Eleven generations of Dustin White’s family have lived in West Virginia. Many of them were buried in a cemetery now surrounded by a massive mountaintop removal coal mine. … [Read more...]
How Even the “Dirtiest” of Industries Can Help Fight Climate Change
Across the length and breadth of Europe are scattered some 500,000 operational and inactive landfills, each containing mountains of trash – and as much as 18 million tons of raw materials. Since 1953, people have been mining these landfills to recover raw materials or extricate pollutants. … [Read more...]
Politically Charged: Do You Know Where Your Batteries Come From?
People are excited about batteries, from electric cars to Tesla’s 129 megawatt-hour energy storage project in South Australia. But one important issue is often overlooked: the raw materials needed to build this technology – where they come from and their environmental cost. Ben McLellan of Kyoto University takes a closer look at what goes into the lithium-ion battery. Article courtesy The Conversation. … [Read more...]
Earthquake Trends in Oklahoma and Other States Likely Related to Wastewater Injection
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the number of earthquakes east of the Rocky Mountains has increased dramatically since 2009. More earthquakes in these areas have coincided with the increase in oil and natural gas production from shale formations. … [Read more...]
U.S. Mining and Exploration Investment Declined 35% in 2015
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, based on U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Note: Based on fourth-quarter and annual 2015 advance estimate of gross domestic product, which is subject to revision. See BEA's caution on the use of chained-dollar estimates.Mining and exploration investment declined 35% in 2015, the second largest year-over-year decline since the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) began reporting the series in 1948. … [Read more...]
Rare Earths Not So Rare?
The bankruptcy of the main US producer of "rare earth" materials signals the end of a multi-year crisis over their global supply and cost.The announced Chapter 11 filing of US-based rare earths mining and refining company Molycorp effectively marks the end of a crisis that managed to escape the notice of most people. Rare earths are elements of low abundance, compared to the ores of metals like iron and copper. Despite their relative … [Read more...]
“Greens” fighting Pebble mine are helping Rio Tinto, Anglo-American and BHP Billiton
I came across an interesting saga yesterday. My introduction came from a May 14, 2015 opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal titled The Greens’ Back Door at the EPA. (Hint: If you don’t have a WSJ subscription, copy and paste the article title into the Google search engine. That should provide you a link to the article via the Journal’s “free pass” program.)On February 28, 2014 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a preemptive veto … [Read more...]
Five Reasons Renewable Microgrids Make Sense for the Mining Industry
Renewable energy continues to make inroads in the mining industry. There are now a large number of mining sites using renewable power to provide energy for their operations and many more evaluating potential renewable energy alternatives. This trend has gained momentum in recent years as the mining industry has focused on cutting costs and improving environmental performance. Over this period of early adoption, it has become apparent … [Read more...]
Energy Production and Other Mining Account for a Large Percentage of Some State Economies
Source: U.S. Commerce Department, Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Regional Economic Accounts. Note: BEA uses the value-added approach to estimate industrial contribution to GDP by state, or gross state product, presenting industrial value-added output by state based on the North American Industry Classifications System (NAICS). Mining comprises establishments that extract naturally occurring mineral solids, such as coal and ores, crude … [Read more...]
Making Green Mining Less Of An Oxymoron
New breakthrough science and cost reductions from the world of cleantech hold promise for making mining—one of the dirtiest, most inefficient industries in the world—more profitable, safer and cleaner. But which cleantech innovations aimed at reducing toxicity in mining, as well as the need for power and water, are best positioned to succeed? Which companies will win and which will lose? How can existing players manage risk in the face of new … [Read more...]
The quiet clean mining revolution
Few industries have got the black eye, literally and metaphorically, of mining. After centuries of environmental effects ranging from toxic emissions to unsightly tailings ponds, acid mine drainage, massive energy consumption and other impacts, mining is slowly cleaning up its act. Why? Mostly because new clean technologies are increasing industrial efficiencies. They’re lowering mining companies’ power needs. And they’re even helping reduce … [Read more...]
Study: Cheap Coal Isn’t Worth It
Each additional study and court ruling read more convincing than those that preceded them. The cost of burning coal is doing even more harm to human health, the environment and worker safety than was previously documentable. But will they — together — persuade policymakers to quicken moves toward a lower-carbon energy future? The latest credible study comes from the professors at Yale University and Middlebury College and was published recently … [Read more...]
Nuclear Industry Must Be Transparent on Uranium Mining, Carbon Output Before New Plants
The nuclear industry has to clean up its supply chain, be as ethical, accountable and transparent as possible, and come clean on its true carbon impact, if it is to earn our trust.The UK is considering supporting the building of a new generation of nuclear plants, and the Treasury's Carbon Price Support mechanism could result in nuclear companies receiving £1bn of the public's money via increased electricity bills.Yet the basis for and … [Read more...]
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