Coal

Coal is a fossil fuel primarily made of carbon and generates the most energy in the world. These articles focus on legislation that affects coal use, for example, the Clean Water Act and the EPA’s Mountaintop Mining Rules. Clean coal technology is also discussed. We also include articles that address the transition from coal as a primary energy source to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power.

Duke Energy Threatens Coal Plant Closure In Light of EPA MACT Rule

Duke Energy Threatens Coal Plant Closure In Light of EPA MACT RuleDuke Energy Ohio is threatening to decommission all six coal-fired generation units at a plant near Cincinnati, by Jan. 1, 2015, unless changes are made to ...

July 21, 2011

EL Pro Policy & Regulations Briefing: House Passes Water Bill, Plastic's Future, Natgas Rules

Policy & Regulations Briefing: House Passes Water Bill, Plastic’s Future, Natgas RulesThe House on Wednesday passed H.R. 2018, siding with states and their ability to set clean water standards, despite a veto threat from the ...

July 15, 2011

CO2 to Hold Steady This Year, But Rise Coming in 2012

CO2 to Hold Steady This Year, But Rise Coming in 2012The Energy Information Administration expects fossil-fuel CO2 emissions to remain flat in 2011, as higher petroleum and natural gas consumption ...

July 13, 2011

EL Pro Policy & Regulatory Briefing: EU Target Defeated, Yucca Mtn., Shell in Alaska

Policy & Regulatory Briefing: EU Target Defeated, Yucca Mtn., Shell in AlaskaThe European Parliament has today voted against raising the continent’s emissions reduction target, from the current goal of a 20 per cent ...

July 5, 2011

EL Pro Constellation's Proportion of Coal Up After Nuclear Sales

Constellation’s Proportion of Coal Up After Nuclear SalesConstellation Energy’s proportion of electricity from combustion sources has risen because of the company’s selling equity in its nuclear power plants, according to the ...

June 30, 2011

EL Pro Compliance & Standards Briefing: Sugar, Ford, RoHS, WEEE, Coal Ash

Compliance & Standards Briefing: Sugar, Ford, RoHS, WEEE, Coal AshA Brazilian Coca-Cola bottler has become the first customer to buy sugar cane product certified under a new sustainability standard launched by the ...

June 23, 2011

EL Pro Policy & Regulatory Briefing: Mercury, Renewable Fuels, MACT Boiler Rules

Policy & Regulatory Briefing: Mercury, Renewable Fuels, MACT Boiler RulesThe EPA is making yet another extension to a public comment period, this time on proposed mercury and air toxics standards for coal ...

June 22, 2011

EL Pro Policy & Regulatory Briefing: Light Bulbs, Mercury, BPA, Tidal Power

Policy & Regulatory Briefing: Light Bulbs, Mercury, BPA, Tidal PowerPresidential candidate and member of congress Michele Bachmann (R-MN) has hit out at a federal law that requires light bulbs to be 30 percent more energy efficient starting next year. "President Bachmann will allow you ...

June 20, 2011

EL Pro Policy & Regulatory Briefing: Ethanol, EIA, Calif. Cap and Trade

Policy & Regulatory Briefing: Ethanol, EIA, Calif. Cap and TradeAn amendment by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) to eliminate a 45 cent on the dollar tax break given to ethanol blenders was defeated ...

June 15, 2011

AEP Says EPA Rules Will Raise Businesses’ Rates 10-35%

AEP Says EPA Rules Will Raise Businesses’ Rates 10-35%Proposed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations would cost AEP $6 billion to $8 billion by the end of the decade and raise electricity ...

June 9, 2011

EL Pro Policy & Regulatory Briefing: Renewable Funds, EPA Review, Belo Monte Dam

Policy & Regulatory Briefing: Renewable Funds, EPA Review, Belo Monte DamThe House appropriations subcommittee on energy and water yesterday passed a bill that cuts renewable energy funding by 27 percent to $1.3 ...

June 3, 2011

New Jersey Quits RGGI, Bans Coal Plants

New Jersey Quits RGGI, Bans Coal PlantsNew Jersey governor Chris Christie has pulled the state from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the only mandatory cap-and-trade program in the U.S., ...

May 27, 2011

EPA Admits Mercury Math Error

EPA Admits Mercury Math ErrorThe Environmental Protection Agency has admitted that its newly proposed limits on mercury from power plants are based in part on ...

May 20, 2011

EL Pro Policy & Regulatory Briefing: Boiler Rule Delay, Coal Ash, Waste-to-Energy

Policy & Regulatory Briefing: Boiler Rule Delay, Coal Ash, Waste-to-EnergyThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is delaying the implementation of standards for industrial boilers and incinerators. The EPA released the final Clean Air Act standards ...

May 18, 2011

Supply Chain Link in Low Carb Construction

Supply Chain Link in Low Carb ConstructionIn the last Low Carb Construction piece, I end with a statement intended to evoke the mental image of the treadmill of ...

May 9, 2011

Va. Threatens to Sue Feds Over Coal Permits

Va. Threatens to Sue Feds Over Coal PermitsVirginia is threatening to sue the federal government after the Department of the Interior toughened its stance on state mining permits, the New ...

May 6, 2011

Adaptive Leadership in the U.S. Energy Sector

Adaptive Leadership in the U.S. Energy SectorThe Challenge of Climate Change:  Reset or Hunker Down? The question facing every energy CEO today is whether climate change can be ...

May 5, 2011

EL Pro AEP Aims for 10% GHG Reduction

AEP Aims for 10% GHG ReductionAEP expects to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by ten percent by 2020, from 2010 levels – even as it warns that it ...

April 28, 2011

Environmental Software News: Alliance, DS SolidWorks

Environmental Software News: Alliance, DS SolidWorksAlliance Resource Partners has selected Enviance to track water, greenhouse gases and air emissions at ten coal mining complexes, plus a new mine ...

April 26, 2011

Apple Worst of ‘Dirty’ Cloud Companies, Greenpeace Says

Apple Worst of ‘Dirty’ Cloud Companies, Greenpeace SaysApple gets the worst ratings in a Greenpeace report that claims cloud computing companies are perpetuating the use of fossil fuels. The report, How ...

April 21, 2011