Coal

EartherEnergy

The End of Coal Culture

The fossil fuel defined economies and local traditions. What happens when it goes away?

Siri Chilukuri & John McCracken, Grist Published October 6, 2023

EartherEnergy

Michael Bloomberg Is Throwing $500 Million at Efforts to Shut Down All U.S. Coal Plants

Efforts from Bloomberg Philanthropies have helped shut down more than half of the coal plants in the country.

By Angely Mercado Published September 21, 2023

EartherClimate Change

Steel Built the Rust Belt. Can Green Steel Rebuild It?

Steel made using hydrogen and powered by renewable energy could drastically reduce carbon emissions and employ a well-paid, industrial workforce.

Katie Myers, Grist Published May 15, 2023

EartherEnergy

Oil and Gas Production Causes 7,500 Premature Deaths Per Year

New research sheds light on the health impacts of the production of fossil fuels across the country.

By Molly Taft Published May 9, 2023

EartherEnergy

Why the Longest Coal Strike in Alabama History Ended With No New Contract

As coal declines, miners' unions are struggling to bargain for better conditions.

Tushar Khurana, Grist Published March 21, 2023

EartherEnergy

Why North Dakota Could Sue Minnesota Over Clean Energy

Interstate feuds threaten to complicate the already-difficult task of getting regional power grids off fossil fuels.

Zoya Teirstein, Grist Published March 2, 2023

EartherEnergy

Coal in the U.S. Is Pointlessly Expensive

An analysis finds that almost all the coal plants in the U.S. are pricier to run than building new renewable energy facilities.

By Molly Taft Published January 30, 2023

EartherEnvironmental Justice

90% of U.S. Coal Plants Are Contaminating Groundwater, Report Finds

And nearly half have no plans to clean up their mess.

Lylla Younes, Grist Published November 4, 2022

EartherEnergy

These Floating ‘Leaves’ Make Energy From Sunlight and Water

Researchers in the UK rolled out a prototype last week of a paper-thin floating fuel cell.

By Molly Taft Published August 22, 2022

Photo: Chris Dorst/Charleston Gazette-Mai

EartherEnergy

God Will Help Us Fix Climate Change, so ‘Drill Baby Drill,’ West Virginia Governor Says

Jim Justice says we don't need to stop burning fossil fuels, because God will give us time to deal with climate change later.

By Molly Taft Published March 15, 2022

EartherEnergy

Coal Plant Won’t Pay Its Rent, but Can Pay Joe Manchin

A power plant that buys coal waste from a Manchin-owned company is 10 years behind on rent.

By Molly Taft Published February 16, 2022

EartherEnergy

West Virginia Starts New Fake Culture War Against Blackrock

The coal state says it won't use money from BlackRock, whose CEO recently defended the bank's continued investment in fossil fuels. (Yes, this makes no sense.)

By Molly Taft Published January 18, 2022

EartherEnergy

The Energy Department Blew $1.1 Billion on Carbon Capture Projects That Were Mostly Failures

A watchdog report found that the government was eager to throw money at projects that never got off the ground.

By Molly Taft Published January 11, 2022

EartherEnergy

Manchin-Connected Coal Plant Tries to Pivot to Crypto, Fails

The main buyer of a dirty coal byproduct sold by one of Sen. Joe Manchin's companies won't be using it to mine bitcoin anytime soon.

By Molly Taft Published January 7, 2022

EartherClimate Change

Coal Miners Union to Joe Manchin: Stop Sucking

The United Mine Workers of America put out a statement asking the West Virginia senator to reconsider killing the Build Back Better Act.

By Brian Kahn Published December 21, 2021

EartherEnergy

I Can’t Stop Watching These Power Plant Demolition Videos

There's something soothing about the dull thud of explosions followed by a cloud of dust as fossil fuel infrastructure comes tumbling down.

By Brian Kahn Published November 25, 2021

EartherEnergy

Dammit, Coal’s Back

U.S. coal-fired output will increase by 22% in 2021, according to new federal data. It's the first increase since 2014.

By Dharna Noor Published October 19, 2021

EartherEnvironmental Justice

The Fossil Fuel Industry Is Killing Pennsylvania Twice Over

Coal wrought ecological, public health, and economic havoc in Pennsylvania. Now, the fracking industry is doing it all over again.

By Dharna Noor Published October 19, 2021

EartherEnergy

A Multibillion-Dollar Clean Coal Plant Never Worked, and Now It’s Been Imploded

RIP to parts of the Kemper plant, a pointless money-and-coal hole.

By Molly Taft Published October 14, 2021

EartherEnergy

China’s Xi Jinping Says Country Will Stop Financing Coal-Fired Power Abroad

The move would take away the largest remaining source of money for international coal projects. But details, including when money will stop flowing, are vague.

By Molly Taft Published September 21, 2021