In the news today…
Minerals:
- The Associated Press reports that the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request for an emergency injunction to block the construction of the proposed Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada, the largest mine in the country and the third-largest known lithium deposit in the world. The court will review claims from state conservationists and tribes that the federal government rushed to illegally approve the mine in an effort to produce raw materials for electric vehicle batteries.
Grid:
- Politico reports that the Biden administration plan to protect U.S. infrastructure from cyberattacks is more regulations. The new national cyber strategy will also take steps to defend forward against adversaries, and updates plans for responding to major attacks.
- WOOD-TV8 reports that Landowners have raised concerns about Consumers Energy’s plan to improve grid reliability with a new 20-mile transmission line in southwestern Michigan.
- Utility Dive reports that a utility regulator group explores how states can encourage utilities to build more flexible power grids through performance-based ratemaking.
Coal:
- Iowa State Daily reports that Iowa State University’s coal plant prepares to burn through its last shipment of coal as it converts to run on natural gas.