Feature Stories
Electric Vehicles Battery Packs are Poised to be One of the Biggest New Sources of Pollution
October 19, 2021
The International Energy Agency (IEA) said this year it’s expecting 145 million electric vehicles (EVs) worldwide by 2030. If governments ramp up efforts to meet international energy and climate goals, the number could soar even higher — up to 230
Gripped by Energy Crisis, Europe Considers Breaking Climate Promises and Turning to Coal and Gas
October 11, 2021
Europe is in the grip of an energy crisis amid rising prices for natural gas, increased demand for fossil fuels and the approach of the winter that will make access to fuel even more urgent. The price of natural gas
West Virginia Senator Manchin Steps Up to Defend Fossil Fuels
October 8, 2021
Climate hawks on and around Capitol Hill accustomed to seeing Republicans thwart their agenda have found a new roadblock in Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia. Environmentalists knew they would face challenges winning Manchin’s support for the $3.5
Wyoming Energy Authority to Help Coal Communities With Economic Diversification Funds
October 8, 2021
The Wyoming Energy Authority and Wyoming Business Council have joined forces to help coal communities compete for federal stimulus dollars aimed at diversifying their economies. The move comes after some complained about a lack of state-level involvement in the competitive
Energy Transition Faces a Mining Crossroads
October 7, 2021
Now, more than ever, mining policy is energy policy. Wind turbines, solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles (EVs) are driving soaring demand for the minerals and metals that make these technologies possible. But the supply chains needed to deploy these
Mine Rescuers Recount the Rescue of 39 Miners Trapped Underground at Totten Mine, Canada
October 6, 2021
Danny Taillefer and Jason Leger were in the middle of a first aid refresher course when the phone rang. Shawn Rideout, the chief rescue officer with Ontario Mine Rescue, was on the other end. There were 39 miners stuck underground
Thermal Coal Demand Trends Upward as Natural Gas Prices Rise
October 4, 2021
High natural gas prices have electric utilities once again relying on railroading’s oldest friend — coal. Natural-gas futures have notched upward to $5.10 per million British thermal units in recent days, reflecting a 95 percent increase from six months ago
Coal Producers Bet on Met Coal in 2022
October 1, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic may have shuttered economies and slowed industrial momentum, but a global rebound is helping coal producers refocus their long game on metallurgical coal investment as a broader initiative to diversify the sector. Met coal is a higher-priced
Terry Jarrett: Rapid Energy Transition Putting U.S. Power Grid at Risk
September 29, 2021
Americans have seen some troubling incidents throughout the U.S. power grid in recent years. Last February, Texas suffered dangerous power outages during a lengthy polar vortex. And summer heatwaves have pushed California into rolling blackouts and other emergency measures. This
Jina Belcher: Federal, Local Efforts Seek to Help Coal Communities in W.Va.
September 28, 2021
Ground zero for federal efforts to boost communities reeling from the downturn in coal as a major economic driver is focused on southern West Virginia — where I and many of my close colleagues were born, have lived, studied, and
