WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (TNSPol) -- The Center for Strategic and International Studies issued the following commentary: By Ben Cahill Senior Fellow, Energy Security and Climate Change Program The Biden administration aims to cut economy-wide emissions by 50-52 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 and to decarbonize the electricity sector by 2035. A transformation at that pace would have real repercussions for fossil fuel workers and communities. Many coal-fired power plants are already slated for re  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 (TNSRep) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory issued the following report (No. PNNL-31348) on Sept. 24, 2021, entitled "Business Models for Coal Plant Decommissioning". The report was written by Jennifer D. Lessick, Bethel W. Tarekegne and Rebecca S. O'Neil. * * * Here are excerpts: Executive Summary Aging coal-fired power plants are retiring across the United States. Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory studied coal-f  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 (TNSRep) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory issued the following report (No. PNNL-31909) on Sept. 24, 2021, entitled "Coal-dependent Communities in Transition: Identifying Best Practices to Ensure Equitable Outcomes". The report was written by Bethel W. Tarekegne, Kamila Kazimierczuk and Rebecca S. O'Neil. * * * Here are excerpts: Executive Summary The U.S. coal industry is experiencing a sharp increase in the numbers of retired and  more

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, Sept. 28 (TNSJou) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratories issued the following news release: Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories and their collaborators have developed a new membrane, whose structure was inspired by a protein from algae, for electrodialysis that could be used to provide fresh water for farming and energy production. The team shared their membrane design in a paper published recently in the scientific journal Soft Matter.   more

MCCALLA, Alabama, Sept. 28 (TNSOps) -- The United Mine Workers of America issued the following news release on Sept. 27, 2021: Members of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Local Union 1948 yesterday ratified a new collective bargaining agreement at the Shoal Creek metallurgical coal mine in Alabama by a 63%-37% margin. The mine, operated by Peabody Energy, has been idled since October 4, 2020. "I congratulate the membership of Local Union 1948," UMWA International President Cecil E. Ro  more

OLYMPIA, Washington, Sept. 28 -- The Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission issued the following news: The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission today approved a request from Avista Corporation to revise rates that will result in no changes to customer bills, effective Oct. 1. Avista originally requested revenue increases of $44.2 million for electric and $12.8 million for natural gas, but state regulators approved $13.6 million and $8.1 million, respectively. Ho  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- The White House issued the following readout of a Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities meeting, on Sep. 27, 2021: * * * National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese convened the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities, where they were joined by Cabinet members and senior leadership from across the federal government. They discussed the Administration's efforts to-date that suppor  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (TNSOps) -- The World Resources Institute issued the following statement on Sept. 27, 2021: * * * Today South Africa released its latest national climate commitment under the Paris Agreement. The country intends to limit GHG emissions to 398-510 MtCO2e by 2025, and to 350-420 MtCO2e by 2030, significantly lower than targets communicated in 2016. These new targets will also see South Africa's emissions decline in absolute terms from 2025, a decade earlier than planned. Fo  more