In the news today…
Mining:
- Mining.com reports officials from President Joe Biden’s administration warned leaders of the US clean energy transition this week to decarbonize quickly and keep the supply chain out of China’s control.
- E&E Daily reports the House Natural Resources Committee on Thursday approved a Republican-authored permitting and energy bill with no Democratic support.
- Politico Pro reports House Republicans on the Natural Resource Committee advanced legislation Thursday designed to boost energy production on federal lands, streamline mining permitting and overhaul the National Environmental Policy Act process, sending a key piece of of the GOP’s broader energy package to the floor.
Minerals:
- PoliticoPro reports the United States and the European Union plan to launch talks Friday on a critical minerals agreement that will allow EU manufacturers to qualify for more electric vehicle subsidies under the Inflation Reduction Act, a senior administration official told reporters.
- E&E Climatewire reports the U.S. and the European Union will likely launch negotiations on Friday for a new critical minerals agreement aimed at reducing their dependence on China and bolstering the clean energy transition.
- E&E Daily reports Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Joe Manchin blasted White House senior adviser John Podesta on Thursday for asserting that China and Chinese companies will benefit from a surge of money under the Inflation Reduction Act.
Coal:
- Argus reports US thermal coal exports rose from year-earlier levels in January for the first time in five months as shipments to Europe held near a four-year high.
- Wall Street Journal reports some major coal-exporting countries are reaping the benefits of higher demand for the fossil fuel after sharply raising levies on miners with plans to direct the windfall to everything from hospitals to roads, welfare programs to power-system upgrades.
- Wall Street Journal carries an op-ed which argues coal has kept the lights on in Germany.
WOTUS:
- E&E Daily reports House lawmakers voted Thursday to head off the Biden administration’s signature water policy, possibly clearing the way for what could be the president’s second veto this year.
- Politico Pro reports the House voted 227-198, largely along party lines, to nullify a contentious Biden administration water rule defining which streams and wetlands get federal protection.