coal

Meet the 2022 Goldman Environmental Prize Winners

Meet the 2022 Goldman Environmental Prize Winners

A teenage girl in California who shut down a toxic oil-drilling site; a Nigerian lawyer who got long-overdue justice for communities devastated by two Shell pipeline spills; two Indigenous Ecuadorians who protected their ancestral lands from gold mining. These are just some of the inspiring winners of this year’s so-called “Green Nobel Prize.” The Goldman […]

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    U.S. to Stop Importing Russian Fossil Fuels

    U.S. to Stop Importing Russian Fossil Fuels

    The U.S. will ban the import of all Russian fossil-fuel products in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine, President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday.” Today I am announcing the United States is targeting the main artery of Russia’s economy. We’re banning all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy,” Biden said from the White House, as CNN reported.

    Solar Projects Transform Abandoned Coal Mines in Virginia

    Solar Projects Transform Abandoned Coal Mines in Virginia

    Six abandoned coal mines in southwest Virginia are being transformed into solar energy installations as part of an effort by the Nature Conservancy, The Washington Post reports. TNC hopes the project can be a model for similar sites nationwide. The conservation group views the Appalachian Mountains as one of the most critical regions on the […]

    Energy-Hungry Bitcoin is Bringing Old Fossil Fuel Plants Back on Line

    Energy-Hungry Bitcoin is Bringing Old Fossil Fuel Plants Back on Line

    One of the biggest questions surrounding the cryptocurrency boom is whether or not the climate can afford such an energy-intensive trend. Much of this concern has focused on Bitcoin, which has a current annual energy consumption of 147.67 terawatt hours, more than Norway and Ukraine, according to the Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index. And the […]

    John Kerry Warns ‘We’re in Trouble’ on Climate Change

    John Kerry Warns ‘We’re in Trouble’ on Climate Change

    John Kerry, the first United States special presidential envoy for climate, said that the world is “not on a good track” in its goal of avoiding the worst effects of climate change, Reuters reported. Kerry said actions to move away from fossil fuels must be strengthened this decade. On Monday, Kerry addressed “Building Momentum to UN COP27,” an event hosted by officials from Egypt — who will host the next UN climate summit — and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

    U.S. Emissions Rose Again in 2021 After Pandemic Slump

    U.S. Emissions Rose Again in 2021 After Pandemic Slump

    Greenhouse gas emissions rose again in the U.S. as people returned to normal life in 2021, dashing hopes that the coronavirus pandemic might have paved the way for a more climate-friendly economy. U.S. emissions rose 6.2 percent last year compared with 2020 levels, according to initial estimates from the Rhodium Group released Monday.

    Brazil Extends Coal Use for Another 18 Years

    Brazil Extends Coal Use for Another 18 Years

    Right-wing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro approved a law late Wednesday that would extend the nation’s coal use by more than a decade. Previously, the government was supposed to end subsidies for coal plants by 2027 and rescind the authorization for three new plants in particular by 2025. But the new “just transition” law allows for coal use through at least 2040.

    Major Solar Farm Coming to Coal Country

    Major Solar Farm Coming to Coal Country

    A solar farm atop a former coal mine in Martin County, Kentucky may be a sign of things to come. A $231 million solar project covering hundreds of acres is slated to take over the former Martiki coal mine in Appalachia, a place that has been greatly defined by its natural beauty and the contrasting dirty business of coal mining. Its neighbor to the west, Johnson County, is famous for the singers and coal miner’s daughters Loretta Lynn and Crystal Gayle.

    Coal Workers Urge Manchin to Support Build Back Better

    Coal Workers Urge Manchin to Support Build Back Better

    The United Mine Workers of America rallied in support of the Build Back Better Act, calling on Sen. Joe Manchin, who was named an honorary member of the union last year, to reassess his decision to block the legislation. “We urge Senator Manchin to revisit his opposition to this legislation and work with his colleagues […]