27 States are Suing to Stop the CPP, Where do Things Stand? On August 3, 2015, President Obama and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the Clean Power Plan, which is described on the EPA website as “a historic and important step in reducing carbon pollution from power plants that takes real action on climate change.” The Clean Power Plan mandates the federal
Cultural Attitudes: 55 Years can make a World of Difference. So can 12. Remember the iconic 1960-era engineer? He wore a pocket protector in the shirt pocket of his short-sleeved white dress shirt. He usually had two or three ballpoint pens sticking up next to a small slide rule—he was the symbol of a culture that respected and emphasized things
An Exclusive Interview with Keith Burdette, Secretary of Commerce for West Virginia Coal has powered West Virginia’s economy for centuries. Generations of West Virginians have come and gone in the Mountain State, and its stalwart blue-collar coal industry continuously attracts the next wave of young people in search of a career in the rolling hills of Appalachia. But the latest generation
Coal loses support as demand in China falters The global coal trade declined for the first time in 21 years in 2014, and likely contracted further this year as well, according to information from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The global coal trade grew rapidly from 2008 to 2013 as demand in Asia picked up to support expanding economies in
Combined Exelon, Pepco utility will have the largest customer base in the U.S. Support from District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser for the merger of Exelon (ticker: EXC) and Pepco Holding Inc. (ticker: POM) utilities may push the $6.8 billion merger through, even after the D.C. Public Service Commission (PSC) announced it would not approve the deal in August. The
Gives thumbs up to Keystone and crude oil exports Former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina is running for the 2016 Republican nomination. Fiorina talked about energy in an interview with The Fuse in June. Here is a summary of her energy policy thoughts: Crude oil export ban: I would lift the restriction on exporting oil. Keystone XL pipeline: I support the Keystone
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its data for the number of new and reactivated coal mines that began production in 2013, showing that the year had the lowest number of active coal mines since the administration began tracking numbers in 2003. In 2013, 103 mines came online as 271 were idled or closed, resulting in a 14% decline in
Upward revisions show significantly higher coal consumption and production from 2000 to 2013 New data from the China Statistical Abstract 2015 (CSA2015) shows upward revisions in both the consumption and production of coal in China from 2000 to 2013. Energy-content-based coal consumption from 2000 to 2013 is up to 14% higher than previously reported, while coal production is up to
As natural gas prices come more in-line with coal, generators make the switch This chart, provided by EnerCom Analytics, shows the increasing use of natural gas as opposed to coal for electrical generation. April 2015, marked the first time ever that natural gas was responsible for more electrical power generation than coal. The grey and red bars show the percentage
Carbon emissions from the power sector at lowest level since 1988 The electric power sector emitted 128 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (MMmt CO2) in April 2015, according to information from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). This level of emissions is the lowest for any month since April 1988. In any year, April is typically the month with the
Latest version of the bill offers greater flexibility with higher standards The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final version of the Clean Power Plan (CPP) today, with several changes made from the last version. The final version of the CPP targets carbon emission levels 32% below those in 2005, 2% lower than the last version of the bill, according
April 2015 marks the first time ever that natural gas generated more electricity than coal The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Electric Power Monthly for April 2015, showed natural gas overtaking coal as the primary source of electrical power generation in the United States. April marks the first time ever that natural gas has powered more electrical generation than coal. According
