In the news today…

Mining:

• National Journal reports the Biden administration is laying the groundwork for more domestic production of lithium and other metals that are pivotal to the emerging clean-energy economy.
• Charleston Gazette-Mail reports moments after West Virginia lawmakers received copies of an audit report warning that state mine cleanup funds are nearing insolvency, the Senate president sought to put the problem on someone else’s table.
• Metro News reports West Virginia lawmakers are aiming to draw down millions of federal dollars to help assuage the increasing possibility that mine reclamation costs could spiral out of control and swamp the state budget.

Coal:

• E&E Greenwire reports coal plant operators are moving to take advantage of a Trump administration rule that critics say allows continued dumping of toxic wastewater into local lakes and rivers.

• Utility Dive reports Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., offered a spirited defense of the nation’s coal-fired power plants Thursday at Edison Electric Institute’s 2021 conference.

Minerals:

• E&E Greenwire reports the Fish and Wildlife Service today announced Endangered Species Act protections for the beardless chinchweed, an Arizona plant potentially put at risk by the proposed Rosemont Copper mine.
• Politico Pro reports executives from a group of U.S. renewable energy companies urged Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Congress on Monday to help shore up the domestic lithium battery manufacturing supply chain so the U.S. does not lose out to China in the push to build a clean energy industry.

World News:

• Politico reports days of negotiations at the G7 leaders summit in Cornwall failed to set an end-date for coal after the U.S. and Japan blocked a deal.

In the news today…

Mining:

• Nevada Appeal reports Las Vegas is hosting its first big trade show since the start of the pandemic this week.
• E&E Greenwire reports EPA determined Friday that a proposed copper-nickel mine in Minnesota may pollute waters in Wisconsin and on a Native American reservation, a finding that could jeopardize a key permit for the long-planned PolyMet project.
• The Wall Street Journal reports mining companies are trying to tap into the flood of cash targeting green investments by touting their production of materials that go into wind turbines, power lines and batteries.

Minerals:

• Axios reports the White House is pledging a multi-agency push to spur more U.S. battery manufacturing and sustainable mining — both domestically and abroad — of raw materials used in battery tech.
• Quartz reports the global computer chips shortage that began worsening late last year has disrupted supply chains around the world, snarling production of everything from cars to phones to household appliances. And the rare earth industry is watching closely.

Coal:

• The State Journal Register reports a coalition of unions, utility officials and Democratic and Republican lawmakers from central and southern Illinois called on Gov. JB Pritzker and legislative leaders Friday to exempt nonprofit coal-fired plants from mandated 2035 closures in an upcoming clean-energy bill.
• Washington Examiner reports Manchin and Granholm toured an underground coal mine Friday as the duo sought to recognize West Virginia miners while pitching new opportunities in clean energy.

Emissions:

• Argus reports Kentucky is supporting 19 US states in their Supreme Court challenge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) CO2 rules for power plants.

Thanks to The Washington Times for carrying my new  op-ed on the causes of the Texas grid crisis this winter had how they could lead to another crisis in the future if action isn’t taken to ensure fuel security and reliability by adequately valuing coal and nuclear power.

Happy Friday!

In the news today…

Energy:

• E&E Energywire reports the upcoming presidential inauguration of Joe Biden has opened the floodgates this week on proposals for achieving the clean energy future he has promised.

Mining:

• Mining.com reports the Apache tribe claims the U.S. does not own the land it is preparing to give to Rio Tinto to mine on.
• Lincoln Journal Star reports a federal judge has denied a request from a group of Apaches who sought to keep the U.S. Forest Service from issuing an environmental review of a copper mining project until the court takes up a larger case over who legally owns land known as Oak Flat.

Coal:

• Casper Star Tribune reports Wyoming’s amended financial forecast indicates oil production and coal extraction increased in calendar years 2020 and 2021, but the state still has an unsustainable revenue model that depends on revenue from fossil fuels.
• Associated Press and E&E Greenwire report five miners died in U.S. coal mines in 2020, an all-time low mark for an industry in a year that saw continuing declines in production as electric providers move away from burning coal.
• Politico Pro reports the Interior Department has finalized a rule changing how companies calculate royalty payments for oil, natural gas and coal extracted from federal lands, a move the Trump administration says will save the industry $28.9 million a year.
• Barron’s reports coal is experiencing a mini-rebound.

Minerals:

• Star Tribune reports efforts to slow copper-mining’s advance into Minnesota are intensifying, with state lawmakers proposing a prohibitive measure that would require mining companies to show proof that a similar non-iron, hard-rock mine has operated safely elsewhere.
• Mining.com reports buoyed by the ramp-up of its Lucky Friday mine in Idaho, following a nearly three-year strike by unionized workers at the operation, Hecla Mining produced 13.5 million oz of silver in 2020 – the highest since 2016.

COVID-19:

• Argus and E&E Climatewire report President-elect Joe Biden released plans for a pandemic “rescue package” worth $1.9 trillion that would include stimulus checks, more vaccination funding and hundreds of billions of dollars in spending meant to revive the economy.

Hello Thursday! In the news today…

Mining:

• E&E Greenwire and Mining.com report an Apache nonprofit sued the Forest Service to try to prevent a land swap that would see copper miners take ownership of an Apache holy site in Arizona.

Coal:

• Star Tribune reports Minnesota Power will shutter and convert its last two coal-power plants by 2035 as it moves toward a promised 100% carbon-free energy mix by 2050.
• The Durango Herald reports a professor of history and environmental studies says treachery and deceit allowed Peabody Coal Co. to mine Black Mesa coal, betraying the trust of the Hopi and Navajo Nations.
• Axios reports President-elect Joe Biden, who has vowed to accelerate movement away from fossil fuels, could initially preside over a coal and oil production surge.

Minerals:

• Mining.com reports global supplies of lithium used to make electric vehicle (EV) batteries will fall short of projections for demand to more than triple by 2025 if prices do not rebound to fund expansions, an executive at industry leader Albemarle Corp said on Tuesday.

EPA:

• Inside EPA reports EPA’s just-released analysis of Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data for 2019 shows an overall 9 percent drop in disposal and other releases of chemicals driven by declines in reported air emissions and land disposal, though those gains were partly offset by rising off-site disposal and surface water discharges.
• The Hill reports a coalition of 17 states and New York City are suing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its decision not to tighten major air pollution standards.

In the news today…

Mining:

• E&E Greenwire reports the state of Alaska will appeal the Army Corps of Engineers’ denial of a water permit for the proposed Pebble copper and gold mine, Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) announced Friday.

Minerals:

• Axios reports the electric vehicle era, barely underway, could soon be stifled by a shortage of batteries and raw materials that will require significant investments in U.S. manufacturing, mining and recycling.

Coal:

• The State Journal reports West Virginia’s gas, oil and coal advocacy groups prepare for the upcoming state legislative session, with the latter aiming to preserve coal-fired power plants and access to international markets for steel-making coal.
• Financial Times reports renewables capacity is surging in the US state that is the heartland of fossil fuels.
• The Salt Lake Tribune reports Utah has fully joined the latest round of lawsuits over exporting coal through West Coast ports, this one brought by Utah coal-producer Wolverine Fuels fighting one city’s coal ban that threatens to disrupt an export program that helps keep Utah mines churning.
• E&E Energywire reports that states are relying on securitization to shut down coal plants.

Good Monday morning!

In the news today and from the weekend…

Mining:

• E&E Greenwire reports large mining projects are now eligible for expedited permitting under a rule the Trump administration published Friday.
• Financial Times reports the end of the Millennium Bulk Terminal.
• E&E Greenwire reports the battle over a proposed copper and nickel mine near Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness may soon tilt toward the opposition.
• Mining.com reports James Robert “Jim Bob” Moffett, the former chairman and chief executive officer of Freeport-McMoRan, has died.

Minerals:

• Reuters reports Albemarle Corp said on Thursday it will double production at its lithium facility in Silver Peak, Nevada, part of a plan to boost supply for the burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) market.
• Mining.com reports US President Donald Trump’s outgoing administration plans to approve a land swap on Jan. 15 that Rio Tinto and partners need to build a copper mine in Arizona, clearing a long-time hurdle for the project that is opposed by many Native Americans.

Coal:

• S&P Global reports weekly US coal production was estimated to be over 9.8 million st in the week ended Jan. 2, up 12.5% from the previous week, Energy Information Administration data said Jan. 7.
• E&E News PM reports EPA’s long-delayed carbon rule for new power plants will be final soon, and it could contain significant changes from the proposal, aimed at impeding the ability of President-elect Joe Biden’s EPA to regulate industrial sectors other than power generation.

International News:

• Mining Review reports the World Coal Association acknowledges the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Medium-Term Coal Market Report 2020 and calls for the IEA to continue its support of all fuels and clean technologies to meet global energy needs and reach net-zero emissions.

Good Friday morning!!

In the news today…

Mining:

• Mining.com, KFGO and News 18 report from Reuters that outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is moving to loosen mining regulations and green light new mineral projects before leaving office this month, with successor Joe Biden unable to reverse some of the changes.
• S&P Global reports the U.S. coal sector continued to struggle under the pro-coal Trump administration and will likely face new challenges on the political front under a Biden presidency and a U.S. Congress controlled by Democrats.

Coal:

• Grand Forks Herald reports a transition from coal to wind generation is occurring in North Dakota.
• Argus reports US thermal coal exports inched higher in November from a year earlier as shipments to parts of Asia and Latin American climbed.
• Utility Dive reports the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) and Washington State Department of Commerce announced Tuesday that they adopted rules in late December to guide implementation of the state’s 2019 Clean Energy Transformation Act. Under the law, electric utilities in Washington must eliminate coal-fired power by 2025, achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, and source 100% of their energy from renewable or non-carbon emitting sources by 2045.

Carbon Capture:

• Argus reports the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Treasury Department have issued final regulations for tax credits for building facilities for carbon capture and enhanced oil or natural gas recovery.

Minerals:

• MinnPost reports recycling copper and other metals can help address the climate crisis, increase jobs, and provide the materials needed to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy.

In the news today…

Mining:

• Surrey Now-Leader reports the United States government has approved US$3.6 million in spending to help Alaska pressure the B.C. government into reforming mining regulations they claim are lax and present an imminent threat to fish and habitat in transboundary watersheds.
• Washington Post and E&E Greenwire report a Michigan judge has overruled state regulators who approved a key permit for a proposed open-pit mine in the Upper Peninsula, another delay for a project that has been debated for nearly two decades.

Coal:

• Wyoming Public Media reports a federal bankruptcy court has authorized the rejection of the ground lease between the Millennium Bulk Terminals-Longview, LLC and Lighthouse Resources Inc, effective this Friday, Jan. 8.
• Argus reports a federal bankruptcy court has given Powder River basin coal producer Lighthouse Resources approval to shed its sub-lease and assets tied to Millennium Bulk Terminals, potentially ending efforts to build the proposed west coast coal export terminal project.
• The Logan Banner carries an editorial that argues against closing coal-fired power plants in West Virginia.
• The Charleston Gazette-Mail carries a letter to the editor arguing for the abandonment of coal-fired generation.
• Argus reports coal-fired generation in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) fell by 14pc in 2020 from a year earlier as renewables and natural gas gained market share.

Nuclear:

• WIFR reports in response to Exelon’s announcement of the premature closure of two of Illinois’ six nuclear plants, the Illinois AFL-CIO released an updated version of the Brattle Group’s Illinois Nuclear Impacts Report, which highlights the economic losses and environmental impacts Illinois’ and its local communities will face with the retirement of these plants.

In the news today…

Mining:

• Mining.com reports U.S. President Donald Trump’s outgoing administration plans to approve a controversial land swap needed for Rio Tinto Ltd and partners to build an Arizona copper mining project that Native American tribes say will destroy sites of cultural and religious value.

Coal:

• Argus reports coal-fired generation in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) rose on a year-over-year basis in December for only the second time in all of 2020, as nuclear and natural gas power slipped.
• Associated Press reports the owner of a Colorado coal-fired power plant announced plans to close the facility by 2028, years earlier than originally planned.

Carbon Capture:

• Bloomberg Green reports the new COVID stimulus bill provides an extension of the 45Q tax credit towards carbon capture development.
• E&E Climatewire reports on the progress of direct air and carbon capture projects around the globe.

Happy New Year!

In the news today and from the weekend…

Minerals:

• CIM Magazine reports global mining has made efforts to increase investment, particularly in critical minerals in the U.S.

Energy:

• Argus reports US coal production is on pace to fall by 24pc this year, capping off what has been a tumultuous 2020 in the coal market.

EPA:

• Inside EPA reports the publication of EPA’s final overhaul of cost-benefit procedures for its air program is setting the stage for administrative and legal steps by the incoming Biden administration and its allies to reverse the policy, including claims that Trump officials improperly deemed the rule immediately effective.

Renewables:

• ReNews reports that Enel Green Power begins operating the 199 MW expansion of a Kansas wind project while also bringing online a 236 MW wind project in Missouri.

In the news today…

Coal:

• Forbes has a piece on the Navajo Transitional Energy Co. (NTEC).
• The Charleston Gazette Mail carries a piece from the West Virginia Coal Association highlighting the importance of preserving West Virginia’s coal industry for the future.

Department of Interior:

• The Washington Post carries an op-ed calling on the Biden administration to restore Bears Ears to its original borders, and consider instituting true co-management of the monument.

Nuclear Power:

• The Guardian reports that floating barges fitted with advanced nuclear reactors could begin powering developing nations by the mid-2020s, according to a Danish startup company.

Good Monday Morning! In the news today and from the weekend…

Coal:

• Inside Sources ran an op-ed arguing that the current need to improve America’s infrastructure will also require an increase in raw materials for construction, with U.S. met coal producers well-positioned to supply the coal needed for the world’s increasing steel needs.

Minerals:

• E&E News reported that a proposed land swap to accommodate the Resolution Copper project in Arizona could face delays after an advisory council found flaws with the Forest Service’s tribal consultation.
• The Financial Times ran an op-ed highlighting the need for increased production of metals and minerals required for electric or hydrogen economies, noting that any decarbonization goals must take into account the minimum of seven to 10 years required for developing the new mines we will need.
• The Anchorage Press reports that, in a down year for most industries, the mining industry is doing well.

Energy:

• Utility Dive reports on how COVID-19 is affecting the energy sector. The industry could face declines in demand, distracted regulators and disrupted supply chains, according to experts.

It’s Christmas Eve Eve! In the news today…

COVID-19 Relief Bill:

• E&E breaks down the energy and environment provisions in the omnibus.

Coal:

• The Financial Times reports that developing economies in Asia are turning away from coal.

Climate:

• Real Clear Politics reports that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has urged President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to submit both the Paris climate pact and the Iran nuclear deal to the Senate for a vote, potentially blocking President-elect Joe Biden’s path to bring the country back into both agreements should the Senate fail to ratify them. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on Twitter last week that he is working to secure a Senate vote on both deals.

In the news today:

Renewable Energy:

• Utility Dive reports that Congress on Monday passed another stimulus package as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The package includes extensions on the solar and wind production tax credit (PTC) and investment tax credit (ITC), energy efficiency incentives, research and development “enhancements” for clean energy technologies and more, according to a joint statement from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and House Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

EPA:

• The Hill reports that the CDC warned that the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rationale for keeping Obama-era standards on particulate matter was “not scientifically defensible” before the agency finalized the rule earlier this month.

Coal:

• Utility Dive reports that the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) on Wednesday backed away from a plan to accelerate the closure of three coal plants, after regulators expressed concerns about the “feasibility of the transitions if the closure dates are moved up.” The plants impacted by the decision include Tri-State Generation and Transmission’s Craig 3 unit; Platte River Power Authority’s Rawhide plant, and Colorado Spring’s Nixon facility.

Congress:

• E&E reports that green groups are stepping up their fundraising and bringing in millions in support of the Democratic candidates in the Senate runoff elections set for next month in Georgia.

Good Monday morning! I hope everyone had a safe and relaxing weekend!

In the news today and from the weekend…

News from the Hill

• E&E reported that House and Senate leaders yesterday announced they had reached a deal on a $1.4 trillion fiscal 2021 spending omnibus, pandemic relief legislation and a number of major items that will ride along including: language from the “Water Resources Development Act of 2020;” directions for increased spending and the demonstration of a number of new technologies needed to help combat climate change, including carbon capture; an extension of the Black Lung Excise Tax; a delay of the phaseout schedule for the renewable and investment tax credits, with the PTC extended for one year and the ITC extended for two; and a two year extension of the Section 45Q carbon capture incentive; among other items.

 Coal 

• E&E reports on IEA’s projections that global demand for coal is projected to increase 2.6% next year due to rising consumption in Asia and an anticipated spike in electricity use worldwide.
• The Roanoke Times published an editorial about the shift in the Virginia Coal industry towards met coal.

Minerals

• The New York Times reports that, in its final days, the Trump administration is pushing through approvals of certain mining projects.
• The Minneapolis Star Tribune has a point, counterpoint examining both sides of the arguments around the Twin Metals mining project.

International News

• The New York Times reports that a coal shortage in China has the government rationing electricity for millions.