Good Monday morning!
In the news today and from the weekend…
Media Alert:
- Thanks to the Harrisburg Patriot News (Pa.), Casper Star Tribune (Wyo.), Wheeling Intelligencer (W.Va.) and Las Vegas Sun (Nev.) For carrying my new op-ed where I urge Congress and the states to push back on EPA’s misguided agenda to prematurely close coal-fired power plants that are needed for grid reliability.
Grid:
- Bloomberg reports that suddenly several big power-line projects in the US are moving ahead, bringing with them a flood of potential wind and solar power.
Congress:
- Politico reports that House Republicans are aiming to pass an energy package by the last week of March, almost three months after the GOP narrowly secured the majority in the chamber. The package, which contains about 20 bills and so far has broad support in committee, includes more support for oil and gas drilling on federal lands and an overhaul of the permitting review system under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Coal:
- E&E Energywire reports West Virginia is at an impasse over how much to run some of its largest coal-fired power plants, with implications for carbon emissions and the future of coal in the eastern United States.
- E&E Climatewire reports one of the world’s largest banks plans to slash the planet-warming emissions associated with its investments in thermal coal mining by a whopping 90 percent over the next seven years.
Minerals:
- E&E Daily reports the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is set to discuss issues with fueling the nation’s nuclear reactors during a hearing this week, as larger Capitol Hill discussions linger to potentially bolster the domestic uranium industry.
- E&E Greenwire reports what could become the nation’s largest lithium mine broke ground in Nevada this week, positioning the political swing state as a likely leader in pumping out battery minerals critical for making electric vehicles and meeting President Joe Biden’s climate goals.
World News:
- E&E Energywire reports China signaled coal will retain its role as the country’s mainstay fuel even as the government continues to support the expansion of its world-leading clean energy industry.