Happy President’s Day!
In the news today…
Coal:
- MiBiz reports a municipal utility in western Michigan prepares to retire a 70 MW coal plant, but questions remain over how it will add natural gas generation.
- Prairie Public News reports a utility seeks to add natural gas capacity while retiring two more coal units at a power plant near Bismarck, North Dakota.
- S&P Global reports nearly 20% of the coal delivered in the first three quarters of 2019 went to power plants that are set to close by 2025.
Renewables:
- Utility Dive reports U.S. renewable electricity capacity has doubled since 2010 while actual generation jumped 77% in that time, according to a new report.
Climate:
- Ohio Valley Resource reports that despite strong political support for the coal industry in West Virginia, state lawmakers are starting to pay attention to climate change.
EPA:
- The Hill reports that President Trump has nominated Douglas Benevento to serve as the deputy administrator of the EPA and Mark Menezes to take on the role as deputy Energy secretary. Benevento has worked for the EPA since 2017 and previously worked for Xcel Energy Inc., and Menezes has served as Energy under secretary since 2017 and previously worked as an executive at Berkshire Hathaway Energy.