To Mine Or Not To Mine? Is That The Question?

As part of a series of listening sessions held across the country, representatives from the Bureau of Land Management recently came to Gillette, Wyo., to meet with residents about the agency’s federal coal program. The meeting quickly turned into an impassioned discussion about the future of the coal industry. Janice Schneider, with the Department of the Interior, said the agency was looking for comments on “how the Bureau of Land Management can best manage its coal resources.” The other issue was whether or not the BLM should charge coal companies higher royalties for coal mined on federal land. Independent studies have found that coal companies may not be charged enough for federal coal.

Wyoming Town Built On Coal Contemplates Its Future

While the coal industry in other parts of the country has fallen on hard times, the mines of the Powder River Basin, in Wyoming and Montana, have been left largely unscathed. Even with new regulations that could put a dent in coal production from the region, the towns that depend on it aren’t given up on their black gold anytime soon.

The Clean Power Plan: Colorado, Wyoming And North Dakota

The Obama Administration announced final rules Monday for its plan to limit carbon emissions from U.S. power plants. While some concessions were made to critics, the final rules actually increase the carbon cuts demanded from states and will have long-lasting impacts on the way power is produced.

Why Smart Meters Don’t Make A Smart Grid

In 2009, President Obama promised to modernize the electric grid, using stimulus money. The new power grid would be smart and efficient, bringing the tech revolution to electricity. It would incorporate more renewable energy. It would have the ability to fix blackouts more quickly. And, it would save customers a whole lot of money. So whatever happened to that plan? (Blackout: Reinventing the Grid #3)