In the news today and from the weekend…
Grid:
- Bloomberg reports that power was restored to about half of the 3.1 million people in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Fiona knocked out power to the entire island a week ago.
- New York Times and Politico report that climate change-exacerbated heat and drought is straining California’s electric grid, forcing officials to rethink how power is generated, transported and traded.
- Utility Dive reports that Federal regulators propose incentivizing utilities to improve their cybersecurity measures.
Coal:
- Investor’s Business Daily reports the once-mighty coal industry is entering its final acts, say more than a few analysts, doomed by climate change and falling costs of cleaner energy. Yet coal stocks are burning bright as a natural gas supply squeeze stokes demand.
Minerals:
- E&E Greenwire reports the Biden administration may help fund overseas mining projects to obtain more minerals necessary to build renewable energy technology, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday.
- Mining.com reports Republican congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) this week introduced the Monitoring and Investigating Nations Exploiting States (MINES) Act to “hold China and Russia accountable for their efforts to monopolize critical mineral resources around the world, particularly in developing nations.”
Mining:
- Washington Post reports a mining company that wants to extract an assortment of rare elements from southeast Nebraska has announced an agreement that will provide up to $285 million to help cover the roughly $1.1 billion cost of building the mine.