The Continuing Impact of Coal Ash - Energy Law Insights
On June 11, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") announced a proposed rule to repeal key amendments to the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards ("MATS") for coal- and oil-fired electric utility steam...more
The methodology outlines a three-step approach for obtaining credits: retirement of coal-fired power plants, generation of replacement renewable electricity, and assurance of a just transition....more
On Tuesday, February 11, 2025, Senate President Pro Tempore Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) unveiled the Senate’s energy legislation, S.B. 2. As expected, there are similarities to H.B. 15, introduced by Rep. Roy Klopfenstein...more
Coal production and mining jobs over the past half-century have been influenced by several factors, principally demand from the utility sector, technological breakthroughs in natural gas production, railroad deregulation, and...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
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
ExxonMobil, Partners Discover Carbon Capture Technology for Industrial Sources - "A possible breakthrough in technology that could capture more than 90% of carbon dioxide emitted from industrial sources has been announced...more
Fossil Fuels Still Supply 84 Percent of World Energy — and Other Eye Openers from BP’s Annual Review - "China was responsible for three quarters of the world’s energy consumption growth, followed by India and Indonesia....more
Coal Earnings Set to Plunge 50% in North America, Moody's Says - "Earnings for North American coal miners may plunge by more than half this year as the coronavirus pandemic makes a weak market even worse, according to...more
Earthjustice on behalf of a number of environmental organizations sent a February 7th letter to United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Administrator Andrew Wheeler styled...more
Recently, the use of coal has been most highlighted in the power production industry, although coal has been used for generations in many industries. For example, steel, paper, chemicals, and oil refining industries utilize...more
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued three rules on June 19 that may give utilities new reasons to consider investing in certain plant modifications and reassessing the projected lifespans of their facilities....more
Plastics: The New Coal in Appalachia? "With little notice nationally, a new petrochemical and plastics manufacturing hub may be taking shape along 300 miles of the upper reaches of the Ohio River, from outside Pittsburgh...more
We have seen an increase in energy companies filing for bankruptcy, and more may be on the horizon. This is a great time to review and discuss an interesting ruling in the FirstEnergy case regarding the intersection of...more
Russian Hackers Penetrated Networks of U.S. Electric Utilities - "Russian hackers gained access to the networks of U.S. electric utilities last year, which could have allowed them to cause blackouts, according to federal...more
South Africa’s first solar-powered desal plant could produce affordable water - Plans are underway to build South Africa’s first solar-powered desalination plant at Witsand in the Hessaqua municipality. This will be an...more
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued on March 1st a pre-publication version of a proposed rule that would amend the regulations for the disposal of coal combustion residuals (“CCR”) from electric...more
Weekly projects and energy updates in South Africa Limpopo’s coal-fired power station gets green light The government has flashed the green light again for a [new] multibillion-rand coal-fired power station in Limpopo, but...more
Virginia Agency Takes Unexpected Step that Could Delay Gas Pipeline Project - "The State Water Control Board approved permits for the $5 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which is backed by Dominion Energy, but took the...more
U.S. Crude Exports to Asia May Shake Up Global Oil Pricing: Russell "The great disruptor that is U.S. shale oil is coming to Asia, as refiners in the energy-hungry region look to expand and diversify their sources of...more
Eskom's coal-fired power struggle - Eskom’s closure of five old coal-fired power stations over the next 10 years, at a loss of about 30 000 direct and indirect jobs, was foreseen more than a decade ago....more
Weekly projects and energy updates in South Africa - Sky is the limit for opportunities in renewable energy market - The global solar industry is a fascinating sector. For a technology that is essentially fairly...more
Renewables sector welcomes Presidency’s support of renewables - The South African Renewable Energy Council (SAREC) has welcomed the Presidency’s clear support for the country’s Renewable Energy Independent Power...more
Wyoming has one of the nation’s best wind resources. But if a contingent of state senators and representatives there have their way, electric utilities located in the state will be slapped on the wrist for using it (or other...more
City of Cape Town launches waste-to-energy plant - South Africa’s City of Cape Town is now generating its own electricity through a waste-to-energy plant. While launching the ZAR400 million (US$30 million) plant...more