Forget cleaner air, it's discrimination! -- Why US politics might not be ready for an energy transition June 21, 2021updated 18 Jun 2021 4:38pm
Terrible heading as the energy transition is clearly well underway, U.S. renewable energy consumption surpasses coal for the first time in over 130 years https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=43895# but clearly some states are working hard to stop LOL discrimination against fossil fuels. Two pieces of coal talking. Hey Clem, You suffering discrimination too? You bet, Jed, Is bad man. We are being downtrodden badly. Some good cartoon material there. Anyway, digging down a bit:
The cold, coaled north: Coal in Wyoming and Montana
In May, state governors in Wyoming created a fund to take legal action against other states that choose renewables over coal. Governors devoted $1.2m of funds toward suing states that ‘discriminate’ against coal. A spokesperson for State Governor Mark Gordon said Wyoming is ‘prepared to bring litigation to protect her interests’.
The mountainous state mined 283 million tons of coal in 2018. Some of this generated 86% of the state’s power, while approximately 90% of it left the state. With more than one-third of all US coal production, Wyoming’s state legislature uses its power to boost the local coal industry whenever it can. [...] The Southern Powerhouse: Texas and Louisiana
The US South loves oil and oil loves the US South. Texas, the self-proclaimed ‘energy capital of the world’, exported $329bn of oil in 2019, one-fifth of the US total. [...] Last week, Texas’ state governor signed a new law making investment firms ineligible for state funds if they refuse to invest in oil and gas companies. Environmental investment funds have expanded massively in recent years, but from September these firms would have 90 days to stop perceived boycotts. If they do not, state agencies will divest their funds and add the investors to a no-trade list.
Analysis submitted by the bill’s proposers stated: “The burgeoning fossil fuel discrimination movement is denying capital to our responsible, hard-working energy businesses, which means the energy we need will be less affordable and less secure.”
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