In the news today…
Coal:
- The Billings Gazette and Colorado Sun re-run the article by Associated Press concerning the conclusion by officials that lifting the coal leasing moratorium would have little effect on emissions.
- Inside EPA reports the Bureau of Land Management has begun a NEPA review of its decision to end the coal leasing moratorium; in a May 22 draft environmental assessment it concluded that lifting the lease moratorium would have a negligible effect on emissions.
- Axios reports coal could be used to make high-tech products in a new route to boost the coal industry, according to a report commissioned by the DOE.
- E&E Greenwire reports Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) revived her bill to block future interruptions of federal coal leasing by requiring Congress to sign off on any attempt by the Interior Department to halt coal leasing.
- NPR reports new opportunities for transitioning retired coal plants to other uses.
- The Billings Gazette reports Westmoreland Mining LLC is asking the state of Montana reconsider before allowing Colstrip Power Plant to buy coal from another supplier as the loss would put hundreds of mining jobs at stake.
- E&E News PM reports House Natural Resources Chairman Grijalva wrote three letters to the Interior Department, one of which urged for a full environmental impact statement to review the decision to end the coal leasing moratorium.
- The Columbus Dispatch reports the new version of a clean energy bill would bail out two coal plants in Ohio.
- E&E Energywire reports the Ohio clean air bill which provides subsidies for a pair of coal plants was approved in committee on Thursday and makes its way to the House floor.
- Bloomberg reports the Sierra Club and Charles Koch both hate an Ohio bill to take away renewable subsidies and give them to coal and nuclear plants.
- The Hill reports presidential candidate Julian Castro declared he will refuse contributions to his White House bid by oil, gas and coal industry executives.
Mining:
- E&E Climatewire reports BHP Group, with a pessimistic outlook on coal, is looking towards other options such as copper and nickel sulfide.
White House:
- E&E Greenwire reports the Council on Environmental Quality is expecting a fast White House review process as it prepares to release new rules on how the federal government should implement the National Environmental Policy Act.
Carbon Capture:
- The Washington Examiner reports presidential candidate John Delaney has released a $4 trillion plan to fight climate change, which includes $5 billion a year to reduce the cost of carbon capture technology and a $20 billion “carbon throughway” pipeline.
- E&E Daily reports the Senate version of the annual defense authorization bill includes a provision to boost the military’s energy security through carbon capture technology.
World News:
- E&E Energywire reports more and more of Asia’s biggest banks are no longer providing loans or extending credit to new coal-fired power plants, posing long-term challenges to exporters in the U.S.