In the news today and from the weekend…
Coal:
- Utility Dive carries an op-ed which argues that closing power plants, including coal power plants, can be more costly and riskier than opening them.
- The Washington Examiner reports the Joe Biden campaign has clarified Biden’s stance on fossil fuels; he will eliminate subsidies and deploy carbon capture and sequestration technology.
- E&E Greenwire reports miners who are protesting on the train tracks in Harlan County are criticizing Senator Mitch McConnell, saying he’s not pro-coal.
- CNN reports protesting miners in Harlan County call on President Trump to support their fight for payment.
- The Associated Press reports Contura Energy has successfully bid on the assets of three Blackjewel coal mines, subject to approval by a federal bankruptcy judge.
- Bloomberg reports Trump officials are still pushing to bail-out coal-fired power plants.
EPA:
- Inside EPA reports the EPA General Counsel is strongly defending the agency’s “bold” legal interpretation of its ACE rule.
- E&E Climatewire reports EPA’s ACE rule will be lambasted as a public health issue in court by environmental groups.
- E&E News PM reports the Trump administration will not craft a formal rule reinterpreting the scope of the Clean Water Act until after the Supreme Court weighs in on the issue in County of Maui v. Hawai’I Wildlife Fund.
Carbon Capture:
- NM Political Report reports Enchant Energy, the company that plans to turn the San Juan Generating Station into the world’s largest carbon capture system, addressed criticisms and proposed that carbon capture offers the cost-effective, low-emission solution to keep the coal-fired power plant open.
Carbon Pricing:
- E&E Energywire reports New York’s grid operator is preparing to ask the FERC to approve a carbon pricing plan.
Renewables:
- Powerline carries a post by John Hinderaker, in which he reports that wind energy is collapsing in Germany.