By H. Sterling Burnett
Washington Examiner
One of the main reasons President Trump pulled the United States out of the Paris climate agreement is the treaty is a “bad deal for America.” Among many other problems, it would cost a significant number of jobs. In support of his claim, Mr. Trump cited a study by NERA Economic Consulting that estimates if the United States were to meet its carbon-dioxide emissions reduction obligations under the Paris climate agreement, it would cost the economy nearly $3 trillion and the United States would lose 6.5 million industrial jobs by 2040, including 3.1 million in the manufacturing sector.
By William F. Jasper
The New American
The People’s Republic of China, the undisputed Pollution King of the world, is ramping up its production of coal-fired power plants — not only in China, but in dozens of other countries as well.
But, strangely, China remains the new darling of the climate-change alarm choir. The communist regime, which is notorious for pumping colossal volumes of deadly toxins into the air, water, and land, is being celebrated as the new global environmental champion.
KING GEORGE, VA. (COAL AGE) —GE Power (NYSE: GE) today announced plans to convert its 242 MW coal-fired Birchwood Power facility in King George, Virginia, US into a Steam Plant Services Innovation Center.
The center, which provides sufficient electricity to power more than 240,000 homes, is to become a showcase for how the latest GE technologies can greatly increase the efficiency and flexibility of coal-fired steam power plants, while also reducing emissions.
By JOHN SICILIANO
Washington Examiner (2/21/17)
President Trump is planning to issue executive orders this week to begin rolling back the centerpiece of President Obama‘s climate change agenda with several other regulations.
Trump is expected to soon issue the orders targeting regulations put into place by the Environmental Protection Agency, including the Clean Power Plan, which directs states to cut greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants.
The EPA climate plan was halted a year ago by the Supreme Court until the courts can rule on litigation by 28 state attorneys general, the coal industry and hundreds of individual companies and industry groups.
Heather Richards
Star-Tribune (Feb 13, 2017)
Sheridan County hasn’t experienced active coal mining since the last coal operation ceased in the 1980s, though it was once a booming coal community peppered with company towns.
That may soon change.
Cloud Peak Energy, which operates the Antelope and Cordero Rojo mines in Campbell County, recently applied for a federal permit to enhance roads and a rail spur between the non-operational Youngs Creek north of Ranchester and the bustling Spring Creek mine in Montana. The construction will facilitate the moving of equipment, coal and personnel between the two mines.
WASHINGTON, DC (February 17, 2017) – Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt was confirmed
today as the new Chief Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The American Coal Council welcomes the confirmation of Mr. Pruitt.
In his capacity as Oklahoma AG, Scott Pruitt was a leader in challenging unwarranted regulation and fought against overreach by federal agencies. Mr. Pruitt is serious about cooperative federalism and has a track record to prove it. He brings the strength of that track record to Washington, DC and he will return EPA to its job of administering the laws as passed by Congress. He will change EPA’s focus from environmental activism at any cost to a common sense approach that balances economic and environmental considerations.
WASHINGTON, DC (February 3, 2017)– The congressional action this week to strike down the “Stream Protection Rule” issued December 19, 2016 by the Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement is a welcome step in the right direction for the federal government and for coal. The swift action recognizes the severe flaws in a regulation that would needlessly restrict access to our nation’s abundant coal reserves, increase mining costs, erode federal and state tax revenues, and result in the loss of high numbers of well-paying jobs.
What the Media Says —
“Coal-fired power plants do not use clean coal technology.”
The Reality –
There are 16 clean coal technologies being used today by the U.S. coal fleet. These include wet and dry scrubbers to reduce SO2 emissions, selective and non-selective catalytic reduction to reduce NOx emissions, and electrostatic precipitators and fabric filter technology to reduce PM. Every coal-fired power plant in the U.S. uses one or more clean coal technologies. Source: American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity.
Perth (Platts)–29 Dec 2016
Volatility is the watchword for the thermal coal market in 2017 following a turbulent 2016 when Beijing’s self-imposed production constraints fueled a massive rise in thermal coal prices right across the Asian seaborne market in the second half of 2016.
As has been the pattern for the past several years, China — or more specifically the actions and influence of its central government — has been a strong deciding factor in the direction of the Asian market.
URL: http://www.platts.com/latest-news/coal/perth/outlook-2017-themes-to-watch-in-2017-for-the-27740083
Rod Adams, December 28, 2016
President-Elect Trump’s choice of Rick Perry to run the Department of Energy is good news for people who believe–or want to believe–that the federal government’s Department of Energy was formed at the end of the 1970s because voters were tired of our abject dependence on foreign oil and its associated entanglements.
It is likely to be a huge disappointment for those who are more comfortable with the DOE as it exists today, with very little in the way of energy production or innovative energy research attributable to the $30 billion taxpayers spend on its annual budget.
