Energy Report
A digest of regional energy news
Bills Support Miners’ Pensions, Black Lung Benefits
A Senate bill would help fund miners’ pensions, including those affected by recent bankruptcies. In the House, a bill would re-instate a historic tax on coal companies to fund healthcare for miners with black lung disease.
Feds Propose Transporting Liquified Natural Gas on Rails
Federal regulators proposed a rule in October that would allow the transportation of liquefied natural gas by rail without any new safety regulations or testing.
New Federal Pipeline Safety Rules Attract Criticism
Federal regulators announced new pipeline safety rules in September, but pipeline opponents argue the updated rules are not strong enough.
West Virginia Fossil Fuel Severance Tax Impacts State Budget
Lower-than-expected income from fossil fuel severance taxes is putting the West Virginia state budget in a bind. Some advocate for raising the severance tax rate on natural gas.
States Request Decision on Power Plant Bailout Plan
Kentucky and five other states sent letters to federal authorities on the Trump administration’s plans to bail out failing coal and nuclear plants. And an investigation into a similar Ohio law found possible conflicts of interest.
