Coal Mining News

Energy Department Announces $500 Million Award to Revitalize American Steelmaking

2026-08-24

The U.S. Department of Energy announced a $500 million award to Cleveland-Cliffs' Middletown Works facility in Ohio, bolstering a $1 billion investment to modernize domestic steel production. This strategic funding, highlighted by Vice President JD Vance and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, is set to protect 2,300 American jobs and fortify the nation's critical steel supply chain. The project pivots from an initial "green premium" focus to upgrading the existing coal-fired blast furnace, deploying AI for efficiency, and commercializing blast furnace gas, reflecting a pragmatic approach to strengthening American manufacturing.

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Energy Secretary Keeps Critical Generation Available in Mid-Atlantic

2026-08-23

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has issued an emergency order directing PJM Interconnection and Constellation Energy Corporation to keep Units 3 and 4 of the Eddystone Generating Station in Pennsylvania operational from August 23, 2026, through November 20, 2026. This directive, overriding a planned May 31, 2025 shutdown, aims to prevent critical grid reliability issues and potential blackouts in the Mid-Atlantic, underscoring the ongoing national debate about maintaining baseload capacity amid energy transition efforts. The decision highlights the strategic importance of traditional power sources, including coal, natural gas, and nuclear, for ensuring grid stability during peak demand.

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Fortescue’s Green Metal Project produces first hot metal

2026-08-20

Fortescue has achieved a significant milestone by producing the inaugural hot metal at its Green Metal Project in Christmas Creek, Western Australia, utilising an electric smelting furnace. This pilot operation marks a critical step in the company's strategy to develop lower-emission iron-making technologies and produce commercial-scale green metal from Pilbara ore, moving away from traditional coal-based methods. The development underscores Australia's potential to leverage its abundant renewable energy resources and vast iron ore reserves to become a leader in global decarbonisation efforts within the heavy industry sector.

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Energy Secretary Keeps Coal-Fired Generation Operational in the Midwest

2026-08-15

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued an emergency order on August 14, 2026, directing the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) and Consumers Energy to keep the 1,420-megawatt J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant operational from August 17 to November 14, 2026. This decision, aimed at mitigating critical grid reliability issues and reducing energy costs in the Midwest, underscores the ongoing reliance on thermal coal generation amidst growing energy demand and premature plant retirements, with significant implications for the coal mining industry.

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