The Energy Report
Confronting Rising Black Lung
Amid an ongoing surge in severe black lung disease among coal miners, federal lawmakers have introduced a number of bills aimed at assisting affected miners and their families. The Inflation Reduction Act shored up funding for benefits, and advocates are pushing for additional measures.
Read MoreThe Tennessee Valley Faces Crossroads Between Methane Gas or Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
The Tennessee Valley Authority’s plan to transition away from coal has generated significant push-back from environmental and community groups because of its reliance on methane gas instead of renewable energy.
Read MoreSeeking to Expand the Impact of Massive Federal Investment in Cleaning Up Abandoned Mines
Following the $11.3 billion investment in abandoned mine cleanup in the infrastructure law, the administration released spending recommendations and a related acid mine drainage cleanup bill passed the House.
Read MoreVirginia Governor Aims to Remove State from Greenhouse Gas Initiative
In 2021 Gov. Glenn Youngkin campaigned on a promise to get Virginia out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative — a cooperative effort among 12 states to cap and reduce carbon emissions while investing in clean energy, energy efficiency and flood protection efforts. Youngkin has asked the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board to take up…
Read MoreGroups Unsatisfied with Duke Energy’s NC Carbon Plan
Many North Carolina residents, businesses and environmental groups are calling on the state utilities commission to push for more renewable power, energy efficiency and measures to address affordability in the state’s final carbon reduction plan.
Read MoreNorth Carolina Issues General Biogas Permit
On July 1, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality issued a general permit for biogas digesters that convert animal waste into methane for energy production, as required by the N.C. 2021 Farm Act.
Read MoreBiden Administration Proposes Restoration of Mercury Pollution Rules
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently proposed reinstating a legal finding that supports restrictions on the amount of mercury that may be discharged by power plants.
Read MoreAlign RNG Settlement Spotlights Biogas Plant Regulation
After the first settlement of its kind in North Carolina capping limits on emissions from a biogas plant in Sampson County, environmental advocates hope the agreement sets the stage for stricter statewide regulation of the processing of animal waste from concentrated feeding operations into fuel or biogas.
Read MoreLooming Uncertainty Over Future of Abandoned Mine Land Cleanup
Congress has allowed the Abandoned Mine Lands program to expire, and advocates said nationwide on both state and tribal lands, residents face uncertainty over the future of environmental cleanup and economic recovery on lands once used to mine coal.
Read MoreNC Energy Bill Gets Criticism for Cost, Climate-Change Effectiveness
Industrial consumers, environmental advocates and residential ratepayers in North Carolina have voiced concerns over a new energy bill critics say was created with outsized input from Duke Energy.
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