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| Headline |
Author |
Published |
Section |
Flipflopping on FutureGen
Bush drops mismanaged 'NeverGen' clean coal project |
Joseph Romm |
31 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| For those remaining seven or eight three or four people who still buy the Bush rhetoric that he cares about global warming and is committed to addressing the problem with new technology, Exhibit 435C for the prosecution is the just-canceled 'clean coal' project called FutureGen. [Amusing anecdote for FHA (Future Historians of America): I once had a boss at the U.S. Department of Energy who practiced repeating 'clean coal' in front of a mirror so as not to break out ... |
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| Topics: carbon sequestration, climate, coal, energy, politics (all these topics) |
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Testing Sebelius
Kansas dirty-energy advocates make their play to allow coal plants |
David Roberts |
31 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| The fight over coal plants in Kansas has taken another turn. State legislators have introduced a new law that they say is "fair to both sides." That characterization could not be more comical. First of all, the bill was crafted in secret by four legislators who are members of the Kansas Electric Transmission Authority and support building the coal plants. No environmentalists were invited to the table, but the plants developer, Sunflower Electric Power, &q ... |
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| Topics: coal, energy, Kansas, politics, state politics (all these topics) |
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Notable quotable
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David Roberts |
31 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| 'I do think we're in a position where we don't foresee the need for new coal-fired generation in the Carolinas anytime in the foreseeable future. It's probably premature to say we will never build a coal plant in the Carolinas again, but today we do not foresee the need to do that based on the inputs we see and based on planning in front of us.' -- Jim Turner, president of Duke Energy Duke is set to build a coal plant in N.C., with the blessing of the Sierra Club, ... |
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| Topics: coal, energy, quotables (all these topics) |
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More Blankenship bashing ...
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David Roberts |
30 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| ... from the folks at FirstPost. Blankenship bashing on Grist here, here, and here. Why this guy isn't every progressive's bogeyman is beyond me. |
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| Topics: business, coal, energy (all these topics) |
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Duke It Out
Duke Energy will build likely its last coal plant in North Carolina |
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30 Jan 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 4:30 PM on 30 Jan 2008 Well, we've got good news and bad news: North Carolina air-quality officials have granted Duke Energy a permit for a new coal plant (boo) in what Duke Carolinas President Ellen Ruff says is "very likely the last coal plant you'll see coming from Duke" in the Carolinas (rah!). The permit stipulates that four older Duke coal plants in the state be retired before the new one g ... |
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| Topics: coal, energy, news, North Carolina (all these topics) |
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Obama joins Illinois legislators pushing to revive FutureGen
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David Roberts |
30 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| When the DOE announced it was yanking support for FutureGen, I wondered where Obama would come down on it. Pro-Illinois, or pro-green-coal-haters? Here's our answer: Nine members of Illinois' congressional delegation are urging President Bush to keep the FutureGen clean-coal power plant on track. In a letter sent to the president today, the bipartisan group said it has lost faith in Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman after meeting with him Tuesday. Bodman, in t ... |
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| Topics: Barack Obama, coal, energy, Illinois, politics (all these topics) |
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PastGen
Department of Energy backs away from funding FutureGen project |
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29 Jan 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 5:04 PM on 29 Jan 2008 The U.S. Department of Energy has told lawmakers that it plans to pull funding for FutureGen, its ambitious and crazily expensive "clean coal" demonstration plant. The feds had planned to cover some three-quarters of the $1.8 billion price tag, and cited ballooning costs as its reason for backing out. The announcement pissed off lawmakers from Illinois, where the plant would have be ... |
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| Topics: carbon sequestration, coal, Department of Energy, energy, Illinois, news, politics (all these topics) |
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Breaking: Dept. of Energy pulls support for FutureGen
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David Roberts |
29 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Whoa! The Dept. of Energy just announced that it's yanking its support for FutureGen, the much-ballyhooed and much-delayed 'clean coal' demonstration plant that greens refer to, never more appropriately, as NeverGen. What's behind the decision? 'Ballooning costs.' But wait ... I thought coal was cheap!? UPDATE: Note that Senator Dick Durbin expresses great outrage and promises to appeal directly to the president, but there is, conspicuously, no comment from his fe ... |
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| Topics: coal, energy (all these topics) |
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Massey watch
W. Va. Supreme Court to get out of bed with Blankenship, reconsider his case |
David Roberts |
29 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| A while back, loathsome mountaintop-mining outfit Massey Energy was hit with a $50 million judgment in a West Virginia court, in a ruling that they had illegally driven other area mining companies out of business. They appealed to the W. Va. Supreme Court, which overturned the ruling in a vote of 3-2. Later, pictures turned up of loathsome Massey CEO Don Blankenship vacationing on the French Riviera with W. Va. Supreme Court justice Elliott "Spike" Maynard ... |
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| Topics: business, coal, energy, litigation, shenanigans, waste, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Sebelius backing down?
New 'air of cooperation' between Kansas state gov't and coal companies |
David Roberts |
28 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| This evening, Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius will give the Democratic rejoinder to Bush's SOTU speech. There has been quite a bit of speculation -- here on Grist, among other places -- about Sebelius' possible fitness as a VP candidate. Via Ezra, this actual Kansan blogger throws cold water on the notion. Particularly concerning: Her appointee, Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Rod Bremby (a friendly acquaintance/source of mine), rejected tw ... |
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| Topics: coal, energy, Kansas, politics (all these topics) |
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The health externalities of coal
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David Roberts |
28 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| A while back I commented on a post over at Common Tragedies, an excellent environmental economics blog of recent vintage. As is my inimitable style, my comments were hastily written and full of wild generalizations. One had to do with the health externalities of coal burning, which I alleged were extensive. Recently, an email to the post's author came to my rescue: I'm just commenting on your last note. You shouldn't be so dismissive of the health effects from ... |
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| Topics: coal, energy, health (all these topics) |
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Dominion Power's dirty plans for Virginia
Mike Tidwell speaks out in the WaPo against coal |
Joseph Romm |
28 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Mike Tidwell, director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, regularly has me on his Earthbeat radio show, so I'm returning the favor with this great letter to the editor he had in the Washington Post yesterday: Fact: Virginia gets less than 1 percent of its electricity from 'green' sources such as the wind or the sun. Fact: Virginia ranks 38th among U.S. states in energy efficiency. Fact: Climate change is real, and fossil fuel substitutes are needed, accor ... |
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| Topics: coal, energy, mining, Virginia (all these topics) |
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Tonight's SOTU
House members ask Bush to shill for clean coal in his speech |
David Roberts |
28 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| I suppose I should write some insightful comments about Bush's upcoming State of the Union speech, which everyone expects to be sucky, since the guy's a lame duck and everyone hates him. There are lots of emails and PR releases flying around, fact-checking previous SOTUs and promising to fact-check tonight's. To summarize: Everything he's said on environmental subjects in previous SOTUs has turned out to be bullshit, and there's every reason to believe that anything ... |
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| Topics: climate, coal, energy, politics (all these topics) |
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The good and the ugly
Anti-coal activism news |
Erik Hoffner |
24 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| First, the good: here's a feature story in the new Orion magazine about the tactics and successes of the anti-coal activists who've helped halt, count 'em, 59 new plants, according to author Ted Nace. Ted also gives a huge rundown of links and resources for anti-coal activists. And the ugly: thanks to Maria Gunnoe's success organizing against mountaintop removal mining as a staff member of grassroots group Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and now her lead role ... |
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| Topics: coal, energy, grassroots activism, mining, politics, West Virginia (all these topics) |
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The liquid-coal military industrial complex
Air Force and liquid coal industry interbreed |
Joseph Romm |
24 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| A friend just sent me this remarkable story, 'Former Air Force official joins leading coal-liquids developer,' which appears in the little-known Aim Points, 'A daily summary of news, messages and communication tactics to help AF people tell the AF story.' It looks like the 'tactic' AF people are being told about is the good-ol' revolving door: Ron Sega, up until last year the Air Force's chief energy executive, has joined the board of directors of coal-to-liquids ( ... |
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| Topics: energy, coal, coal-to-liquid fuel (all these topics) |
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Let the games begin
Ragtag youth and ABEC face off in South Carolina |
Youth Movement |
23 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Photo: iStockphoto On the eve of the South Carolina Democratic primary, some battles are being fought on stage, and others in the parking lot. This primary season, leading up to arguably the most important presidential election in recent history, has been a circus. Even outside the candidate events, voters waiting in line to cheer Huckabee or Obama might see confederate-flag-jacket-donning Ron Paul supporters espouse southern pride, orange-shirted vol ... |
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| Topics: climate, coal, elections, energy, grassroots activism, politics, presidential race 08, South Carolina (all these topics) |
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Coaled Over
China will close thousands of small coal mines |
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22 Jan 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 4:56 PM on 22 Jan 2008 China plans to close more than 5,000 small coal mines, accounting for about 8 percent of the country's coal output, for safety reasons. Some 4,750 people died in China's mines in 2006. source: Bloomberg From the Archives Woe Dirt. Erosion is as big a problem as climate change, say experts. He's So Transparent. Prince Charles appears as hologram to speak in Abu Dhabi. Bring Us B ... |
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| Topics: China, coal, energy, news (all these topics) |
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There's coal money and then there's war money
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David Roberts |
22 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| In an electoral year when climate policy will play an unusually high-profile role, the $35 million raised by coal front group ABEC seems like a daunting obstacle. Then again, all-purpose-right-wing-warmongering front group Freedom's Watch is raising $250 million to spend on elections this year. So I guess it's important to keep these things in perspective. |
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| Topics: coal, elections, energy, politics (all these topics) |
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Boucher for Obama
The latest in a string of endorsements for Obama from red-state Dems |
David Roberts |
22 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.), notorious champion of Big Coal, has endorsed Barack Obama. Some greens are no doubt going to use this as evidence that Obama is too close to coal. I share the concern, but I don't think it's the most sensible interpretation of this case. Boucher's endorsement is just the latest in a string of endorsements from Democrats in red states -- including, crucially, popular Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine. (Two other prime Va. Dems -- Sen. Jim Webb, wi ... |
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| Topics: Barack Obama, coal, elections, energy, politics, presidential race 08 (all these topics) |
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Coal agit-prop heats up
Coal front group pouring millions into targeted disinformation campaign |
David Roberts |
19 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Speaking of reasons climate legislation is going to be impossible this year: It's good to see the Washington Post pick up on the coal industry's massive lobbying effort. The focus is Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC), which we've discussed before. WaPo's Steven Mufson uncovered a few details. Right now, ABEC is spending $1.3 million for ads in Iowa, Nevada, and South Carolina (not coincidentally, early primary states). It's also deploying street teams on th ... |
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| Topics: climate, coal, energy, lobbying, messaging, politics (all these topics) |
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The Coal War
Coal lobbyists step up their game |
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18 Jan 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 1:08 PM on 18 Jan 2008 A group called Americans for Balanced Energy Choices is waging a $35 million campaign urging Americans to make one choice in particular: coal. As U.S. activists step up their protests against coal plants -- and find increasing success -- the industry-backed ABEC is running ads chirping that the black rock "powers our way of life" and "will help us with vital energy security." Radio, print, and TV ... |
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| Topics: Barack Obama, coal, energy, news, politics, presidential race 08 (all these topics) |
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Coal is the enemy of the human race: Goliath, meet David edition
Google invests in solar thermal company eSolar |
David Roberts |
18 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Today, Google announced it's investing $10 million in eSolar, a solar thermal company, as part of its RE<C project. (Speaking of the latter, we've got an excellent interview on it coming up soon.) Here's what esolar has to say about itself (PDF): To serve the renewable electricity needs of utility-scale energy providers, eSolar has developed a market disrupting solar thermal power plant technology. Generation can be scaled from 25 MW to over 500 MW at energy p ... |
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| Topics: business, coal, energy, renewable energy, solar thermal power (all these topics) |
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Massey Business
Coal company penalized for Clean Water Act violations |
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17 Jan 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 5:16 PM on 17 Jan 2008 Massey Energy Co., the nation's fourth-largest coal producer, has agreed to a $30 million settlement with the U.S. EPA over allegations of Clean Water Act violations. Massey was accused of polluting streams and waterways in West Virginia and Kentucky with the detritus of mountaintop-removal mining on at least 4,500 occasions between 2000 and 2006. The company must pay $20 million in civil pena ... |
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| Topics: coal, energy, litigation, mining, news, US EPA, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Sebelius as VP?
Can the Kansas governor show toughness under assault from Big Coal? |
David Roberts |
17 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| A certain faction of young progressive bloggers is fond of the notion of Barack Obama picking Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as his running mate. She is a successful, popular, progressive governor in a red state, and has shown a real talent for bringing people together to produce practical results. That would compliment Obama's core message. (Then again, she's a woman, and if this race has demonstrated anything, it's that misogyny is alive and well in America.) What fa ... |
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| Topics: Barack Obama, coal, elections, energy, Kansas, politics, presidential race 08, state politics (all these topics) |
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Damage control
The widening war between activists and coal |
David Roberts |
17 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| According to AP, at least 48 coal plants are being contested in 29 states: From lawsuits and administrative appeals against the companies, to lobbying pressure on federal and state regulators, the coordinated offensive against coal is emerging as a pivotal front in the debate over global warming. Music to my ears. Naturally, the industry forecasts an apocalyptic future where ponies eat puppies and rainbows cry tears of blood: Industry representatives say th ... |
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| Topics: climate, coal, energy, grassroots activism, politics (all these topics) |
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