On Wednesday the Rulemaking Review Committee of the West Virginia Legislature advanced revisions to the state's water quality standards rule related to human health / consumption.  WV DEP has proposed revisions to 24 human health / exposure standards.  The revisions were supported by the West Virginia Coal Association and were developed by a working group that includes industry, environmental and community representatives.  The rule package will be considered by the full Legislature during the 2021 Regular Session.  More detail on the changes can be found at: https://dep.wv.gov/WWE/Programs/wqs/Pages/WQSpublicmeetings.aspx

Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton and Vice President Jason Bostic testified at DEP's public hearing on the Agency's proposed Partial State Plan for EPA's ACE Rule. For context, West Virginia is attempting to be the first state to have its plan approved by the current federal administration the application previously filed by Longview Power to begin immediate and full compliance with EPA's Affordable Clean Energy Rule. Both Hamilton and Bostic spoke in support of DEP's proposed plan which eventually will serve as host for applications form all 8 in state coal-fired plants.

Registration is officially open for the 48th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium scheduled for one day -- January 12, 2021 at the newly renovated Embassy Suites in Charleston. The main speaker’s program will be in the morning of January 12th from 9:00 until noon featuring a lineup of excellent speakers and timely topics geared for mining professionals. Speakers are provided the option to present in-person or virtually. 

The 2020 mine safety and environmental award winners will be announced during the program, but the traditional awards presentation will be reserved for another event to be announced and held later in the year. The afternoon session will be comprised of a membership meeting and a legislative workshop. All COVID protocols and social distancing guidelines will be in effect. For more information or registration, please contact Christine Minardi at CMinardi@wvcoal.com or by calling WVCA at 304-342-4153. 

The West Virginia Board of Coal Mine Health & Safety is updating the body of administrative law governing underground, surface and surface areas of underground coal mining. The Board recently voted to propose the following sets of administrative rules for public comment.  

• Title 36, Series 1 "Shaft and Slope Operation"
• Title 36, Series 5 "Telephone Service or Communications Facility"
• Title 36, Series 14 "Electrical Equipment in Mines; Required Examinations"
• Title 36, Series 25 "Underground Equipment Requirements and Operation"
• Title 36, Series 26 "Construction and Rehabilitation Operations in Underground Mines"
• Title 48, Series 3 "Safety Training Programs for Perspective Surface Coal Miners"

The rules will be open for comment until January 31, 2021.  For more information, contact the Association office at 304-342-4153.

California was the largest net electricity importer of any state in 2019

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, State Electricity Profiles

Electricity routinely flows between the Lower 48 states and, to a lesser extent, between the United States and Canada and Mexico. Electricity generation exceeds electricity consumption in 25 states, and excess electricity is transmitted across state lines—almost 10% of U.S. electricity generation is traded among states. In 2019, California’s net electricity imports were the largest in the country at 70.8 million megawatthours (MWh), or 25% of the state’s total electricity supply. Pennsylvania’s electricity exports were the largest of any state in 2019, at 70.5 million MWh, or 24% of total supply.

California utilities partly own and import power from several power plants in Arizona and Utah. In addition, California’s electricity imports include hydroelectric power from the Pacific Northwest, largely across high-voltage transmission lines running from Oregon to the Los Angeles area.

Pennsylvania’s electricity generation was the third-largest in the nation, behind those of Texas and Florida. Natural gas-fired and nuclear power plants produced the majority of Pennsylvania’s in-state electricity in 2019, at 43% and 36%, respectively. Pennsylvania ranks second in the nation, after Illinois, in nuclear power generating capacity.