Usable US Coal Reserves a Fraction of Earlier Estimates

Waters causing 'catastrophic damage' to transportation system

(NEWSER) - The nearly biblical flood that’s washed over Queensland, Australia, is causing massive damage—including the closure of 75% of its coal mines, which supply most of Asia’s steel mills. “That’s a massive impact on the international markets,” observed Premier Anna Bligh in a TV interview. She said the waters were also causing “catastrophic damage” to the transportation system in the state. “Without doubt, this disaster is without precedent in its size and scale here,” she said. More»

Blame industry as well as ideology if US shirks Copenhagen

(NEWSER) - As the world turns to Copenhagen this December, the US, which never ratified the Kyoto Protocol, may once again fail to sign up to save the world from serious climate change. Ideology plays a part, Jeffrey Sachs notes, as many Republican senators are "intent on derailing any Obama initiative." But the bigger problem is economic: No fewer than 25 states produce coal, and the odds of winning even Democratic senators' votes from those states are daunting. More»

(NEWSER) - Clean coal is a myth, and the companies selling it “have their heads stuck in the mine,” Thomas Kostigen writes on MarketWatch. Although Americans generate close to 50% of their energy from coal, the technology is so yesterday—and the industry is not poised to move forward. It “should be looking to invest in its own replacement,” Kostigen writes, “because someone somewhere is going to invent it, and then where will they be?” More»

Xcel agrees to first pact of its kind with NY AG

(NEWSER) - A major builder of coal-fired power plants has agreed to fully inform investors of the risks global warming poses to its business in a landmark deal with New York's attorney general. Green groups hope the agreement by Xcel Energy will spur other firms to follow suit, reports the New York Times. More»

Chronic electricity shortages belie booming economy

(NEWSER) - India's economy is growing so fast it has outstripped its electrical capacity, leaving burgeoning businesses, industries and homes to generate their own power with soot-belching diesel-powered generators for hours every day. Half of India's populace has no connection to the grid at all, and new construction often goes up without any plan for supplying electricity. More»