GLG News by Oil Sand Experts

    As the referenced article states, there are many benefits in the Emergency Stabilization Act for the coal industry.  One not discussed is the refund of the coal excise tax.  The commentary section discusses this.

    The Emergency Stabilization Act signed into law on October 3, 2008 includes an extension of tax credits for renewable energy and refined coal.  The discussion that follows includes items to consider regarding the refined coal tax credit.

    The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on February 8, 2009 in favor of the plaintiffs that coal plants could not be removed from the list of mercury sources subject to a Maximum Available Control Technology (MACT) standard and the subsequent movements to require EPA to set a...

    The commentary section discusses the current market and outlook for coal railcars

    The fuel-switching from coal to natural gas affects the demand and price for each commodity.  The commentary below discusses what issues are part of the analysis of a utility or merchant fuel buyer on whether to switch fuel sources to fuel power plants.

    Although the year-to-date and outlook for many of the items transported by the U.S. railroads are down, coal transportation has been positive.  The commentary section below discusses the positives of coal transportation for the railroads.

    Court’s decision vacating the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) potentially affects utilities or IPPs long the allowances as described in the section that follows.

    When air pollution retrofits are placed on a power plant, a regulated, investor-owned, utility financially benefits.  An unregulated, independent power producer (IPP) does not necessarily financially benefit.

    The Court’s July 11, 2008 decision vacating the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) caused the price of SO2 emissions allowances to decrease less than the cost of operating a scrubber to reduce the SO2 emissions.  The discussions that follow discuss this and the likelihood...

    As the article points out, natural gas-fired generation may be cheaper than coal-fired generation in certain parts of the nation.  The section below discusses some of the items that go into the decision to fuel switch from coal to natural gas.