The Hill has posted an Op-Ed by Robert Priddle where he discusses the prospects for US. coal in the coming year. In short, he says that the “prospects no longer are as bleak as they looked two years ago,” but are heavily reliant on the vagaries of government policy. Read the entire piece here:
http://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/368214-in-2018-coal-continues-to-be-a-smoldering-issue
Meanwhile, over at Hot Air, Jazz Shaw reports that the craziness continues….
NYC Mayor to sue “Big Oil” for causing Hurricane Sandy or something
Over at Legal Insurrection, Leslie Eastman has posted this interesting piece. Channeling my inner Les Nessman, looks like the turkeys are mounting a counterattack. It’s almost as if they were organized….
https://legalinsurrection.com/2018/01/exxonmobil-prepares-to-sue-california-cities-over-climate-change-claims/
Bloomberg reports that coal and nuclear industries are looking to a tax extension bill to aid certain plants, after FERC rejected a plan to subsidize some of those power plants in the wholesale energy markets. Here is the link:
https://bnanews.bna.com/environment-and-energy/nuclear-coal-groups-target-tax-bill-after-bailout-rejection
Reuters reports that in a recent interview, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt said his agency’s 2018 priorities include replacing the Clean Power Plan, rewriting the Waters of the United States rule and starting a national debate on climate change. He also said he hoped for “substantially needed and important” legislative overhaul of the U.S. biofuels policy because of the regulation’s costs to oil refiners.
The entire article can be read here: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-epa-pruitt-exclusive/exclusive-trumps-epa-aims-to-replace-obama-era-climate-water-regulations-in-2018-idUSKBN1EZ079
The Hill reports that EPA staffing has fallen to Reagan-era levels.
According to The Hill: “An EPA spokeswoman said Tuesday that, as of Jan. 3, the agency had 14,162 employees, down from about 15,000 at the beginning of last year. That’s even lower than the 14,400 employees the agency had in fiscal year 1988, Reagan’s final year.” Most of the reductions have come from employees voluntarily leaving without being replaced, including through early retirements and buyouts.
You can read the entire article here: http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/368090-epa-staffing-hits-reagan-levels
Over at Missourinet, Jason Taylor reports that Republican Senator Ed Emery of Lamar is bringing back a comprehensive energy bill for another attempt at passage in this year’s legislative session. Emery, who’s sponsoring the bill, has introduced similar legislation a number of times. Its key components this year allow investor utilities such as Ameren and Kansas City Power & Light to invest more than $1 billion in infrastructure upgrades, while limiting rate hikes to three-percent a year. Emery says the bill is intended to encourage utilities to upgrade their power grids. Consumer groups are again lining up to oppose the proposed legislation. We can expect a robust debate.
You can read Jason’s piece here:
Contentious 2017 utility bill is back in Missouri Legislature
My good friend and former colleague, Bob Stump, is a candidate for Congress in Arizona’s 8th District. It has been said that he is “one of Arizona’s most articulate and eloquent champions of conservative ideals.” Among his many accomplishments, he is a former Arizona utilities regulator,where he worked hard for a common sense energy policy for Arizona and the United States. We here at Leading Light Energy wholeheartedly endorse Bob and wish him the best.
You can learn more about Bob at his campaign website here:
https://www.bobstump.vote/
Steven Hayward hits the nail on the head with this post in Powerline:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2018/01/drive-fast-freeze-a-yankee-the-sequel.php
Meanwhile, over at Powerline, Steven Hayward posted this entertaining and informative tidbit:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2018/01/drive-fast-freeze-a-yankee-the-sequel.php
What would we do without scientists? Michael Bastasch over at the Daily Caller posted this piece:
http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/05/scientists-global-warming-is-not-causing-harsh-winter-weather/
Over at Powerline, Steven Hayward posted this gem on the hazards of bad public energy policy:
I will be on John Birbari’s radio show (KVOW 1450AM, Riverton, WY) on Monday, January 8 at 8:20 AM Mountain, to discuss the recent extreme cold snap and how the electric grid is holding up. Should be fun and informative!
Check out my new piece in the Washington Examiner this morning!
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/can-americas-power-grid-withstand-a-brutal-winter/article/2644952
I’ll be on Steve Gruber’s radio show (WJIM, 1240 AM, Lansing, MI) this morning at 9:05 AM Eastern to talk about whether America’s power grid can withstand a brutal winter. I’m looking forward to it!
I will be on Tom Becka’s radio show (KCMO Talk Radio 103.7 FM, 710 AM) tomorrow at 7:35 AM Central. We will be discussing how the recent, brutal cold snap is straining the power grid, and what we can do to assure reliable and affordable electricity. It should be fun! Here’s a link for more information about Tom’s show:
http://www.kcmotalkradio.com/tom-becka-weekdays-9a-to-11am/
Steven Hayward over at Powerline posts this interesting item:
New article by Jeff Green:
http://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/367211-president-trump-signs-executive-order-on-minerals-to-boost?rnd=1514995581
Please check out this article from Ken Silverstein, one of my favorite Energy writers:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2018/01/01/despite-efforts-to-trip-it-up-new-energy-economy-remains-on-sound-footing/#7aac4d555a52
Check out this article by Brian Potts in Forbes:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianpotts/2017/12/30/will-2018-be-the-year-of-solar-or-coal/#d983af443f4c