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.

Calgon Launches Products to Control Mercury Emissions

Calgon Launches Products to Control Mercury EmissionsCalgon Carbon Corporation has launched an advanced line of its Fluepac products aimed at controlling mercury emissions in the coal-fired electric power generation market. The new ...

January 27, 2012

CO2 to Stay Below 2005 Levels, U.S. to Wean Itself from Foreign Oil, EIA Predicts

CO2 to Stay Below 2005 Levels, U.S. to Wean Itself from Foreign Oil, EIA PredictsEnergy-related carbon dioxide emissions will remain below 2005 levels through 2035 as increased oil, natural gas and renewable energy production reduces U.S. reliance on ...

January 24, 2012

Carbon Capture Project Gets First U.S. PPA; Masdar Eyes CDM Credits

Carbon Capture Project Gets First U.S. PPA; Masdar Eyes CDM CreditsCPS Energy of San Antonio has signed the nation's first power purchase agreement for electricity from a commercial-scale carbon capture project. The utility, ...

January 20, 2012

BP Predicts Small Future Role for Renewables

BP Predicts Small Future Role for RenewablesEnergy production by renewable sources will roughly quadruple by 2030, but the use of such energy will still only account for fraction of energy consumption, ...

January 19, 2012

EL Pro Policy & Enforcement Briefing: Moratorium on Uranium Mining, CDC on Fracking, CSAPR, Lake Tahoe Restoration

Policy & Enforcement Briefing: Moratorium on Uranium Mining, CDC on Fracking, CSAPR, Lake Tahoe RestorationThe Department of the Interior today is expected to announce a 20-year moratorium on new uranium mining claims in a million-acre buffer zone around the ...

January 9, 2012

NREL: Commercial Mowers Use More Gas Than Cars

NREL: Commercial Mowers Use More Gas Than CarsRegularly-used commercial lawnmowers can consume more fuel than a typical car, according to a guide to alternative fuel vehicles published by the National Renewable Energy ...

December 29, 2011

EPA to Finalize Power Plant Mercury Rules This Week

EPA to Finalize Power Plant Mercury Rules This WeekThe EPA finished writing mercury-control rules for utilities on Friday, according to the Washington Post. Several sources told the paper that ...

December 19, 2011

EL Pro Policy & Enforcement Briefing: Keystone XL, Arctic Drilling, Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale, Coal Mines Cleanup

Policy & Enforcement Briefing: Keystone XL, Arctic Drilling, Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale, Coal Mines CleanupTransCanada Corp said it would undertake a $600 million expansion and extension of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, a move designed to show its commitment ...

December 16, 2011

JPMorgan, Citi, BofA Slammed Over Coal Investment

JPMorgan, Citi, BofA Slammed Over Coal InvestmentJP Morgan Chase, Citi and Bank of America have been branded the worst three "climate killers" in the financial sector over their large-scale investments ...

December 1, 2011

Anglo American Uses Coal Waste to House Staff

Anglo American Uses Coal Waste to House StaffAnglo American is using gypsum by-products from its mining operations to build energy-efficient houses for its workers, CNN reports. The company’s South African operations ...

November 28, 2011

EL Pro Policy & Enforcement Briefing: Carbon Rules, Soot Standard, Competing Studies

Policy & Enforcement Briefing: Carbon Rules, Soot Standard, Competing Studies The EPA said that it will propose twice-delayed rules for greenhouse gas emissions from power plants early next year, Reuters reported. The agency delayed the ...

November 18, 2011

Coal Plants Face Battle in Drought-Stricken Texas

Coal Plants Face Battle in Drought-Stricken TexasThe Texas drought has eroded public support for new coal-fired power plants there, according to the Boston Globe. Proposed plants throughout the state ...

November 4, 2011

EL Pro Policy & Enforcement Briefing: Energy Department Probe, Arizona Copper Mining, Cape Wind Setback

Policy & Enforcement Briefing: Energy Department Probe, Arizona Copper Mining, Cape Wind Setback President Obama has promised House Republicans investigating the government's aid to to the now-bankrupt solar firm Solyndra that a former business executive will lead an independent ...

October 31, 2011

EL Pro Policy & Enforcement Briefing: Solar Zones, Ozone Hearing, Carbon Tax

Policy & Enforcement Briefing: Solar Zones, Ozone Hearing, Carbon Tax Interior Secretary Ken Salazar (pictured left) on Thursday announced a revised plan to establish solar energy zones in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah, ...

October 28, 2011

EL Pro Policy & Enforcement Briefing: Ethanol Cuts, South Africa Carbon Fines, Cuba Offshore Drilling

Policy & Enforcement Briefing: Ethanol Cuts, South Africa Carbon Fines, Cuba Offshore Drilling Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) introduced an amendment to the chamber's 2012 agriculture appropriations bill on Tuesday that would block the government from funding gas station "blender" ...

October 19, 2011

EL Pro Policy and Enforcement Briefing: EPA Appropriations, Dark Days for Solar, Germany's Renewable Boom

Policy and Enforcement Briefing: EPA Appropriations, Dark Days for Solar, Germany’s Renewable Boom The Senate Appropriations Committee released a draft 2012 appropriations bill for the Interior Department and the EPA, The Hill reported. As expected, the $29.3 billion ...

October 17, 2011

Effects of New NOx RACT Rules

Effects of New NOx RACT RulesVirtually all states that have nonattainment areas for ozone have passed a rule called nitrogen oxide (NOx) Reasonably Achievable ...

October 16, 2011

EL Pro Policy & Enforcement Briefing: China Gas Tax, EPA Lawsuits, California Recycling Law

Policy & Enforcement Briefing: China Gas Tax, EPA Lawsuits, California Recycling Law China will impose a nationwide value-based sales tax on oil and natural gas beginning next month, Bloomberg reported. The country's Ministry of Finance said the ...

October 12, 2011

EL Pro Policy & Enforcement Briefing: Keystone XL Conflict, Wisconsin Wind Rules, Coal Ash Pushback

Policy & Enforcement Briefing: Keystone XL Conflict, Wisconsin Wind Rules, Coal Ash Pushback The State Department allowed a company with close financial ties to TransCanada to perform a crucial environmental impact study of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, ...

October 10, 2011

EL Pro Policy & Enforcement Briefing: Another EPA Rule Eased, Veto Threat, PA Shale Fees

Policy & Enforcement Briefing: Another EPA Rule Eased, Veto Threat, PA Shale Fees The EPA will ease emissions restrictions on 27 states in its Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, the latest retreat for the agency under fire from industry and ...

October 5, 2011