In the news today…
Energy Prices:
- The Lansdale Reporter (PA), the Colorado Springs Gazette (CO) and the Delaware County Times (PA) carry an op-ed from Matthew Kandrach, president of Consumer Action for a Strong Economy (CASE), who argues that California’s mandates for renewable energy are driving up electricity prices.
Coal:
- The Gillette News Record reports disruptions in the energy sector in Wyoming could affect the growth of state tax revenues.
- The Associated Press reports a federal appeals court has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit aimed at shutting down a coal-fired power plant and adjacent mine near the Arizona-New Mexico border.
- S&P Global reports U.S. electric utilities will boost capital spending as the industry continues to shift away from coal and toward natural gas and renewable energy.
- Energy News Network reports PJM is proposing to open its long-range capacity market to energy storage projects, but only to batteries which can store power for 10 or more hours, which the industry says will weaken battery competition against peak fossil fuel plants.
- Argus reports Peabody Energy coal sales fell by 8.6 percent in the second quarter.
- E&E Energywire reports top attorneys for California and New Mexico have asked to get involved in a new lawsuit from industry groups to scrap the 2017 Valuation Rule.
- E&E Energywire reports West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has approved a tax break for a struggling coal-fired power plant.
- The Washington Post reports an auction is scheduled for today, Thursday, for the assets of bankrupt coal operator Blackjewel LLC.
EPA:
- E&E News PM reports former EPA staffer and coal advocate Christian Palich has been hired to the Interior Department as senior adviser at OSMRE.
- Inside EPA reports Democratic attorneys general are urging EPA to withdraw controversial guidance on how states can place water quality conditions on federally approved permits.
Election 2020:
- The Washington Post reports some Democratic presidential candidates are still accepting donations from fossil fuel sources even after pledging not to.
World News:
- Carbon Brief reports CO2 emissions in China may peak up to a decade earlier than the nation pledged under the Paris Agreement, according to a new study.