In the news today…
Coal:
- The Lexington Herald-Leader reports Blackjewel did not post a bond to cover the cost of paying its workers, as required by state law.
- WYMT reports former CEO of Blackjewel Jeff Hoops posted a letter to employees apologizing and explaining his side of the story for Blackjewel’s bankruptcy and promised half the money recovered would be distributed equally to employees harmed by the collapse of the company.
- Axios and the Washington Examiner report former Vice President Joe Biden suggested he would eliminate coal and natural gas in the debate, but his climate plan actually calls for use of carbon capture.
- The Casper Star Tribune reports Cloud Peak has requested to delay the auction and sales hearing of two Wyoming coal mines.
- E&E News PM reports the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association moved to intervene in litigation over the ACE rule.
- Mining.com reports Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sided with coal miners in Kentucky who are protesting due to lack of pay from Blackjewel.
- The Lexington Herald-Leader reports numerous politicians, including Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Amy McGrath, are supporting out-of-work Harlan County coal miners in their protests.
- Politico Pro, The Hill and Argus report EPA proposed changes to the New Source Review that would make it clear that power plant operators must use both projected emissions increases and decreases in the first step of determining whether planned major modifications will need a new permit.
- E&E Energywire reports the coal mining industry is challenging utilities to try and convince them that coal is a more reliable, cheaper option than renewables in order to keep coal units from closing.
- E&E Energywire reports a federal judge said he would not toss the Trump administration’s decision to restart federal coal leasing until BLM has a chance to complete its environmental review.
- S&P Global reports Arch Coal signed a three-year deal to supply at least 1.35 million st of Powder River Basin coal to Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities’ Trimble County Generation Station along the Ohio River.
- Kentucky Today reports Kentucky’s third coal mining fatality of the year occurred at the Paradise Mine in Central City.
Carbon Capture:
- The Farmington Daily Times reports PNM decided not to install carbon capture technology on the San Juan Generating Station because it was expensive and unproven, even though the city is trying to extend the life of the power plant through carbon capture.
World News:
- Axios reports solar costs have plummeted in South Asia and the Pacific, but coal is still king in the region.