coal news stories on Newser

Romney Energy Aide Linked to Coal Industry

Neal Colgrass — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:31:21 CDT

An energy advisor who helped craft Mitt Romney's pro-coal policy also runs a lobbying firm that's paid by, you guessed it, a big coal company. Ex-Missouri senator Jim Talent co-chairs the lobbying firm Mercury Public Affairs, which receives $125,000 a year from Peabody Energy to promote its coal interests,...

Gas Grills Are Un-American

Evann Gastaldo — Sun, 29 May 2011 12:15:00 CDT

Gas grilling isn’t just lazy: “It's nihilism in a tank, and it has to stop now,” writes Josh Ozersky in a passionate ode to charcoal grilling. His effusive Time column rhapsodizes about coal, elevating it to the level of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (“It shouldn't require an...

Epic Floods Close Australia's Coal Mines

Kevin Spak — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:52:14 CST

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...

Miner's Family: He Knew the Risks

Nick McMaster — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:27:02 CDT

The family of one of the 25 men killed in Monday's coal mine explosion in West Virginia says he went to work every day fully aware of the risks. "He thanked the Lord for watching over him in the mines for over 30 years," the sister of 62-year-old Benny Willingham...

Tanker in Danger of Breaking Up on Great Barrier Reef

Sun, 04 Apr 2010 11:11:19 CDT

A coal-laden ship that ran aground at full speed some 9 miles outside a shipping lane in protected waters was leaking oil on Australia's Great Barrier Reef and in danger of breaking apart, officials said today. Authorities fear an oil spill will damage the world's largest coral reef, which is...

Buffett's Railroad Buy Is a (Smart) Bet on Coal

Nick McMaster — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:56:00 CST

Berkshire Hathaway’s acquisition of railroad operator Burlington North Santa Fe is really a "huge bet" by Warren Buffett on the coal industry, writes Steve Gelsi . Burlington hauls more coal than anything else, and the material accounted for a quarter of its third-quarter revenue. Buffett already is heavily invested in coal—...

Coal Harms the Planet —and Owns the Senate

Jason Farago — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:32:55 CDT

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...

Energy Lobby Split on Climate, Thrilling Greens

Jason Farago — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:30:00 CDT

With the Senate set to consider legislation to tax carbon and rein in global warming, a split has emerged among the energy lobby that may make it easier to pass a clean-energy law. Natural gas producers favor a bill, while their colleagues in the oil industry oppose it; electric companies...

Greenpeace: 3 China Firms Emit More Carbon Than All of UK

Rob Quinn — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:00:00 CDT

China's inefficient power plants and heavy reliance on coal are dragging down global efforts to curb climate change, a Greenpeace report warned yesterday. The report found that major Chinese power companies are responsible for a huge amount of the country's coal use and emissions, with the top three producers alone...