Manchin Defending W.Va., Not Obama

The decision over whether to allow construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline ought to be based on energy needs, environmental concerns and the thousands of jobs the project would provide for Americans.

FirstEnergy to close six coal-fired power plants

FirstEnergy Corp. on Thursday became the first major U.S. power company to close aging coal-fired power plants because of tougher new air pollution rules.

State of the Union: Not much about coal

President Obama didn’t have much to say about coal during last night’s State of the Union address. But he did talk just a bit about a few things that certainly impact the coal industry.

Pennsylvania DEP Secretary Lauds Underground Mining Industry, Regulatory Partnership for Second Straight Year without a Fatality

2011 marked the second straight year without a work-related fatality in Pennsylvania's underground and coal mining industries, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Mike Krancer announced today.

Charles Manson energy

It’s time to apply endangered species, wildlife and economic laws fairly and equitably.

Wheeling News-Register: The Science Is Not Settled on Warming

"The science is settled," President Barack Obama insists in defense of his scheme to wreck the coal industry.

EPA's War on Transparency

Barack Obama swept into the Presidency promising a new political order, one characterized by “transparency” and “openness.” Three years later, the President’s lofty campaign promises are belied by the Environmental Protection Agency’s record of suppression.

Pittsburgh Trib: Energy Tax Cuts Don't Work

If you're in the solar-installation business, you're probably a big fan of the tax credit consumers can get if they have solar-energy technologies installed. It's pretty generous, too: 30 percent of the cost comes off customers' tax bill.

Coal's Power: Pittsburgh region hosts cutting-edge coal research

The Pittsburgh Coal Seam was not the reason the French and British settled here. That honor goes to the strategic importance of the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Coal energy output outstrips gas, nuclear combined

But a look at coal's ever-overpowering numbers suggests a different narrative and proves the black rock remains as much a local institution as the football team for which Mr. Bettis once lined up in the backfield. 

EPA's Utility MACT Is Bad for American Workers and the Economy

The following statement was released today by National Mining Association (NMA) President and CEO Hal Quinn in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final Utility Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standard for power plants using fossil fuels to generate electricity:

"EPA has ignored the concerns of thousands of American workers and millions of consumers that rely on affordable and reliable coal-based electricity to power their factories and light their homes. At every opportunity, EPA has chosen the most costly and economically damaging options over a more prudent and balanced approach for achieving continued emission reductions at our nation’s power plants.

Power plant closures to cost US towns jobs, taxes

An Associated Press analysis has found more than 32 mostly coal-fired power plants in a dozen states will be forced to close -- and others are at risk -- because of new federal air pollution regulations taking effect in 2014-2015.

Coal Industry Drive Against EPA Will Shadow Obama's Campaign

As President Barack Obama toured an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers training center in Pennsylvania on Oct. 11, two television commercials made their debuts on local Pittsburgh stations.

Both criticized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s pending regulations on reducing mercury emissions and accused the administration of backing a job-killing new rule. Both were sponsored by the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity.

Son of Kyoto: Same ol' fleecing

The seeds for a new, legally binding United Nations agreement to supposedly fight "climate change" will invariably produce the same rotten fruit as the preposterous pact it replaces.

Manchin gives coal as 'Secret Santa'

CHARLESTON, W.Va.-- While traditionally seen as a bad thing, Sen. Joe Manchin was happy to both give and receive lumps of coal in a holiday gift exchange with his fellow U.S. senators Monday evening.

Reject strict climate treaty

A major international conference on climate change is wrapped up last week in South Africa and, as usual, the United States has been under fire for refusing to agree to a treaty mandating draconian new emissions controls.

First, they came for our 100-watt bulbs

Include me among those crazed Americans who can't walk into The Home Depot, Target or my local grocery store right now without wanting to grab a king-sized shopping cart and stuff it to the gunwales with 100-watt incandescent light bulbs.

If the Lights Go Out

Say what you will about Obama Administration regulators, their problem has rarely been a failure to regulate. Which makes the abdication of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission especially notable—and dangerous for the U.S. power supply.

Regulated Unto Death - How the EPA is killing America's energy industry

Energy is a factor in everything we do, an input in everything made in the modern economy. When energy prices rise, so in tandem does the cost of virtually everything; and if energy prices rise only for America or a particular state, as is the case when cost is tied to a new environmental regulation rather than anything fundamental in an energy resource's supply, the difference between the cost of production in our nation or a state and the cost for an economic rival elsewhere grows.

Pa's Top Environmental Regulator Opposes New EPA Air Quality Rule

Penn­syl­va­nia Depart­ment of Envi­ron­men­tal Pro­tec­tion Sec­re­tary Michael Krancer wants the Envi­ron­men­tal Pro­tec­tion Agency to post­pone enforce­ment of new air qual­ity rules.