Coal

Bill Strengthens New York’s Position to Access $454 Million in Federal Funds for Clean Energy Retrofits

November 16, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson, Congressman Steve Israel, and Legislative Leaders today announced the passage of the municipal clean energy loan program legislation. The Senate and Assembly passed the bill, which empowers communities to launch Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loan programs, today during an extraordinary session of the Legislature.    » read more »

BEIJING, Nov. 17 -- China's GreenGen clean coal project achieved another important milestone today as the partners executed their joint venture agreement, recognizing Peabody Energy's participation as a full equity partner.

The agreement was commemorated at a signing ceremony at the historic Great Hall of the People in Beijing and included Peabody Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gregory H. Boyce; Huaneng Group President Cao Peixi; U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu; and Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang.    » read more »

Inaction, Delay in Changing Bush-era Rule to Protect Streams Put Appalachian Communities at Risk and Put Focus on Environmental Protection Agency

November 2, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of the Interior intends to delay issuing a rule that would protect Appalachian streams and communities from mountaintop removal coal mining, giving even more urgency to the need for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take action to address this destructive practice.    » read more »

Calls on DOL to Improve the Claims Process for Coal Miners

October 30, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Senator Jay Rockefeller today released a report he requested from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) regarding the persistent barriers that miners and their families face when trying to secure benefits through the federal Black Lung Benefits Program. Senator Rockefeller called on the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to quickly consider and act on the report and he plans to introduce related legislation.    » read more »

October 30, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., today applauded the inauguration of a new carbon capture and sequestration project at the AEP Mountaineer Power Plant in New Haven, West Virginia.

“This path-breaking carbon capture and storage project, championed by American Electric Power and Alstom, signifies that coal is poised to be a clean, competitive 21st Century fuel,” said Byrd.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- Washington -- Congressman Artur Davis began circulating a letter today in the House of Representatives addressed to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. The letter calls for the EPA to evaluate claims that coal ash poses health and environmental risks. The letter also seeks clarification from the EPA that would provide predictability and consistency for coal-reliant industries and state and local officials. The content of the letter is below.

October 14, 2009

The Honorable Lisa Jackson, Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Ariel Rios Building, Mail Code: 1101A
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460

Dear Administrator Jackson:    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- World production of fossil fuels-oil, coal, and natural gas-increased 2.9 percent in 2008 to reach 27.4 million tons of oil equivalent (Mtoe) per day, the highest ever recorded. In the first half of the 2008, producers strained to meet global demand, but by year's end the global recession left the market swamped by excess supply, causing oil prices to fall to from $144 per barrel in July to $34 per barrel in December.

According to the latest Vital Signs Update on fossil fuel production:

* Continuing a decade-long trend, most of the growth in fossil fuel production was in the Asia-Pacific region, where production grew 6.3 percent.    » read more »

Statement from Sierra Club Director of Environmental Quality Ed Hopkins

Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today moved to veto a Clean Water Act permit for the nation’s largest proposed mountaintop removal coal mining site, the Spruce No. 1 Mine in Logan County, West Virginia.

In response the Sierra Club's Director of Environmental Quality, Ed Hopkins, issued the following statement:    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC: Reports in the Associated Press and Politico this morning revealed more findings related to Chairman Ed Markey’s investigation into those at the center of widening scandal involving forged letters sent to Congress.

The letters sent by Bonner and Associates, on behalf of a group contracted by American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, purported to come from veterans, senior, minority and women’s groups urging members of Congress to vote against clean energy legislation in the House earlier this year. A hearing on the issue, scheduled for this morning, has been postponed.

Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director:    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. –In advance of expected public health and safety rules on the disposal of coal byproducts by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson asking for information on EPA’s findings related to coal byproducts, their health and public safety effects, and the basis for proper regulation of the substances.    » read more »

October 14, 2009 -- Washington, DC - The Sierra Club, with the Sierra Student Coalition today launched the second in its series of online video ads, part of its nationwide campaign to kick coal off campuses. With organizers on the ground in several of the more than 60 campuses with on-site coal plants, the Campaign is working to transition schools to 100% clean energy.

The second ad takes the stereotypically “dirty” college behavior of the first ad and bumps it up a notch. Though college life allows for leniency in the socially acceptable, coal still crosses the line. Watch the ad here: http://www.2dirty4college.com/    » read more »

October 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) issued the following statement in response to the release of a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) study that shows mercury control technologies at coal-fired power plants are achieving substantial emissions reductions at low costs.

Sen. Carper has carefully monitored mercury pollution issues as chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee, and he requested this GAO report to examine costs and reductions achieved by power plant mercury control technologies.

Sen. Carper said:    » read more »

Funding Opportunity Announcement Solicits Proposals for Bench- through Pilot-Scale Projects

October 13, 2009 -- Washington, DC — U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that $55 million will be made available to develop advanced technologies that can capture carbon dioxide from flue gases at existing power plants so that the greenhouse gas may be sequestered or put to beneficial use. The funding announced today is a direct investment in carbon capture and storage related technologies that will support the Obama Administration’s effort to help mitigate the effects of CO2 – a major greenhouse gas and contributor to global climate change.    » read more »

Transition to Clean Energy Would Bring More Jobs, Economic Sustainability

October 13, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- The Sierra Club today released a groundbreaking new report that reaffirms the economic benefits of ending mountaintop removal coal mining and transitioning to clean energy sources in Appalachia. Conducted by Synapse Energy Economics, Inc., the report comes on the heels of the Obama administration's praiseworthy decision to review 79 permits for new mountaintop removal coal mining permits citing water quality concerns.    » read more »

10/13/09 -- Furthering his commitment to ensuring the future of coal mining jobs and the vitality of West Virginia’s mining communities, U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (WV-3) on Tuesday – in advance of a planned public forum hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) in Charleston – called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Corps to provide surety and fairness in the review of surface coal mining permits.    » read more »