Category Archives for News Releases
ACC News Releases – closed list – distributed only to media contacts
Coal may surpass natural gas as most common electricity generation fuel this winter
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook, November 2016 After declining for several months, the share of U.S. electricity fueled by coal is expected to slowly begin growing when compared to the same period last year. In contrast, the … Continue reading
Statement of the American Coal Council on the Pope’s Encyclical
June 18, 2015 The Pope’s encyclical on climate change offers the opportunity for the global community to thoughtfully consider quality of life issues and human betterment. Access to affordable energy and electricity must be a primary objective. At least 1.3 … Continue reading
Arch Coal comments on EPA’s Clean Power Plan
Arch Coal’s December 1st news release is a poignant reminder about the potential for economic, social, and environmental damage locked into the EPA’s so-called Clean Power Plan. It is well worth it to reprint the majority of this news release … Continue reading
Enserco Energy sale to Twin Eagle Resource Mgmt
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 … Continue reading
Energy Secretary Chu commits to using clean coal
US Energy Secretary Steven Chu pledged Tuesday the administration would
pursue "clean coal" technology, even as it focuses research on
alternatives such as wind and solar. …Chu, asked during testimony at the Senate Appropriations Committee
whether the administration was committed to researching clean coal,
replied: "Yes."
Is reducing CO2 emissions worth the cost?
In late January this year, the The Rosenkranz Foundation hosted a debate as part of the Intelligence Squared U.S. series. Held in New York City, the debate considered the proposition that "Major Reductions in Carbon Emissions Are Not Worth the Money."
The full audio of the debate is available on the NPR website. It is well worth listening to. Also interesting was the response of the audience after the debate. A large number of audience members switched from undecided to supporting the motion that carbon reductions are not worth the money.
It would seem that when more fully informed, the voting public’s minds can be changed on the subject of environmental issues. To the extent that the coal industry allows the issue to remain silent, they may be ensuring difficult times ahead.
One step closer in S.C.
The proposed Santee Cooper plant near Florence South Carolina has moved one step closer to becoming a reality. On Thursday (Feb 12th) the utility convinced a majority of the state’s Dept. of Health and Environmental Control Board Members that they had met all the legal requirements for an air pollution permit. The Board voted 4-2 in favor of the permit.
There is more work to be done, however. Santee Cooper still requires a "federal wetlands permit, state water quality certification and several
other state environmental permits before it can begin work." That process could take several months at a minimum.
MIT research: Chinese coal infrastructure is modern
A November 1 article in POWER Magazine relates the findings of recent MIT research which investigates the rapid development of coal-fueled generation throughout China.
ACC comments on Senator Obama’s coal policy
Recent comments have been attributed to Senator Obama regarding the implementation of a cap and trade system for carbon dioxide emissions, that could "bankrupt" the coal industry or those who plan to build coal-fueled generation plants.
As a non-partisan organization, the American Coal Council does not take positions on the outcome of the election. Nor do we lobby for the implementation of specific policies or legislation.
It is extremely important, however, for both candidates to recognize the value and stability that the coal industry provides for our economy. "Bankrupting" the source of half of our electrical power would have profound negative economic, social, and environmental impacts.
Coal currently provides half of our domestic electricity supply. It does so at rates well below most other competing energy sources. "Bankrupting" one of our nation’s most abundant and affordable, energy resources would cause rapid increases in energy costs for main street and our nation’s businesses. Additionally, tens of thousands of jobs would be lost in our mining, utility, and related service industries.
The ACC believes that this issue points to the continuing need to educate policy makers on the pivitol role that coal plays in our economy.
Gore once again calling for direct action against new coal plants
Last September we reported in the Coalblog about former Vice President Al Gore’s calls for young people to engage in civil disobedience as a means of stopping the construction of new coal plants.
We are now treating the Earth’s atmosphere as an open sewer … I can’t understand why there aren’t rings of young people blocking
bulldozers … and preventing them from constructing
coal-fired power plants.
In that post we also noted how NASA climate scientist James Hansen
continued in his moves further into a more extreme activist form of
"science" by joining Gore in his calls for direct action.
It seems to me that young people, especially, should be doing whatever
is necessary to block construction of dirty (no CCS) coal-fired power
plants.
At the September 24th meeting for the Clinton Global Initiative, the former Vice President upped the ante by once again calling for civil disobediance and direct action against new coal-fueled plants.