In the news today…
Mining:
- S&P Global reports metals and mining companies are facing rising pressure to address their greenhouse gas emissions as some align their plans with international goals to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
- E&E News PM reports the Trump administration declared mining an “essential” industry during the coronavirus pandemic, but some usual safety measures have been sidelined to accommodate social distancing.
- E&E Daily reports House Democrats are poised to vote on an amendment to block the proposed Pebble mine in Alaska but won’t consider a controversial pipeline plan when a second package of fiscal 2021 spending bills hits the floor this week.
Coal:
- Washington Post reports coal has had a bad year but is still essential in certain regions.
- MinnPost reports Minnesota’s largest utilities are planning to phase out most of their coal-fired plants by the end of the decade.
- Wyoming Public Media and E&E Greenwire report the Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC) announced it will be hiring back 73 furloughed employees.
- E&E Greenwire reports top coal operators mining on public land won’t receive royalty relief to help with impacts from the coronavirus pandemic.
- Argus reports Arch Resources will likely continue to shift away from thermal coal regardless of the outcome of its proposed joint venture with Peabody Energy for western US assets.
- Argus reports US coal producer Rhino Resource Partners has warned employees that it may lay off workers as the company plans to sell its assets through Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection proceedings within 60 days.
Carbon Capture/Removal Technology:
- Washington Examiner reports the Department of Energy’s top fossil fuel official is backing calls to extend federal tax credits for carbon capture technologies amid project delays and financing challenges due to the pandemic.
- Washington Examiner reports Murkowski, along with Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, is introducing new legislation to support carbon removal technologies.
Minerals:
- Washington Examiner reports Senate Republicans’ latest pandemic relief bill, which Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other top GOP senators unveiled Monday, includes Senate Energy Committee-led efforts to boost domestic production of critical minerals.
- Mining.com reports the U.S. is having difficulty handling its reliance on China for rare earth minerals.
- Bloomberg Green reports metals and mining are a critical part of the future of clean energy, and that’s triggering major shifts in a historically dirty industry.