Good to see a fellow coal organization featured in a popular industry publication.

Citizens for Recycling First was featured in the January 2012 issue of American Resource Review.

Kudos to John Ward for the recognition of his tireless work to promote the recycling of coal combustion products!

In an open letter, published in the Wall Street Journal on January 27th, 16 mainstream scientist, including Nobel Prize-winning physicist Ivar Giaever openly contested the so-called settled science of global warming. In this letter, the 16 scientists dispute the notion that global warming, as defined and defended by the UN’s IPCC, is an ongoing, human-caused threat to ecological stability.

From ACC Member, Enserco Energy, Inc.,

Enserco Energy Inc. (“Enserco”) and its parent company, Black Hills Corporation (“Black Hills”), are pleased to announce the sale of Enserco to Twin Eagle Resource Management, LLC (“Twin Eagle”).  The sale is expected to close in the first quarter of 2012, after receipt of customary regulatory approvals,  from FERC and anti-trust clearance under the Hart Scott Rodino act.  [...]

From ACC member, Martin Engineering,

MARTIN ENGINEERING ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF TODD SWINDERMAN

[Neponset, IL] – Martin Engineering, a worldwide leader in bulk materials handing technology, has announced the retirement of Chief Technical Director Todd Swinderman as of December 31, 2011.  He will continue to support key strategic initiatives with the company as an independent consultant.

Swinderman dedicated his career to advancing Martin Engineering, with more than 32 years of service.  During his tenure, he was President of the company for 11 years and served 7 years as President and CEO.  Swinderman developed a number of proprietary systems that have achieved leading positions in Martin Engineering’s product offering, many of which have become the industry standard for design and performance.  He currently holds more than 140 active patents in 12 different countries.

Congratulations to ACC President (2012) Charles Matthews on his recent promotion to Senior Vice President – Wholesale Energy and Fuels at WE Energies.

From the Sacramento Bee,

Matthews, 55, manages the company’s daily interaction with the Midwest Independent System Operator, a regional entity that operates the bulk power transmission system.  He also directs the purchase and delivery of more than 12 million tons of coal and 150 million dekatherms of natural gas annually.  In addition, Matthews is responsible for developing generation expansion plans, long-term wholesale marketing activities, and maintaining relationships with the company’s largest commercial and industrial customers.

Editor’s Note: We are reprinting (with permission) an Oilprice.com article that considers the widespread need for improved access to electricity in developing countries. The author notes that Pakistani officials are moving forward on a plan to produce gas from deep coal reserves in the Tharparkar desert in eastern Pakistan.

While some criticism exists – and is described in the article – it focuses primarily on the management structure and the processes guiding the development, as opposed to the need for developing the resource.

Access to affordable and abundant energy is a basic necessity for any developed (or developing) nation and restrictions on the free flow of that energy hamstrings an economy and markets.

New research (“extensively peer-reviewed” and) published in the Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics is demonstrating that the IPCC-based reports of human-caused global warming (or climate change) are in error, or far less drastic than reported.

The research suggests that the climate changes we are currently experiencing are part of large “9.1, 10-10.5, 20-21, and 60-62 year-long” natural cycles. The research also critiques the IPCC work and other general circulations models (GCM) for their lack of ability to properly model the impacts of cosmic rays, high clouds, and sunspots.

Sound confusing?  How can one be fined for not using biofuels that haven’t even been invented yet?

Given the irrational and prolonged assault on the coal industry and the production of affordable, secure/abundant, domestic energy, I’m not at all surprised to see reports of fines for this latest “offense”.

When the companies that supply motor fuel close the books on 2011, they will pay about $6.8 million in penalties to the Treasury because they failed to mix a special type of biofuel into their gasoline and diesel as required by law.

2011 Monthly Coal Production Source: EIA

Since much of the media attention surrounding coal mirrors the marketing of the radical green industry, it’s unlikely that most have heard about a growing sector of the U.S. coal industry.

While overall coal production remained essentially flat, coal exports in 2010 grew to 7.5% of US coal production and 2011 numbers were expected to easily outpace the previous year.

Hayward: US Coal Exports 2000 - 2010

NIMBYism has a new face and it’s ire is increasingly directed at renewable projects.

So-called “NIMBY” activism, once reserved for projects like landfills, prisons and big box stores, has started to impact proposed renewable energy projects throughout the nation.  Last year, not-in-my-backyard opposition delayed or cancelled a wide range of proposals involving wind and solar power and biofuels production nationwide.

“Siting for renewables certainly has gotten very challenging,” said Nathanael Greene, director of renewable energy policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council.