In the news today and from the weekend…
Coal:
- E&E Climatewire reports the Interior department claims the coal moratorium was only a “pause”, so to restart coal leasing would only change the timing of emissions, not their cumulative impact.
- Minnesota Public Radio reports Xcel Energy wants to close its remaining coal-burning plants by 2030, including the Sherco Generation Station, which is a major source of economy for the city of Becker.
- E&E Energywire reports an Ohio House committee voted to approve a revised ‘clean air’ bill that would provide aid for nuclear and coal plants while slashing support for renewables.
- Morning Consult carries an op-ed which states coal use in the US is in free fall due to market factors, even though the Trump administration continues to support the use of coal.
Climate:
- The New York Times reports President Trump is rolling back efforts to curb greenhouse-gas emissions by changing the method of research within government agencies, scaling back projected climate models from 2100 to 2040.
World News:
- Axios reports Great Britain has gone close to 11 days without using coal in its electricity mix, signaling the region’s relatively fast movement away from coal.