We use cookies to give you the best online experience. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our cookie policy. Learn more here.Close Me
A push from two
Pennsylvania congressmen to extend
fees charged on coal
production to help finance the cleanup of abandoned mine
lands (AML) could put financial
pressure on coal producers
well into the
future.
Reps. Glenn Thompson
(R-Pa.) and Matt
Cartwright (D-Pa.) are set to
introduce the Abandoned
Mine Land Reauthorization
Act that would
require coal producers
to continue paying fees
that are currently set to expire in 2021. If
this new push from
the Pennsylvania
congressmen (which is
generating bipartisan support) is
successful, the fees will be extended until 2036.
Under the legislation
as it stands today,
coal producers on their production
pay 28 cents in fees per
ton of surface
coal, 12 cents per
ton of underground
coal, and 8 cents
per ton of lignite
coal. These fees are funneled into a fund dedicated to
cleanup efforts across the country and also pay for health benefits
of certain retired coal miners. Supporters
of the fees say
it’s vital to the
recovery of these AML sites
that are
leading to the costly
pollution of surrounding
areas.
Allowing Coal to
Flourish
Continuing to charge
these fees could further harm
the health of the U.S. coal industry,
which has recently
experienced its fair
share of setbacks. While
many in the media are ready to pronounce the coal industry dead,
coal is far from going extinct
and remains a
critical element of
the broader U.S.
energy picture. It’s
true that natural
gas has emerged as
the country’s crown
jewel of
energy consumption, but
coal still remains one
of the most widely
used sources of energy in
many parts of the U.S.
The industry has an opportunity work with
legislators to ensure this
positive momentum continues and
the U.S. maintains its domestic and
global energy dominance.
The good news is there has been progress in the energy sector.
Recently, lawmakers have taken action
to speed project permit
approval times for certain
renewable energy projects and create
clearer pathways for
future pipeline
construction. But at
the same time,
some state governments
have set
somewhat unrealistic and
overly aggressive
climate plans to
reduce greenhouse
gas emissions that could hinder the
industry’s growth.
While the AML
Reauthorization Act will help fund the
cleanup of abandoned mines,
it’s important that these
rules do not overly
punish an industry
that’s already
under pressure.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.
To print this article, all you need is to be registered on Mondaq.com.
Click to Login as an existing user or Register so you can print this article.
On September 20, 2019, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) filed a Notice of Public Review of the proposed 225 CMR 21.00, the Clean Peak Energy Portfolio Standard regulation.
Community choice aggregators (CCAs) are growing in popularity as an alternative electricity provider for communities that want more local control over their energy mix.
Whilst presenting the 2020 budget to the National Assembly on October 8, 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari (the "President") noted that the amendment of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued an Order Assessing Civil Penalties, imposing approximately $1.5 million in civil penalties on Vitol Inc. and one million dollars in penalties on a ...
Gain access to Mondaq global archive of over 375,000 articles covering 200 countries with a personalised News Alert and automatic login on this device.
BLM Loses Another Case Regarding Energy Development On Federal Lands (Video)
