08Nov

NOPR and the Tax Bill

Nov. 8, 2017 Last week the renewable industry was busily excoriating Energy Secretary Perry’s NOPR for offering “subsidies” to coal when suddenly it had to defend subsidies – its own. Renewable advocates were stirred to indignation after House tax writers proposed cuts to wind and solar largess that totaled $7.2 billion last year alone. Measures […]
05Apr

Crushed by Coal’s Survival

April 5, 2017 “This day may be remembered as a low point in human history …” — David Arkush, head climate programs for Public Citizen. That day? Last Tuesday. The “end of days” event?  President Trump signing an executive order blunting the regulatory assault on U.S. coal. Bad enough the president prefers his steak well done, […]
02Mar

The President vs. The Beltway

March 2, 2017 “We have undertaken a historic effort to massively reduce job crushing regulations, creating a deregulation task force inside of every Government agency; imposing a new rule which mandates that for every 1 new regulation, 2 old regulations must be eliminated; and stopping a regulation that threatens the future and livelihoods of our […]
22Feb

One Down, Two to Go

February 22, 2017 With the ceremonial removal of the stream rule in the Oval Office last week, a major burden on coal communities and threat to our diverse energy mix was lifted. But the danger from President Obama’s “keep it in the ground” regulatory tear lives on in two key policies: the moratorium on federal […]
15Feb

A Rollback, or a Reset?

February 15, 2017 This week the Senate will send a belated Valentine to blue-collar Americans. It’s likely the upper house will confirm either Mr. Zinke as Secretary of the Interior or Mr. Pruitt as the new EPA administrator before adjourning for President’s Day. Both men will be greeted warmly by the many whose jobs are […]
12Oct

CAP Report on Coal Leasing Recycles Garbage

October 12, 2016 With its most recent screed against the federal coal leasing program, the Center for American Progress (CAP) continues to squander what little remains of its reputation for objective, credible policy analysis. Instead, this report recycles politically contrived conclusions based on a deeply flawed understanding of a program that in the past decade […]
15Oct

Sens. Heitkamp, Wicker See Unattainable Standards in ‘Clean Power Plan’

Via KFYR-TV Posted: Tue 5:47 PM, Oct 13, 2015 By: Peter Zampa, Washington Correspondent The Environmental Protection Agency’s ‘Clean Power Plan’ has stirred controversy throughout the United States. Some senators believe the administration is setting unachievable standards for carbon dioxide and ozone reductions. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., and Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., say the standards […]
14Oct

North Dakota Will Fight Clean Power Plan

Via The Bismarck Tribune  21 hours ago • By Jessica Holdman North Dakota’s response to limits on carbon dioxide emissions from coal plants will be a two-track approach — litigation and preparation. North Dakota Department of Health will create the state implementation plan to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan while […]
13Oct

Coal Must Remain Part of State’s Power-Source Portfolio

Via the St. Cloud Times  Rep. Jim Newberger, District 15B 12:02 p.m. CDT October 12, 2015 Letters The Sept. 26 letter “No coal does not mean closing Sherco” suggests transitioning the Xcel Energy Sherco power plant in Becker toward clean energy, such as wind power, instead of shutting it down. It fails to mention Xcel […]
09Oct

WV Attorney General Submits FOIA to EPA for Clean Power Plan

Via WBOY By Nick Farrell West Virginia’s attorney general is leading a bipartisan coalition seeking information from the EPA on its Clean Power Plan. Attorney General Patrick Morrisey made a Freedom of Information Act request to learn why the rule hasn’t been published in the federal register. Until that rule is published, states that disagree […]