Refined Coal – Things to Consider as a Result of Changes to Tax Credit Qualification
October 7, 2008
Congress Extends Refined Coal Tax Credit | www.marketwatch.com
The Emergency Stabilization Act signed into law on October 3, 2008 includes an extension of tax credits for renewable energy and refined coal. The discussion that follows includes items to consider regarding the refined coal tax credit.
Activated Carbon for Mercury Control – Potential Demand
September 22, 2008
ADES: Multi-Year Supply Contract with Luminant for Activated Carbon | www.tradingmarkets.com
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on February 8, 2009 in favor of the plaintiffs that coal plants could not be removed from the list of mercury sources subject to a Maximum Available Control Technology (MACT) standard and the subsequent movements to require EPA to set a mercury MACT standard for coal-fired power plants provides an opportunity in the mercury control space, including activated carbon.
September 22, 2008
UBS Cuts FreightCar America to ‘Sell’ on Price | www.forbes.com
The commentary section discusses the current market and outlook for coal railcars
Natural Gas vs. Coal Generating Economics
September 22, 2008
NYMEX Natural Gas Rises with Crude, Damage Reports | www.forbes.com
The fuel-switching from coal to natural gas affects the demand and price for each commodity. The commentary below discusses what issues are part of the analysis of a utility or merchant fuel buyer on whether to switch fuel sources to fuel power plants.
Coal Transportation Outlook for the Railroads
September 22, 2008
Railroad Shipping | www.logisticsmgmt.com
Although the year-to-date and outlook for many of the items transported by the U.S. railroads are down, coal transportation has been positive. The commentary section below discusses the positives of coal transportation for the railroads.
Clean Air Ruling’s Potential Affect on Utilities and IPPs Long SO2 and NOx Allowances
August 19, 2008
Clean Air Ruling Raises Doubts Over Investments | www.cattlenetwork.com
Court’s decision vacating the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) potentially affects utilities or IPPs long the allowances as described in the section that follows.
August 18, 2008
Proposal Would Cut Oregon Coal Plant’s Haze-Causing Pollution | www.oregonlive.com
When air pollution retrofits are placed on a power plant, a regulated, investor-owned, utility financially benefits. An unregulated, independent power producer (IPP) does not necessarily financially benefit.
CAIR Ruling Makes it Cheaper to Turn Off/Bypass Scrubbers, But Unlikely to Happen
August 18, 2008
Power Failure: A Court Defeat for the EPA Leaves it Up to Congress to Tackle Utilities' Air Pollution | www.washingtonpost.com
The Court’s July 11, 2008 decision vacating the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) caused the price of SO2 emissions allowances to decrease less than the cost of operating a scrubber to reduce the SO2 emissions. The discussions that follow discuss this and the likelihood of this happening.
Coal- to Gas-Fired Generation Considerations: It is Not Just Fuel Economics
August 18, 2008
Gas Drop Buoys Dynegy, Mirant in Slowing U.S. Economy | www.bloomberg.com
As the article points out, natural gas-fired generation may be cheaper than coal-fired generation in certain parts of the nation. The section below discusses some of the items that go into the decision to fuel switch from coal to natural gas.
Court Decision Striking Down CAIR Affect on SO2 Allowance Pricing
July 14, 2008
Clean Air Efforts Suffer Two Setbacks | www.philly.com
The court decision striking down the Clean Air Interstate Rule will have an affect on SO2 allowances and the SO2 premium earned by coal suppliers.
Shale gas abundance provides new options for energy companies
February 13, 2012
Chesapeake Energy bites the natural gas bullet
January 25, 2012
Flurry of newbuild drilling rig deliveries in 2012 may dampen rig rates
January 20, 2012
Talisman joins the ranks of cautious E&P companies
January 12, 2012
Early signs of caution begin to cloud frontier exploration and production
January 4, 2012