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• Lawsuit challenges coal mine approvals in 4 states

  February 28, 2013 3:29 PM

  BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - An environmental group has filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to overturn government approvals for seven coal mines in four states. Jeremy Nichols with WildEarth Guardians in Denver said Thursday that the Department of Interior's approvals were illegal because no public notice was given. At... more »

• Train hits truck in Grand Junction, no injuries reported

  September 22, 2012 8:00 PM

  GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) - Authorities are investigating after a coal train headed to Kentucky hit a truck that was stranded on the tracks in Grand Junction. The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reports the Union Pacific train with three locomotives and 104 cars hit the truck at about 2 a.m.... more »

• Experts: Some fracking critics use bad science

  July 22, 2012 12:37 PM

  PITTSBURGH (AP) - In the debate over natural gas drilling, the companies are often the ones accused of twisting the facts. But scientists say opponents sometimes mislead the public, too. Critics of fracking often raise alarms about groundwater pollution, air pollution and cancer risks, and there are still many uncertainties.... more »

• Deal would speed cuts in western coal pollution

  June 19, 2011 11:49 AM

  BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - Aging coal-fired power plants across the West could be forced to install costly pollution control equipment under a new agreement between federal regulators and environmentalists. Many utilities already have cut air emissions in recent years to meet health standards. Next up are even deeper cuts... more »

• Small fire flares up at power plant

  May 2, 2011 3:08 PM

  A small fire has started up again at the Comanche Power Plant southeast of Pueblo. We first reported on it, more than a week ago on April 24. It was burning in coal bins which supply the plant with fuel. The Pueblo Fire Department reported this afternoon the... more »

• Colorado asked to reconsider phasing out coal fired power plants

  January 4, 2011 7:45 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Coal interests are asking Colorado regulators to reconsider a plan for Xcel Energy to retire or replace some of its coal-fired power plants. The Public Utilities Commission last month approved a $1.4 billion plan for Xcel to close five coal-fired units in Denver and Boulder, build... more »

• Coal train derails near Pueblo Airport

  November 27, 2010 12:27 PM

  A coal train bound for Texas derailed east of Pueblo Saturday morning, crashing 32 rail cars and spilling tons of coal. The accident happened near the intersection of U.S. 50 and Baxter Road, near the Pueblo airport. A spokeswoman for the BNSF railroad said no one was hurt in... more »

• Palisade considers tax increase for fire services

  October 19, 2010 8:34 AM

  Palisade voters are being asked for a property tax increase that supporters say will help the town's fire protection district after a loss of funding. Palisade Rural Fire Protection District Treasurer Maggie Somerville says the property tax increase is needed because the town will lose $50,000 in revenue when... more »

• Coal industry group challenges PUC

  October 13, 2010 7:27 PM

  DENVER (AP) - A Colorado coal-industry group has asked two public utilities commissioners to recuse themselves from considering a plan by Xcel Energy to switch some power plants to run on natural gas instead of coal. A new state law required Xcel Energy to file a plan to cut... more »

• Hearing on Xcel energy plan

  August 30, 2010 9:39 AM

  State regulators are gathering comment on Xcel Energy's plan to use less coal to produce electricity. The Colorado Public Utilities Commission will hold a hearing on the plan Monday in Grand Junction starting at 6 p.m. Xcel has proposed spending $1.3 billion to convert coal-fired power plants to... more »

• Black Hills Energy mulls power plant options

  August 20, 2010 11:38 AM

  Black Hills Energy is studying two options for its coal-fired power plant in Canon City to comply with a new Colorado law aimed at cutting pollution from power plants. The company says it is studying whether to convert the plant to woody biomass or shutter it and expand a... more »

• Surprise inspections must remain a surprise

  May 28, 2010 2:33 PM

  A federal judge has ordered a Kentucky mining company to stop alerting miners to surprise inspections by federal regulators. U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove in London, Ky., issued the order Friday barring Manalapan Mining Co. from warning underground miners that inspectors are on site. The tips are a... more »

• Colorado pushes natural gas to cut plant emissions

  April 19, 2010 1:07 PM

  A measure pushing Colorado's largest utility toward using more natural gas to cut emissions is now law. Gov. Bill Ritter signed the bill Monday in a ceremony on the Capitol's West Steps. He was surrounded by representatives of the unlikely alliance that helped pass the bill - the natural... more »

• Six dead in West Virginia coal mine explosion

  April 5, 2010 7:09 PM

  The state mine director says six miners are dead and 21 missing following a West Virginia coal mine explosion. Ron Wooten says initial reports are that the explosion occurred about 3 p.m. at Massey Energy's Performance Coal Co. mine in Raleigh County, about 30 miles south of Charleston. Emergency... more »

• Colorado gas-coal fight could preview national battle

  March 28, 2010 12:14 PM

  A plan to clean up Colorado's air is pitting two powerful industries - natural gas and coal - against each other in what could be a warm-up for a national fight over confronting climate change. The plan would require Xcel Energy Inc. to either replace several aging coal-fired power plant... more »

• China doubles wind power in single year

  February 4, 2010 10:00 AM

  China doubled the amount of energy generated from windmills last year, a report from the global wind industry said Wednesday. The Global Wind Energy Council, which represents companies that make and manage wind power stations, said the sector grew rapidly last year - with total wind capacity up 31... more »

• Study sees parking lot dust as a cancer risk

  January 12, 2010 11:14 AM

  Chemicals in a cancer-causing substance used to seal pavement, parking lots and driveways across the U.S. are showing up at alarming levels in dust in homes, prompting concerns about the potential health effects of long-term exposure, a new study shows. The substance is coal tar sealant, a waste product... more »

• Michigan will sue to protect Great Lakes from carp

  December 7, 2009 11:23 AM

  Michigan's attorney general says he will sue to try to force the closure of Chicago-area locks to protect the Great Lakes from the invasive Asian carp. Attorney General Mike Cox said in a statement Sunday that the federal lawsuit will be filed soon but his office did not provide an... more »

• Freight train derails, dumps coal in Houston

  November 23, 2009 2:26 PM

  A freight train carrying coal has derailed in southwest Houston. No injuries were reported. At least a dozen cars including some seen crumpled next to each other went off the tracks when the train derailed late Monday morning. A Union Pacific spokeswoman did not immediately return a call seeking comment.... more »

• Colorado lawmakers ask Congress to limit energy bill

  November 18, 2009 11:24 AM

  Colorado state lawmakers are asking the U.S. Senate to limit funding for coal and nuclear energy as Congress moves to pass an energy bill. The 20 state lawmakers, all Democrats, say too much emphasis on coal and nuclear energy would reduce funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. The... more »

• Western states stress energy cooperation

  October 26, 2009 8:14 AM

  State lawmakers from around the West are gathering in the northern Wyoming resort town of Jackson over the next few days to figure out how to get better coordinated on energy issues. The Senate this week is set to debate a bill intended to cut greenhouse gases by about 80... more »

• EPA cracks the whip on coal-fired power plants

  October 24, 2009 7:00 AM

  In a move praised by activists as a way to save lives but criticized by industry as potentially driving up electricity costs, the Obama administration has agreed to adopt rules reducing toxic emissions of mercury, soot and other chemicals from all coal-fired power plants in the U.S. Activists on... more »

• Tennessee ash spill community getting $40M from TVA

  September 14, 2009 12:19 PM

  The Tennessee Valley Authority will provide $40 million to help restore the image and economy of a Tennessee community that suffered a massive coal ash spill from a TVA power plant. Roane County and TVA officials announced the award Monday from the steps of the county courthouse. The TVA payment... more »

• EPA identifies 79 coal mine permits for review

  September 11, 2009 12:46 PM

  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified 79 coal mine permit applications in four Appalachian states for additional scrutiny. The agency said Friday it wants to make certain the proposed surface mines won't cause water pollution and violate the Clean Water Act. The mines are in West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio... more »