08Sep

Coal Critical to Power Future in Illinois

Via The Illinois Times: Electricity is easy to take for granted. But imagine the disruption to our lives if we could not charge our iPhones that connect us to the rest of the world or flip a light switch with the guarantee that power was at our beck and call. Power reliability, however, has been […]
07Sep

Column: Include Coal in Energy Mix

Via The Detroit News: Michigan will continue to need electricity produced at coal plants in the years ahead for a number of reasons. One is that while renewable energy is making large advances, it will still require coal-fired plants due to the intermittent generation of wind and solar power. Another is that nuclear energy will […]
06Sep

Montana Coal Mine Production Up 2 Million Tons

Via the Billings Gazette: Montana coal production is more than 2 million tons ahead of where it was this time last year, although analysts say the future is far from bright for the fossil fuel. Most of the production is coal mined from Spring Creek, a Cloud Peak Energy mine in southeast Montana. The Montana […]
05Sep

Abandoning Coal Could Mean Blackouts for U.S. Power Grid

Via Lifezette:  There’s plenty of talk these days among energy advocates and environmentalists about the need for natural gas to replace coal as the workhorse producer for America’s daily electricity needs. And coal has undoubtedly been on the ropes in recent years, with both expanded natural gas production and a host of federal regulations cutting […]
31Aug

Study Documents Coal’s Value for Baseload Power

The National Mining Association (NMA) today hailed a new report documenting the value of coal for ensuring the reliability and resiliency of the national power grid. The report, “The Contribution of the Coal Fleet to America’s Electricity Grid,” was prepared by PA Consulting Group for the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE), and documents […]
30Aug

VP Pence Tells State Chamber ‘War on Coal is Over’

Via The Herald-Dispatch: Vice President Mike Pence came to the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s 81st Annual Meeting and Business Summit at The Greenbrier and declared, “The war on coal is over.” Pence says President Donald Trump has rolled back many federal regulations that hurt West Virginia’s coal industry. “President Trump has signed more laws […]
30Aug

Coal Uptick Boosting Show

Via The Bluefield Daily Telegraph: The number of exhibitors for the upcoming Bluefield Coal Show continues to grow, and an increase in coal production is cited as providing a positive impetus. Charles A. Peters, longtime chairman of the show, said the number has climbed to more than 190. “We are happy to share that exhibitors […]
29Aug

Coal is On the Upswing

Via West Virginia MetroNews: Few analysts think coal will ever return to the dominant position it once held in the nation’s power generation and world energy market, but one industry player believes all indications are the coal industry has turned the corner and will continue to attain a position of strength going forward. “It’s coming […]
28Aug

The Oracle at DOE

August 28th, 2017 In Greek mythology, the Oracle at Delphi spoke so cryptically that both Athenians and rival Spartans could hear what they wanted to hear. Both sides found something to like. Secretary Perry’s staff’s study on grid “resilience” accomplished much the same thing. Call it Delphic wisdom. The renewable energy industry was relieved to […]
28Aug

Old King Coal May Rightly Be Merry Again

Via The Wall Street Journal: It is refreshing to see an assessment (“Coal Makes a Comeback,” Review & Outlook, Aug. 17) recognizing that policy matters greatly, especially when it distorts energy markets. The Obama administration rules on mercury emissions from power plants, for example, had little to do with mercury, and everything to do with […]