coal – California Climate and Energy Collaborative

Rugeley coal plant to be transformed into a sustainable village

December 6, 2018

“An old coal power station is set to be transformed into a “sustainable village” of 2,000 homes powered by solar panels, in the biggest redevelopment yet of a former UK power plant. French firm Engie said it had decided against selling off the Rugeley site in Staffordshire and would instead build super efficient houses on…

Record drop in U.S. coal-fire capacity likely in 2018

November 12, 2018

Sarina Soor

coal, US

No Comments

This year will most likely see a record set for coal-fired power capacity retirements in the U.S. IEEFA expects a total of 15.4 gigawatts (GW) of capacity to close in 2018 through the retirement of 44 units at 22 plants in more than a dozen states. At least 11GW have already been closed this year,…

The City of Oakland terminates its lease with a developer who wanted to build a marine terminal to ship coal from Utah

November 12, 2018

Sarina Soor

coal, local, marine terminal

No Comments

“In a major setback to a years-long effort to reinvent the former Oakland Army Base, the city has terminated its lease with developer Phil Tagami, effectively putting an end to his controversial plan to build a marine terminal and export coal, according to letters sent last month by city attorneys. City officials in those letters…

Cleveland Commits To 100% Renewable Energy Using Local Solar Resources

September 28, 2018

Sarina Soor

coal, OH, policy, renewable energy

No Comments

“Despite its past history of being one of America’s most polluted cities, or maybe because of it, Cleveland has now joined with 80 other US cities in pledging to transition to 100% renewable power by 2050. Ohio is coal country. 54% of its electricity is generated by burning the stuff. For Cleveland to turn its…

Why coal is a big part of the debate over California moving into a regional power grid

June 29, 2018

Sarina Soor

coal, regional power grid, regional sustainability

No Comments

“In-state coal-fired generation in both 2015 and 2016, according to the California Energy Commission, made up just 0.2 percent of the state’s electric load. Only one coal-fired plant remains in operation in California — the 63-megawatt Argus Cogen plant in the town of Trona in San Bernardino County. California does import electricity from coal-fired plants…

Coal plants’ vulnerabilities are largely unknown to feds

June 25, 2018

Sarina Soor

coal, cyber security

No Comments

“The Energy Department wants to bail out coal and nuclear power plants on national security grounds. But are coal plants faring better than gas-fired ones in the battle against hackers?” Click here to read more from EE News.

4 Decades out of date, Federal Coal lease program’s impact statement lives on

June 25, 2018

Sarina Soor

climate change, coal, pollution

No Comments

“The program’s environmental review was in 1979, before coal’s impact on climate change was well understood. A court just rejected activists’ push for a new review.” Click here to read more from InsideClimateNews.

Whitehouse orders a lifeline for struggling coal and nuclear plants

June 7, 2018

Sarina Soor

coal, nuclear

No Comments

“The president instructed Energy Secretary Rick Perry to “prepare immediate steps” to stop the closing of unprofitable plants around the country.” Click here to read more from NYT.

Premature birth rate drops after closure of California coal and oil plants

May 25, 2018

Sarina Soor

air pollution, coal, health

No Comments

“Within a year of eight coal- and oil-fired power plant retirements, the rate of preterm births in mothers living close by dropped, finds new study on air pollution. Researchers scrutinized records of more than 57,000 births by mothers who lived close to eight coal- and oil-fired plants across California in the year before the facilities…

Energy storage, wind, and solar companies are recruiting coal miners for their work ethics and high-tech skills

May 18, 2018

Sarina Soor

coal, job creation

No Comments

“Struggling coal mining towns offer an abundance of highly trained workers, many of whom are eager for new opportunities and stable jobs. Mine work today requires mechanical and technical skills that are transferable to new industries, a fact that companies inside and outside the energy sector are beginning to discover in America’s tightening labor market.”…

The U.K. just went 55 hours without using coal for the first time in history

April 20, 2018

Sarina Soor

coal, renewable energy, wind power

No Comments

“Coal, which fueled the world’s biggest economies for more than a century, is increasingly losing out to renewables. The latest example of how one of the dirtiest fossil fuels is being squeezed out of the market came this week in Britain, which went for a record 55 hours without its any of its power plants…

In rush to buy clean energy, coal and gas have hidden role

April 5, 2018

Sarina Soor

CCA, clean power, coal

No Comments

“Across California, local governments are trying to slow down climate change by starting their own agencies to buy and sell energy. In some cases, though, the green power they buy may be replaced with dirty power. Back in Grant County, the amount of coal and gas used by the utility increased by about a half-million…

Burning coal for survival in the world’s coldest capital

March 16, 2018

Sarina Soor

air pollution, coal

No Comments

“For the nearly 1.5 million residents of the capital, Ulan Bator, the misery of winter is defined almost singularly by the smoke rising out of the city’s chimneys. Since 2016, in addition to being the world’s coldest capital city, it has also had the distinction of being the one with the highest recorded levels of…