In the news today…
Grid:
- Kansas Reflector reports that Ameren Missouri supports state legislation giving it first rights to build transmission lines after opposing a similar bill in Kansas that would have prevented it from competing for projects with local utilities in that state.
- Utility Dive reports that a transmission link between Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland would not trigger FERC jurisdiction, the agency declares. The clarification could affect Alternative Transmission’s proposed undersea cable project that aims to bolster Puerto Rico’s grid.
Coal:
- Washington Examiner reports coal and natural gas interests are locked in an existential cage match over which fuel source is best positioned to stop the bleeding as regulators at FERC and NERC warn about diminishing grid reliability.
- Argus reports a coal miner died and others were injured in two separate incidents at Alliance Resource Partners’ Hamilton coal mine in southern Illinois on 18 March.
Minerals:
- E&E Climatewire reports lithium is critical to the production of batteries for electric vehicles, but the United States mines very little of the mineral compared to countries such as China or Chile. California Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to change that.
- Casper Star Tribune reports the company digging for critical minerals in southeastern Wyoming is becoming more and more confident that it’s found the biggest known deposit of rare earth elements in North America.