Analysis & Opinion Articles

  • House Forcing Senate Action On Obamacare

    (The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register 09-21-2013) U.S. Rep. David McKinley said his legislation to keep coal ash from being regulated as a hazardous material could be attached to an "all encompassing bill" next week that would force the Senate to address issues pertaining to Obamacare and extending the nation's debt limit. The House on Friday passed legislation to keep government operations running until Dec. 15, while also defunding the new health care law set to go into effect in 2014.

  • Coal Ash Bill Clears House with 265–155 Vote, Heads to Senate

    (POWERnews 07-31-2013) Coal ash legislation that would protect the recycling of coal ash and gives states the authority to set their own standards for the disposal of fly ash with oversight from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week cleared the House by a vote of 265–155. The Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2013 (H.R. 2218) introduced by Rep. David B. McKinley (R-W.V.), a professional engineer, passed the House on July 25 with the support of 39 Democrats and 226 Republicans.

  • Ester man experiments with coal fly ash

    (Newsminer.com 07-29-2013) FAIRBANKS — Fairbanks has an abundance of coal fly ash, the byproduct of Interior Alaska’s many coal-fired power plants, and few places to put it.  Much of the fly ash is destined to be thrown in landfills, but a small amount ends up in what was supposed to be Cole Sonafrank’s glass mosaic art studio. That’s because Sonafrank sees an opportunity, not just for himself, but for Alaska. It’s an opportunity to make a cement that is stronger, more durable, che

  • House Approves Coal Ash Bill Again

    (The Intelligencer 07-26-2013) WHEELING - Rep. David B. McKinley's renewed legislation seeking to put states, not the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in charge of regulating coal ash cleared the House Thursday with bipartisan support. The vote was 265-155, with 39 Democrats joining all but seven House Republicans in voting yes. Only two GOP members opposed the legislation, while five did not vote. All West Virginia and Ohio representatives voted for the bill, which had 54 co-sponsors.
     

  • House of Representatives votes to keep ashes from coal-fired power plants from designation as hazardous waste

    (Cleveland.com 07-25-2013) The House of Representatives on Thursday adopted legislation that would give states greater control over the management of coal ash, a coal combustion byproduct that poses environmental threats when put in landfills, but is also commonly recycled for use in cement, concrete and other products.

  • House passes bill on coal ash

    (Boston.com 07-25-2013) WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Thursday passed legislation giving states greater control over the management of coal ash, a coal combustion byproduct that poses environmental threats when put in landfills but is also commonly recycled for use in cement, concrete and other products. Some Democrats saw the measure as yet another attempt by the Republican majority to strip the Environmental Protection Agency of authority, but the bill passed with Democratic support. The vote was 265-155, with 39 Democrats backing it.
     

  • Revised coal ash bill up for vote in U.S. House

    (State Journal 07-24-2013) A new attempt in the House of Representatives to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating the disposal of coal combustion residuals goes to vote on this week. Promoted for several years by Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., the bill is part of a near-glacial process in Washington to decide whether the federal government or states will control this waste stream.
     

  • CRN Looks at Future of Fly Ash

     (Electric Co-op Today 07-08-2013) Electric cooperatives and other utilities in the United States are trying to identify more potential uses for fly ash to make sure abundant supplies of coal remain part of the nation’s energy resources. Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s Leland Olds Coal Station near Stanton, N.D., is among the coal-based power plants generating electricity.

  • House to Consider Coal Ash Bill

    (Electric Co-op Today 06-24-2013) For the second time in less than three years, an NRECA-backed bill regulating coal ash impoundments at power plants is headed to the House floor. Supporter’s hope a bill in Congress will allow continued recycling of coal ash into building materials, such as bricks made at this Wisconsin plant. The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 31-16 on June 20 for a measure that sets up a new state-run program to manage and dispose of coal ash.