The coal industry — which suffers from an image problem to begin with — has had a particularly rough few days. Without additional interpretation, we present a selection of articles, published over just the last 48 hours, from around the Web:
THE GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE
A Bad Week for Coal Plants in North-Central Montana
Last Thursday, the Air Force announced that it had rejected proposals to build a large coal-to-liquid-fuels plant at or near Malmstrom Air Force Base. Tuesday, Southern Montana Electric Generation and Transmission announced it is giving up on a proposed coal-fired power plant northeast of the city, at least for now.
THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE
Anti-Coal Activists Chain Themselves to Equipment at Massey Operation
Fourteen people were cited by State Police today in two separate protests against Massey Energy's mountaintop removal operations in southern West Virginia.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
W.Va. Towns With Bad Well Water Sue Coal Companies
About 250 people with orange and black water in their taps are suing eight coal companies they believe poisoned wells in two southern West Virginia communities.
REUTERS
Georgia Bill Proposes Moratorium on New Coal Plants
Georgia legislators introduced a bill on Tuesday that, if passed, could limit utility use of certain Appalachian coal beginning in 2011 and place a moratorium on new coal-plant construction in the state.
THE DETROIT NEWS
Michigan Governor Says No to Coal
Gov. Jennifer Granholm, in her seventh State of the State address, called Tuesday for a near-moratorium on new coal-fired power plants and a major reduction in reliance on coal for electricity generation over the next decade.
ENVIRONMENT NEWS SERVICE
Kentucky Utilities Must Spend $140M on Clean Air Settlement
The Justice Department and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency imposed a $1.4 million civil penalty on Kentucky Utilities for violations of the Clean Air Act at a Mercer county coal-fired plant. In addition, the company is required to spend $135 million on pollution controls.
