The global coal industry continues to expand with new coal-fired power plants planned or being built throughout the developing world, especially in Asia where coal remains the preferred low-cost fuel option for power generation. Building up coal mining operations, constructing new coal-fired power plants and developing infrastructure requires billions of dollars in initial investments. Where… Keep reading →
U.S. wind energy industry leaders went to Texas on Wednesday to release their annual market report and highlight wind’s continuing successes and benefits there. A couple of their selling points were familiar – cheap and clean power – but there was another item that got big emphasis this year, and you’re likely to hear a… Keep reading →
The battle lines aren’t officially drawn yet, but the fight is already intense. Next week, the Obama administration will propose new rules for curtailing greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants, the source of about 40 percent of U.S. carbon pollution. The proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency under Section 111(d) of the Clean Air… Keep reading →
Germany is facing an energy paradox where significant increases in renewably-generated power – mostly from wind and solar – are being surpassed by increases in coal-fired power. Part of the reason stems from the country’s decision to phase out its nuclear fleet. A majority of the nuclear generation capacity that has come offline – 8… Keep reading →
Natural gas might be eating coal’s lunch, but natural gas always has a friend in coal. Coal forever makes gas – even when obtained by fracking – look good. Take the new study out of the University of Texas, announced with the headline, “Natural Gas Saves Water and Reduces Drought Vulnerability, Even When Factoring in… Keep reading →
Microsoft’s announcement yesterday that it had signed a 20-year agreement to buy all of the 110 megawatt Keechi wind farm’s electricity production marks a big step for the company in going “carbon neutral” through the purchase of wind and solar power. Its rival Google is way ahead, having invested more than $1 billion in wind and… Keep reading →
The Sierra Club’s campaign against coal-fired power in the US reached a major milestone with the announcement that the Brayton Point Power Station in Massachusetts would retire by 2017, which marked 150 coal plants that announced plans to retire since 2010. Several celebrities joined the cause, including Elle Macpherson, Edward James Olmos and Ian Somerhalder.… Keep reading →
Quick Take: Utilities are already saddled with myriad mandates ranging from renewables to energy efficiency to cybersecurity to coal plant standards and many more. But they should have a few years respite from the prospects of a carbon tax or other climate change legislation. This despite an about-to-be-released report with additional evidence that fossil fuels are… Keep reading →
