18Jan

Commentary: The ‘War on Coal’

Via West Virginia MetroNews:  A favored tactic by the anti-coal crowd is calling out industry supporters for their “war on coal” campaign, dismissing it as hyperbole designed to whip up frenzied opposition among those of us who are supposedly in denial about climate change and coal’s future. For example, a Charleston Gazette editorial last year […]
16Jan

Here’s How Obama Is Repaying The Indians Who ‘Adopted’ Him In 2008

Via The Daily Caller: The Crow Tribe welcomed then-Sen. Barack Obama with open arms in 2008, making him an “adopted” member of the tribe. But eight years later, the Crow are hurting financially by the environmental policies of the man they once applauded. The Crow will furlough 100 employees, or 25 percent of its workforce, […]
15Jan

Republicans Furious Over Obama Move on Coal Leases

Via The Hill:  Congressional Republicans are slamming the Obama administration’s decision to halt new coal mining leases on federal land. Administration officials said Friday they would hold off on new lease sales while overhauling the coal leasing program to account for climate change costs.  Republicans, who have badgered Obama for energy and environment policies they […]
15Jan

Moratorium on Coal Leasing is Latest Move in Administration’s Beyond Jobs Campaign

National Mining Association (NMA) President and CEO Hal Quinn today released the following statement in response to the Department of the Interior’s extraordinary action to halt federal coal leasing: “The Obama administration’s move to shut off the largest source of America’s lowest cost and most reliable fuel for electricity opens up another front in its […]
14Jan

Why the CPP Is So Bad for Rural America

Via EnergyBIZ: IN AUGUST, THE U.S. Environmental Protection Agency unveiled the final version of a plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 32% by 2030. Dubbed the Clean Power Plan, EPA’s blueprint is one of those ambitious initiatives — a big overreach, some say — that will have extensive and long-term consequences, some of which we […]
13Jan

Fossil Fuel Leases Should Charge for Climate Change, Says President

Via The Hill:  President Obama wants companies leasing oil and coal rights on federal land to pay more for the effects those fuels have on climate change. In his final State of the Union address Tuesday night, Obama said the prices charged for oil and coal ought to reflect the cost of the greenhouse gases […]
13Jan

House Votes to Delay Coal Mining Rule

Via The Hill: The House passed a bill Tuesday to delay an Obama administration rule designed to protect streams around coal mining operations. Lawmakers approved Rep. Alex Mooney’s (R-W.Va.) bill on a 235 to 188 vote with 4 Democrats joining most Republicans to vote in favor. Ten Republicans voted against the bill. The bill would delay an […]
13Jan

Obama Touches on Coal During State of the Union Address

Via WSAZ: WASHINGTON — During his final State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Barack Obama signaled that coal companies could face higher charges when mining on federal lands. Obama said he’s going to push to change the way the federal government manages its oil and coal resources to better reflect the costs they impose […]
13Jan

A Labor Leader’s View: Clean Power Plan Will Hurt the Poor

Via The Duluth News Tribune: Recently, advocates for the EPA’s Clean Power Plan have tried to make the case that the plan would benefit low-income citizens. Do they really believe that? How is this going to make electricity cheaper? How can requiring utilities to shut down hundreds of millions of dollars of perfectly good equipment […]
12Jan

The Carnage in Coal Country

Via The Wall Street Journal: Arch Coal filed for Chapter 11 protection on Monday, continuing an industry collapse that includes the bankruptcies of Patriot Coal, Walter Energy and Alpha Natural Resources. The White House must be cheering, because this is one Obama energy policy that seems to be working. As President Obama prepares to deliver his final State […]