Thousands of residents protest Chinese town’s planned coal power plant, clash with police
Gillian Wong, Associated Press in Washington Post, December 20, 2011
BEIJING — Thousands of people besieged a government office in a southern Chinese town Tuesday and blocked a highway to demand a halt to a planned coal-fired power plant because of concerns about pollution, protesters said.
RTI (Ridley Terminals) reaches another long-term agreement for up to 900,000 tonnes per year
By Shaun Thomas, The Northern View, December 15, 2011
Ridley Terminals has reached another long term agreement with a coal company that could result in significantly more volume being moved through Prince Rupert.
Can BC be a climate leader?
Voters Taking Action on Climate Change, November 15, 2011
Native community resists Clark’s coal-mine cajoling
Justine Hunter, Globe and Mail, Nov. 10, 2011
On Dec. 22, 1854, the Snuneymuxw people signed a treaty that provided them with 668 blankets. In exchange, British settlers got to mine the rich coal seam in their territory.
Coal mine a non-starter, B.C. first nation says
By Scott Simpson, Vancouver Sun, November 11, 2011
A northeast British Columbia first nation chief confirmed Thursday that it rejects an $860-million, China-financed coal mine that was championed this week by Premier Christy Clark during her trade mission to Asia.
Chinese firms bet big on B.C. coal
By Tom Fletcher, BC Local News, Victoria News, November 09, 2011
Premier Christy Clark continued her trade mission in China Wednesday with the announcement of a $1.36 billion in investments by Chinese companies to develop two new coal mines in northeast B.C.
Energy and Mines Minister Rich Coleman on Voice of BC
Rich Coleman and Vaughn Palmer, Voice of BC, Oct 27, 2011
Minister of Energy, Mines and Housing talks to Vaughn Palmer about an array of interesting topics about electricity, natural gas, shale gas, mining, smart meters, carbon neutrality, deferral accounts, BC's GHG.
Asian demand for coal, lumber continues to drive B.C.'s export growth
By Bryan Yu, Vancouver Sun, October 15, 2011
Merchandise exports from B.C. are a source of strength this year, despite a sluggish U.S. economy and a high currency, thanks to the province's trade with Asia.
Current dollar exports are up 14.1 per cent through August compared to the same period last year.
The Coming Decline and Fall of Big Coal
By Jeff Goodell, Rolling Stone, September 28, 2011
AP ran a great story yesterday about the coming decline of the coal industry in Appalachia that I fear is not going to get nearly the attention it deserves. Because if you think about this story seriously for more than 30 seconds, you will come to see that it has huge implications not only for future U.S. energy policy but also for the coming presidential election.
No silver bullets, just wishful thinking
Brian Kieran, Monday Magazine, 09/28/2011
"Having observed the provincial government duck for cover in the face of lesser environmental opposition, I think it is a safe bet that the Raven mine will not be one of the eight [mines] approved by 2015 — if ever."
Expanding B.C. coal industry nearly doubles province's global warming pollution
Media Release, Dogwood Initiative, 27 Sep 2011
Victoria, B.C. — A report released by the Dogwood Initiative today reveals the rapidly expanding global warming impacts of B.C. coal and criticizes the provincial government for allowing these emissions to grow unchecked.
No showdown when coal miners, clean energy advocates come to town
Gordon Hamilton, Vancouver Sun, September 26, 2011
You could be forgiven for thinking it was an energy showdown. On the southeast corner of Georgia and Burrard, Canada’s coal industry was holding its annual conference Monday at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.
Crumbling coal demand signals slowing Asian economy
David Ebner, Globe and Mail, Sep. 21, 2011
VANCOUVER— Demand for coal, a key ingredient in steel-making, is faltering, a worrisome sign that industrial activity in Asia - a major driver of global growth - has weakened.
News of weak demand from Asia hurts metallurgical coal producers
Peter Koven, National Post, Sept. 22, 2011
For anyone counting on fastgrowing Asian economies to prop up the West, this is not good news.
On Wednesday, Virginia-based Alpha Natural Resources Inc. slashed its 2011 guidance for metallurgical coal shipments by as much as 12%. It noted surprisingly weak customer demand in Asia as one of the key factors.
Ruling puts conditions on contentious coal plant
By Rebecca Penty, Calgary Herald, August 11, 2011
The Alberta Utilities Commission is requiring Maxim Power Corp. to address various potential environmental and community affects arising from its contentious HR Milner coal plant expansion, in a decision issued late Wednesday afternoon.
Groups call on Minister Kent to ensure Maxim Power’s proposed coal plant plays by the rules
News Release, Climate Action Network, August 11, 2011
OTTAWA – More than 40 diverse civil society organizations from across Canada have signed on to a letter calling on federal Environment Minister Peter Kent to protect the integrity of Canada’s forthcoming coal regulations by ensuring that this proposed new coal plant is not permitted to evade Ottawa’s rules.
A coal-fired plant and the lie of the land
MARK JACCARD, Globe and Mail, Aug. 11, 2011
Stephen Harper can’t allow new coal-fired electricity plants to be built, such as the one Maxim Power is proposing in Alberta, and achieve his promise to reduce Canadian greenhouse-gas emissions 17 per cent by 2020. As a researcher of energy-economy systems, I say this with virtual certainty. I also know that any scholar in my field would agree with me, and that the Prime Minister’s expert advisers would tell him the same thing. The reasons are simple.
Coal power plant expansion challenged in court
By Rebecca Penty, Calgary Herald, August 3, 2011
Applicants charge approval allows sidestepping of future federal rules
CALGARY — Environmental groups opposed to a coal power plant expansion in western Alberta have launched court action against the provincial utilities regulator and the local proponent, arguing approval of the project was fast-tracked so it could skirt forthcoming federal coal rules.
Blockbuster news for the anti-coal movement: Bloomberg is all in
When I was in Brazil last month, I had a chance to talk to NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and I asked him what the federal government can do to help cities. His answer had to do with federal regulations; specifically, he said something like, "cities can't force a dirty coal plant to shut down." I thought, hm, what an interesting example! Sounds like coal is on his mind.
Why Coal Prices Will Soar in the Coming Years
Richard Heinberg, Post-Carbon Institute, 19 July 2011
World energy policy is gripped by a fallacy — the idea that coal is destined to stay cheap for decades to come. This assumption supports investment in ‘clean-coal’ technology and trumps serious efforts to increase energy conservation and develop alternative energy sources. It is an important enough assumption about our energy future that it demands closer examination.
Is BC about to drop a new carbon bomb?
Marc Lee, CCPA Policy Note, July 11th, 2011
Any day now the BC government should be releasing the latest greenhouse gas data for the province, and we will see if any progress is being made towards a legislated 33% reduction in emissions by 2020 (relative to 2007 levels; data will be for 2009 and we know that emissions rose in 2008).
Proposed coal mine faces rocky reception in Vancouver Island community
Rod Mickleburgh, Globe and Mail, Jul. 10, 2011
Union Bay, B.C. - If you go down to the beach here today, you’re in for a big surprise. If you’re from away, that is.
Ottawa faces crucial test in the fight against coal
Clare Demerse, Pembina Institute, July 5, 2011
Just over a year ago, the federal government announced a plan to regulate some of the dirtiest sources of energy in Canada — coal power plants. Now, a decision by an Alberta regulator to approve a new coal plant has put the ball squarely in the federal government's court to live up to one part of that 2010 announcement, namely a commitment to "guard against" companies rushing new coal plants into service in an attempt to skirt the federal proposal.
Tumbler Ridge on verge of rebirth as companies bet on a bright future
By Brian Morton, Vancouver Sun, May 28, 2011
Teck Resources' plan to reopen Quintette mine just one of several projects moving ahead
The tiny community of Tumbler Ridge is poised for a new lease on life with several industrial projects in the works, including the reopening of Teck Resources' Quintette coal mine.
Carbon Bomb: Bill McKibben considers the coal fuse burning at Cherry Point
Tim Johnson, Cascadia Weekly, May 25, 2011
Bellingham has a big decision to shoulder. Author and environmentalist Bill McKibben is cheering us on.
