The Supreme Court’s EPA Ruling is a Big Setback for Fighting Climate Change, but Not a Death Knell
"The ruling opens the door to more litigation, however, which could help the fossil fuel industry delay moves to...more
7/11/2022
/ Clean Air Act ,
Clean Power Plan ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Energy Efficiency ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
FERC ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) ,
Oil & Gas ,
SCOTUS ,
West Virginia v EPA
Ukraine Demands Germany Cut or Halt Nord Stream 1 Gas Flows -
"Ukraine is willing and able to provide an alternate transport route to the pipeline, which runs under the Baltic, he said."
Why this is important: The...more
Cap and Trade Gets a Big Win in Pennsylvania. Will It Last?
"Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced that his administration had finalized a regulation to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cap-and-trade...more
Shell’s Board of Directors Sued for ‘Failing to Properly Prepare’ for the Energy Transition -
"It argues the board’s failure to implement a climate strategy that truly aligns with the landmark Paris Agreement is a breach...more
4/8/2022
/ Coal Industry ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy
Sen. Manchin Slams ‘Hypocritical’ Biden for Not Curbing Russian Energy Imports Over Ukraine Invasion -
"Mr. Manchin, West Virginia Democrat, said that the administration needs to curtail its reliance on Russian petroleum...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
Gas Gap in Europe Drives U.S. LNG Exports to Record High -
"About half of the record U.S. LNG volumes shipped last month went to Europe, up from 37% earlier in 2021."
Why this is important: The onset of a challenging...more
1/14/2022
/ Coal Industry ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Exports ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas
West Virginia: Most Coal Reliant State Struggles Amid Green Power Push -
"West Virginia is most dependent on coal for electricity and among the least dependent on renewables."
Why this is important: As renewables...more
FERC Warned Renewables Planning Can Strand Grid Assets -
"But at a FERC technical conference, others highlighted a potential risk for overbuilding and the cost it could incur for consumers."
Why this is important: It's...more
12/2/2021
/ Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Coal-Fired Generation ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
FERC ,
Natural Gas ,
NERC ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Renewable Energy
German Regulator Puts Brake on Nord Stream 2 in Fresh Blow to Gas Pipeline -
"First flows through the pipeline look very unlikely in the first half of 2022, he added."
Why this is important: It is estimated that Russia...more
11/18/2021
/ Coal Industry ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy
Russia Chooses Not to Raise Natural Gas Supplies to Europe Despite Putin’s Pledge to Help -
"Highly anticipated auction results showed Russia’s state gas giant Gazprom had not booked additional gas transit capacity for...more
11/4/2021
/ Abandoned Property ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal ,
Coal Mines ,
Energy Sector ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy
Coal Power to Increase for First Time Since 2014, US Says -
"The amount of electricity produced by coal plants is expected to tick up 22% in 2021, reversing coal’s six-year downward trend."
Why this is important: For...more
10/21/2021
/ Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
FERC ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy
Ford Building Massive Electric Vehicle and Battery Plants with $11.4 Billion Investment
"Automaker says production hubs will bring 11,000 jobs to Tennessee and Kentucky."
Why this is important: Ford Motor Company and...more
China Risks Winter Energy Crunch -
"China is at risk of the same energy-crunch chaos seen in Europe, with a state-run newspaper warning that coal-fired power plants will struggle to keep the lights on this winter."...more
9/23/2021
/ China ,
Coal ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Coking Coal ,
Cybersecurity ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Natural Gas ,
NPDES ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy ,
Utilities Sector
How a Colorado Coal Plant Could Become a Massive Battery for Renewable Energy -
"If the idea works, it could be a case study for other communities trying to preserve jobs and property taxes as the world shifts to cleaner...more
9/9/2021
/ Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Coking Coal ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Power Plants ,
Renewable Energy ,
Tesla
As U.S. Retreats, China Looks to Back Taliban with Afghan Mining Investments -
"While the Taliban takes stock of the natural resources and U.S.-funded infrastructure now at their disposal, strategic competitors including...more
8/26/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Cybersecurity ,
Electricity ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
FERC ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy ,
Sanctions
Appeals Court Rules Louisiana Oil-and-Gas Lawsuits Must be Heard in Federal Court -
"The state and six coastal parishes have filed 42 lawsuits against 200 fossil fuel companies since 2013 over coastal erosion and wetland...more
8/12/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Oil & Gas ,
Renewable Energy ,
Tax Credits
Why the American Jobs Plan Would Benefit Coal-Heavy Utility Stocks -
"A close look at some of the utilities publicly supporting a federal CES, which would require utilities to increase their share of carbon-free energy...more
Welcome to Volume 5, Issue 22 of Currents. With this issue, we will begin publishing on a bi-weekly schedule. We believe publishing every two weeks will give us a better opportunity to focus on hot topics affecting our...more
6/25/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Cybersecurity ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Oil & Gas ,
Renewable Energy ,
Tax Credits
Welcome to Volume 5, Issue 21 of Currents. This week, we take a look at hydrogen, nuclear, cyber security, renewable energy storage, and the latest in the coal industry.
How An Old Power Plant Is Being Refitted For The...more
Welcome to Volume 5, Issue 18 of Currents. As always, we cover the gamut of hot topics in the energy industry. In this edition, we provide insights on issues at the local, state and federal levels, as well as international...more
Shot Heard Across Texas: San Antonio Gets a Temporary Restraining Order Against ERCOT -
"CPS Energy, the municipal electric utility serving San Antonio and the surrounding area, has won the first skirmish against the...more
5/12/2021
/ Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
FERC ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Renewable Energy
House Passes Cannabis Banking Bill -
"The House passed the same bill in 2019 by a similar margin, but it stalled in what was then the GOP-controlled Senate."
Why this is important: The Safe Banking Act, if passed, will...more
5/10/2021
/ Banking Sector ,
Banks ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
CARES Act ,
FDIC ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Loan Forgiveness ,
OCC ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Payday Loans ,
SBA ,
True Lender
Clearway Energy Acquires 264-MW Wind Farm in West Virginia -
"Located in Grant County, Mt Storm was put on stream back in 2008 and is feeding electricity into the PJM market."
Why this is important: Clearway Energy...more
Federal Lawmakers Seek Funds to Plug Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells -
"U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján, a Democrat from New Mexico, said plugging these wells is an important step to protecting communities and can help put people...more