In 2007, the United States produced over 131 million tons of coal combustion products from the nation’s 1,308 coal-fired power plants. This 131 million tons of residuals must go somewhere, and has to be handled in a precise, controlled manner – especially ever since the EPA, under the Obama administration,… Read More
Earlier in October, a Southern utility was dealt another setback by the courts when a U.S. District Court judge rejected the energy company’s latest motion to dismiss claims from environmentalist groups. The decision continues a legal action initiated against the utility by the Yadkin Riverkeeper and Waterkeeper Alliance, regarding claims… Read More
According to researchers in Sweden, a new material used in biomass beds can increase efficiency of waste while decreasing costs for biomass boilers. The bed material – metal oxide – could be a replacement for sand and other conventional materials used in beds for boilers, based on its oxygen-carrying properties…. Read More
What is the true cost of poor coal ash handling procedures and systems that aren’t up to current standards? Try $102 million. That’s the total number a utility company in the South paid to the EPA in February, 2015 for coal ash contamination in an alleged 14 coal ash storage… Read More
Market research on the biomass power generation market by a market research firm suggests that not only will biomass rapidly expand as a power source by 2022; a significant portion of the growth will come in the form of co-firing and CHP projects. The report suggests that the dominant form… Read More
On September 30, the EPA released a new final rule that will impact over 1,080 gas, coal, and nuclear power plants – as well as any new plants that come online – when it comes to power plant discharges and ash handling. The rule, a modification for existing regulation 40… Read More
Earlier this month, we wrote on the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the Clean Air Act’s mercury and air toxics (MATS) provision and how that can impact energy producers. To recap, the Court ruled against the EPA, citing the fact that the agency did not factor costs into consideration when… Read More
Times are changing for the energy industry. The advent of biomass over the past decade – while not completely commonplace or even a major contributor – has helped to threaten the traditional power producers, as have other alternative forms of energy. Plus, the Obama Administration’s focus on limiting and reducing… Read More
