News

Coal export battle hinges on commerce clause

A pair of energy-producing states may face ideological challenges in their quest for a high court review of Washington state’s blockade against the last major coal export project on the West Coast. Wyoming and Montana argued in a Supreme Court petition yesterday that Washington regulators violated constitutional protections on interstate commerce when they denied a Clean Water […]

Analysis: Interim Deal Brings Relief to US Coking Coal (Argus)

US coal mining firms — having contended with coking coal prices at three-year lows in 2019, a string of chapter 11 bankruptcy filings and mine closures — welcomed yesterday’s signing by the US and China of the “phase-one” trade deal. China agreed to more than double its energy purchases — LNG, crude, products and coal […]

West Virginia Governor, Putting Trump’s Name on the Line for Re-Election, Says He’s Been Asked to Help Pitch Coal to China (Metro News)

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice filed the official paperwork for President Donald Trump to be on West Virginia ballots and also told media the story of an outreach duty the president gave him on a telephone call yesterday. Trump on Wednesday signed an economic deal that commits China to buy an additional $200 billion in […]

California City Bans Coal, Blocking Key Export Route to Asia

A critical route for American coal exports to Asia is drying up after yet another U.S. port city passed a law to bar the fuel from leaving its shores. Lawmakers in Richmond, California, late Tuesday voted to impose a ban on coal, targeting a terminal that handles about a quarter of exports from the U.S. West […]

Washington governor is hurting environment, helping Putin

Failed Democratic presidential candidate and Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee is abusing the Clean Water Act and taking energy projects hostage. Instead of protecting the environment, he is playing into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin uses energy as an international political weapon. Russia is building two new natural gas pipelines from Siberia. […]

US coal exports stabilize after reaching 3-year low

US coal exports recovered slightly in November after reaching a three-year low the previous month, but still lagged year-earlier levels, government data show. A total 7.49mn short tons (6.8mn metric tonnes) of coal left US ports in November, according to US Census Bureau data released today. That compared with 8.92mn st a year earlier and […]

US Hampton Roads coal exports continue slide

Coal exports out of Hampton Roads, Virginia, fell from a year earlier in November, marking a 10th month of year-on-year declines. Port loadings dropped to 2.76mn short tons (2.5mn metric tonnes) from 3.11mn st in November 2018, according to estimates from the Virginia Maritime Association. Volumes rose from a nearly three-year low of 2.35mn st […]

Coal exports choked by green-minded towns on West Coast

It’s about to get harder for America’s miners to ship coal to Asia. On Tuesday, the city of Richmond, California, is expected to approve a ban on coal at a terminal that accounts for almost a quarter of exports from the U.S. West Coast. The prohibition will shut miners out of one of the few […]

Gordon still undecided over legal response to blocked coal export terminal

Wyoming could still sue Washington in the ongoing battle over a coal export terminal. Gov. Mark Gordon continues to mull an original lawsuit against Washington after the state blocked the construction of the largest coal export terminal on the West Coast, he said in an interview with the Star-Tribune. “I’ve asked Attorney General (Bridget) Hill […]

US coking coal exports decline amid cuts

US coking coal exports fell by 35.1pc on the year to 3.48mn t in October as shipments to Europe and Asia-Pacific declined, trade data show, reflecting steel capacity cuts and lower mine output. As demand has fallen, US coking coal output is expected to decline, with up to seven bankruptcies among mining firms having occurred […]