Balancing Reliability, Affordability, and Renewability in the Energy Transition -
Throughout the United States and globally there is an undisputed trend towards renewable energy as much of the world seeks to decarbonize in...more
US Lawmakers Call to Modernize OSHA as Hundreds Die on the Job Each Day -
“Reintroduced federal legislation pushes to expand Osha coverage in 24 states not currently covered by the act.”
Why this is important: On...more
5/31/2023
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Building Standards ,
Construction Industry ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Health & Safety Standard ,
Natural Gas ,
New York ,
OSHA ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
State Bans ,
Technology ,
Workplace Hazards ,
Workplace Injury ,
Workplace Safety
An Uncertain Future for Nuclear Generation -
As countries and companies around the world set goals for renewable energy targets, there is constant uncertainty as to the best path for reaching these goals. While wind and...more
5/11/2023
/ Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Chevron Deference ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Litigation ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Green Energy ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Natural Gas ,
NOAA ,
Real Estate Development ,
Renewable Energy
“Electrification” has become a ubiquitous term these days, although depending on who you ask, it might have different meanings. However defined, a critical component of electrification as a policy choice to reduce reliance on...more
The Cost of "Electrification"
“Electrification” has become a ubiquitous term these days, although depending on who you ask, it might have different meanings. However defined, a critical component of electrification as a...more
4/25/2023
/ Biomass ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
Exports ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Low-Income Issues ,
Natural Gas ,
North Carolina ,
Nuclear Power ,
Plant Closures ,
Power Grid ,
Power Plants ,
Price Transparency ,
Renewable Energy ,
Renewable Fuel ,
Russia ,
Small Business ,
Solar Energy ,
State and Local Government ,
Texas ,
Ukraine ,
Utilities Sector ,
Virginia ,
Washington ,
Wind Power
Biden Races to Meet 2035 Climate Goal -
“He didn’t provide new details of how the U.S. electric grid could be carbon-free by 2035, a top goal for the administration.”
Why this is important: The Biden administration...more
3/10/2023
/ Biden Administration ,
Carbon Emissions ,
China ,
Electricity ,
Energy Commissions ,
Energy Sector ,
Natural Gas ,
New Legislation ,
Power Grid ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Renewable Energy ,
Russia ,
Solar Energy
GOP Attorneys General Sue Labor Department Over ESG Rule -
“GOP senators, joined by Manchin, oppose the new rule, which gives asset managers more freedom.”
Why this is important: The article describes reaction to...more
2/10/2023
/ Australia ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Coal ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Fossil Fuel ,
India ,
North Carolina ,
Offshore Wind ,
Russia ,
Trade Restrictions ,
Virginia
West Virginia’s Water and Land Rights EPA Case in U.S. Supreme Court -
"West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who led a 26-state coalition in filing a brief in the case, said the High Court heard arguments in a...more
Global Coal Prices Surge as Ukraine Tensions Worsen Supply Woes -
"Europe relies on Russia for around 35% of its natural gas, and has been grappling with a gas shortage since last summer that sent local prices to record...more
2/3/2022
/ Biden Administration ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petrochemicals ,
Renewable Energy
World's Largest Coal Miner Coal India Bets on Solar, Eyes Further Mine Closures -
"Pramod Agarwal said its joint venture with state-run NLC India Ltd plans to invest around 125 billion rupees ($1.73 billion) in solar...more
U.S. Congress Launches Probe Into Multibillion-Dollar 'Clean Coal' Tax Credit -
"The U.S. Congress is investigating a multibillion-dollar subsidy for chemically treated coal that is meant to reduce smokestack pollution,...more
3/18/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Coal Industry ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Oil & Gas ,
Renewable Energy ,
Tax Credits
Welcome to Volume 5, Issue 8 of Currents. Recently, my colleagues Joseph Schaeffer and Risa Katz-Albert recorded a webinar - Data Privacy and Security 101: Six Questions to Ask Yourself. They discuss basic introductory data...more
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf Floats Natural Gas Tax to Pay for $3 Billion Pandemic Recovery Plan -
"Long a proponent of an extraction tax, Wolf said it could pay for improvements to workforce training and support, remove...more
Why the U.S. isn't in Desperate Need of the Keystone XL Pipeline -
"U.S. President Joe Biden fulfilled a campaign promise by scuttling the 1,897-kilometre pipeline."
Why this is important: While the rescission of the...more
Welcome to our first issue of 2021! We have been publishing a weekly edition of Currents since 2017 and hope that you find it informative and helpful. Our goal for 2021 is the same -- provide access to interesting and...more
1/11/2021
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Coal ,
Coal Industry ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Exports ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Renewable Energy ,
Trump Administration
New Law Pushes Appalachian Power Toward More Renewable Energy -
"Appalachian — which for years has relied heavily on coal and more recently natural gas to serve about 500,000 western Virginia customers — will acquire 210...more
11/20/2020
/ Biden Administration ,
Coal Industry ,
Coal-Fired Generation ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
EU ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hydrogen Power ,
NASA ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Renewable Energy
U.S. Court Suspends Key Permits for Equitrans Mountain Valley Pipeline -
"A U.S. federal appeals court issued a stay of key water crossing permits needed to complete construction of Equitrans Midstream Corp’s 300-mile...more
11/13/2020
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Coal ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Imports ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy ,
Steel Industry
Feds Sued for Easing Regulations on Coal Ash -
“'Many power plants could easily adopt affordable technologies that dramatically reduce toxic discharges, but with this rule, the EPA is telling their polluter friends not to...more
11/6/2020
/ Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Oil & Gas ,
Sustainability ,
Zero-Emission Coal Plants
The United States Supreme Court ("Supreme Court"), in a rather surprising and unprecedented move, issued a ruling staying the Environmental Protection Agency's ("EPA") implementation of the Clean Power Plan. As you know, the...more