywire reports the Trump administration must make an environmental analysis before it can lift the Obama-era moratorium on coal leasing on public lands.
- The San Francisco Chronicle reports Montana state regulators have given final approval to a 70 million ton expansion of a southeastern coal mine, the Rosebud mine, that provides fuel to the Colstrip power plant.
- The Commercial Property Executive reports coal-fired power plants are coming to an end because the cost of renewables has dropped below the cost of coal-fired generation.
- CNN reports Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is still planning to visit Kentucky to talk to coal miners despite being uninvited by Rep. Andy Barr.
- Idaho State Journal carries an op-ed in which they state electricity from coal is on the decline and argue there are cleaner and less expensive sources of energy.
- The Cap Times carries a letter to the editor in which the author argues that Madison Gas and Electric should move away from coal and towards renewables.
- InsideEPA reports new research which suggests coal energy is becoming increasingly uncompetitive with renewable power.
EPA:
- InsideEPA reports industries are urging for greater narrowing of the Clean Water Act jurisdiction standard by placing new limits on regulating “traditional navigable waters”. NMA is mentioned.
- InsideEPA reports mounting evidence that carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is becoming increasingly advanced, which poses a problem for the EPA’s attempt to no longer base its greenhouse gas targets for new coal plants on CCS with partial capture. NMA’s comments are quoted.
- E&E Greenwire reports former EPA administrator Scott Pruitt registered with the Indiana Lobby Registration Commission as a self-employed consultant with RailPoint Solutions LLC, where he will lobby on energy and natural resources issues.
Climate:
- The Washington Post reports an Alabama plant is among the first carbon capture projects to begin sucking carbon dioxide out of the air.
- Axios reports a new study from the University of Chicago which finds that renewable energy mandates raise the price of electricity significantly, up to 17 percent after 12 years.
- S&P Global Platts reports the Virginia State Air Pollution Control Board approved a regulation to reduce and cap carbon dioxide emissions from large fossil fuel-fired power plants.
- The Associated Press reports Americans burned a record amount of energy in 2018, with a 10 percent jump in consumption.