Energy and Environment

CHARLESTON — Coal-fired utilities in a 23-state region of the eastern United States will have to ramp up their emissions control efforts by Jan. 1, 2012 in order to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Cross-state Air Pollution Rule”  that was issued on Thursday. According to information posted on the EPA’s web site, the Cross-state Air Pollution Rule “will help… Read more »

U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith says high energy prices are stalling an economic recovery. Tuesday night, Griffith, R-9th, speaking at a town hall meeting in Covington, called for an easing of government regulations to make energy more affordable to consumers and businesses. "With a dependable work force and cheap, affordable energy, we can compete with any country in this world," he… Read more »

With the blessing of House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.), four Republicans and four Democrats from the committee unveiled a bill today that would give U.S. EPA more time to rework its new air pollution limits for industrial boilers. Read more »

In a bipartisan act introduced in the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee June 22, eight legislators called for additional time for the U.S. EPA to fix the Maximum Achievable Control Technology Rules, which have been temporarily suspended. Read more »

AEP, the parent company of Appalachian Power, says it may have to close five power plants, including its Glen Lyn facility in Giles County, because of what it calls an “unrealistic” deadline by the EPA to comply with strict new air pollution standards. Read more »

If the Glen Lyn plant is forced to close by the end of 2014, Appalachian Power Co. customers could pay 10 percent to 15 percent more on their monthly bills as a result of that and other shutdowns, company spokesman Todd Burns said. Read more »

Bipartisan legislation introduced in the US House of Representatives last week would remove barriers for the production of alternative fuels from coal, biomass, algae and waste through loan guarantees and federal fuel contracts. Read more »

Coal is a vital domestic natural resource that powers the U.S. economy. Read more »