OAKLAND - The developer of the proposed coal-to-diesel plant in the Oakland area has signed a lease to mine local coal to supply the plant.
Energy development company American Clean Coal Fuels of Vancouver, Wash., signed the lease Wednesday with the Embarras Valley Coal Association.
“This is a major step forward,” said American Clean Coal Fuels President [...]

AUSTIN — A coalition of environmental groups and local governments won more time Wednesday to prepare their case against TXU Corp.’s efforts to build six coal-fired power plants.
A panel of administrative judges slowed the permitting process a day after a state district judge blocked Gov. Rick Perry’s executive order fast-tracking the permitting process for [...]

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A subsidiary of Richmond-based Massey Energy faces a fine of up to 200-thousand dollars after pleading guilty to failing to perform a safety examination at a West Virginia coal mine.
White Buck Coal Company also faces up to five years probation. Sentencing is set for May 15th in federal court in Charleston.
White Buck [...]

WACO — On the eve of hearings on six of the 11 coal-burning power plants that TXU wants to build in a hurry across the state, a judge in Austin ruled that Governor Rick Perry never had the authority to fast-track permits for the new plants in the first place.
It is unclear whether Goliath will [...]

The founders of the Dallas-based Texas Business for Clean Air, an unlikely coalition of free-market well-to-dos formed to oppose Texas’ 17 proposed pulverized coal power plants, paid a visit to Austin last week. Co-founder David Litman, the father of Hotels.com, argues that utilities’ coal proposals, especially those of TXU (proposing 11 plants), don’t reflect the [...]

AUSTIN — The permitting process for six coal-fired plants was pushed back four months today, as an administrative panel of judges granted a request from environmental groups who wanted more time to prepare their cases in opposition.
A day after a state court blocked Gov. Rick Perry’s order fast-tracking the permits, a panel of administrative judges [...]

It’s a little weird, but one of the big topics at the Cleantech Forum taking place this week is coal.
“Coal is going to be an enduring fuel source for the next 50 years, or even the next 100 years,” said Kevin Skillern, senior vice president of General Electric Energy Financial Services.
Skillern’s comment was similar to [...]

AUSTIN - A coalition of environmental groups and local governments won more time Wednesday to prepare their case against TXU Corp.’s efforts to build six controversial coal-fired power plants.
A panel of administrative judges slowed the permitting process a day after a state district judge blocked Gov. Rick Perry’s executive order fast-tracking the permitting process for [...]

FOURTEEN prospective Pilbara iron ore miners have formed a fledgling alliance to fight for access to critical transport infrastructure in the region, including the massive port and rail networks of mining giants BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto.
The so-called Pilbara Iron Ore Alliance will aim to present a united front to lobby for infrastructure access and [...]

ASHVILLE — More than 250 people showed up for a special hearing held by the state Oil and Gas Board on Friday to discuss the development of a big new energy field in St. Clair County.
The crowd packed into the Old Courthouse in Ashville heard plans proposed by natural gas field operator Dominion Resources to [...]