In the news today and from the weekend…
Congress:
- E&E Daily reports Senator Murkowski’s energy package is expected to be released this week.
Mining:
- The Associated Press reports the U.S. Interior Department has published a new set of environmental studies to clarify steps the government will take to conserve sage grouse habitat, bolstering the case for easing restrictions for mining on federal lands.
Minerals:
- Mining.com reports researchers in Japan have found a method to create hydrogen in a process using cobalt.
- Mining.com reports Bitterroot Resources and Below Exploration have entered into a joint venture agreement on a nickel-copper-platinum-palladium project in Michigan.
- Wired reports a lack of cobalt is bottle-necking electric vehicle production as the industry cannot produce enough batteries without sufficient resources.
- E&E Energywire reports Bill Gates is investing in a mining company that promises a better way to extract lithium for batteries to support electric vehicle production.
Coal:
- Mining.com reports no response has been made yet to the lawsuit filed over the proposed Millennium bulk coal export terminal.
- Argus reports Southern Company’s coal-fired generation dropped by nearly 19 percent last year, with more cuts planned in the future.
- Argus reports Paringa Resources’ US subsidiary is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is planning to sell its Kentucky mines.
- E&E Daily reports House lawmakers will hold a hearing this week on the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund.
- E&E Energywire reports ISO New England will keep the 482-megawatt Merrimack Station online through May 2024.
Trade:
- Bloomberg reports White House trade adviser Peter Navarro says the coronavirus crisis shows that the U.S. has off-shored too much of its supply chain.