Today, in the first major test of President Obamaās Climate Action Plan directive to end financing for overseas coal projects, the U.S. Export Import rejected the financing of U.S. exports to the 1200-megawatt Thai Binh Two coal-fired power plant in Vietnam.
Coal
World Bank Shies Away from Coal But Embraces Natural Gas
Yesterday, the World Bankās Executive Directors agreed to a new āEnergy Sector Directions Paperā which lays out the expected course for the Bankās future energy lending. While there are some encouraging indications that the Bank will move away from coal financing, the increased emphasis on natural gas and large hydropower is likely to undermine the strategyās stated objective of increasing energy access for the poor.
Reaction from Oil Change International to Climate Speech
Oil Change International applauds President Obama today for his show of leadership on climate change. By recognizing that āwe can’t just drill our way out of the energy and climate challenge that we faceā the President has firmly put our nationās commitment to our future and our children above the profits of the fossil fuel industry.
59 Groups Pressure World Bank to Clean Up Energy Lending
Development, faith, human rights, community, and environmental groups from more than 20 countries teamed up today to ask World Bank President Jim Kim to end Bank support for all fossil fuel projects unless the projects are solely focused on directly increasing energy access for the poor.
Petroleum Coke: The Coal Hiding in the Tar Sands
Existing analyses of the impacts of tar sands fail to account for a byproduct of the process that is a major source of climate change causing carbon emissions: petroleum coke – known as petcoke. Petcoke is the coal hiding in North America’s tar sands oil boom.
Thereās coal hiding in the tar sands, and the emissions are not being counted
Increasing petcoke use is a clear result of the increasing production of tar sands bitumen. Petcoke is a seldom discussed yet highly important aspect of the full impacts of tar sands production. Factored into the equation, petcoke puts another strong nail in the coffin of any rational argument for the further exploitation of the tar sands.
World Bank starts swimmin’, but still might sink
Then you better start swimmin’ Or you’ll sink like a stone For the times they are a-changin’. – Bob Dylan After decades of campaign efforts to get the World Bank to stop investing in fossil fuels, it appears that the institution that was for many years the largest source of multilateral public support for the … Read More
Backed By $20 Million From Coal, House Members Approve Polluter Giveaway
In the House of Representativesā final act before its two-month vacation, House Republicans approved 233-175 a pro-coal package on Friday that dismantles or delays an array of public health protections.
Big Coal Plays Dirty
One of Americaās top reporters who exposes the antics of the coal industry is being sued for libel by one of the largest independent coal barons. Ken Ward JR, who has been labelled as āone of the nationās top coal reportersā by Columbia Journalism Review, is being sued by Murray Energy and its owner Bob … Read More
Senators Supporting Inhofeās Toxic Air Resolution Mired in Dirty Energy Money
Senators voted down a resolution aimed at gutting the EPA’s Mercury and Toxics Standards (MATS) for power plants this morning, 46-53. The 46 senators voting for this anti-science and anti-health resolution are awash in campaign contributions from the very companies that would have profited from its success. The average senator voting in favor of S.J. … Read More