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Domestic News
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2006 Domestic News
November 9, 2006 - Deadline Extension for U.S. Government Methane to Markets Partnership Grant Solicitation
The deadline for submitting proposals for the U.S. Methane to Markets Partnership request for proposals has been extended. The new deadline is now January 3, 2007, at 4:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. Additionally, there is now a listing of frequently asked questions (PDF) (4 pp, 31K)
(Please note Question 6 / Answer 6, which clarifies that projects and activities focused on promoting methane projects within the U.S. are not within the scope of this Request for Proposals (RFP) and will not be considered).
We hope this additional time will enable more applicants to consider this opportunity and that those considering it will have additional time to develop a winning proposal. If you have any questions on this extension, or on the RFP, please read through the frequently asked questions. If your question is not listed, contact Erin Birgfeld (birgfeld.erin@epa.gov) in the Methane to Markets Program.
More information about the grant program >>
November 2, 2006 - 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Are Published
The 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories were approved by the IPCC session in April 2006 and have now been published and are now available at: http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/
The 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories build on the previous Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines and the subsequent Good Practice reports in an evolutionary manner to ensure that moving from the previous guidelines to these new guidelines is as straightforward as possible. These new guidelines cover new sources and gases as well as updates to previously published methods where technical and scientific knowledge have improved.
This guidance assists countries in compiling complete, national inventories of greenhouse gases. The guidance has been structured so that any country, regardless of experience or resources, should be able to produce reliable estimates of their emissions and removals of these gases. In particular, default values of the various parameters and emission factors required are supplied for all sectors, so that, at its simplest, a country needs only supply national activity data. The approach also allows countries with more information and resources to use more detailed country-specific methodologies while retaining compatibility, comparability and consistency between countries. The guidance also integrates and improves earlier guidance on good practices so that uncertainties are reduced as far as possible.
Guidelines for fugitive emissions from the coal mining sector are found in the Energy Volume, Chapter 4.1. For the first time, the Guidelines provide a methodology for estimating emissions from abandoned underground coal mines.
October 26, 2006 - Inaugural Energy Virginia Conference Big Success
The first Energy Virginia Conference, A Greener Energy Pasture for Virginia's Economy, was held October 17-18, 2006 at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA. The conference, well-attended by industry, government agencies, non-profits and academia, addressed all energy sectors as well as the greenhouse gas reductions possible from a clean-energy future for the state. Simultaneous tracks covered Utilities and Infrastructure, Energy Efficiency, Fossil-Fuel Technologies, Alternative Energy Strategies, and Transportation and Biomass. In addition, EPA sponsored a Landfill Gas Energy Workshop on October 19, 2006. A session on Coalbed Methane Resources: Development, Production and Distribution Issues included a presentation on coal mine methane and the EPA Coalbed Methane Outreach Program.
October 12, 2006 - M2M Grant Solicitation Announced
The Environmental Protection Agency released a news brief yesterday, October 11, requesting proposals to fund projects and activities that support the Methane to Markets Partnership. The Partnership is an international initiative to reduce global methane emissions by promoting methane capture-and-use projects in four major sectors including agriculture (animal waste management), coal mining, landfills, and oil and gas systems.
EPA expects to award up to 20 cooperative agreements through this announcement, ranging from $25,000 to $300,000 per award, for a total of $2.5 million. EPA is requesting proposals for projects that support the partnership mission, including the following types of activities: directly identify, characterize, or implement methane capture-and-use projects – including technology transfer, feasibility and pre-feasibility studies, training and capacity building, or database development for potential sites.
EPA seeks proposals from international governments, as well as public or private non-profit organizations. The estimated project period for awards is May 2007 through May 2009. Proposals are due by Dec. 4, 2006 at 4 p.m. Washington, D.C., time.
More information about the grant program >>
Media inquiries should be directed to Roxanne Smith (smith.roxanne@epa.gov) (202) 564-4344
August 31, 2006 - DOE Announces Loan Guarantee Program for Clean Energy Projects
The Department of Energy has issued policy guidelines that will govern the first round of federal loan guarantees, totaling $2 billion, for projects intended to bring new clean energy technologies into viable commercial use. The guidelines specify the process by which DOE will review project proposals and ultimately will approve loan guarantees. DOE issued a solicitation announcement August 8 inviting interested parties to submit project proposals for the first round that meet the program's statutory requirements. The responses are due by November 6.
The federal loan guarantee program was authorized by Congress in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Title 17 of the Energy Policy Act, "Incentives for Innovative Technologies," provides federal loan guarantees for 10 categories of clean energy projects, not to exceed 80 percent of the project's total cost. The categories include renewable energy, fossil energy (coal), hydrogen fuel cells, nuclear energy, carbon capture and sequestration, electricity, end-use energy technologies, fuel efficient vehicles, pollution control equipment, and refineries.
DOE can make loan guarantees only for projects that "avoid, reduce, or sequester air pollutants or anthropogenic (man-made) emissions of greenhouse gases" and employ new or improved technologies. The loan guarantee program is targeted at early commercial use only and not for basic energy research, development, and demonstration programs.
In the guidelines, DOE said the first round will focus on technologies in specific areas: biomass; hydrogen; solar; wind and hydropower; advanced fossil energy (coal gasification); carbon sequestration practices and technologies; electricity delivery and energy reliability; alternative fuel vehicles; industry energy efficiency projects; and pollution control equipment.
More information on the federal loan guarantee program >>
August 17, 2006 - Western Workshop Reminder
Reminder: Registration for the 2nd Western Coal Mine Methane Recovery and Use Workshop is only $200 until September 1 ($300 after September 1). The workshop will be held in Grand Junction, Colorado September 26-27, 2006 at the Two Rivers Convention Center.
The workshop is presented by Environmental Protection Agency's Coalbed Methane Outreach Program (CMOP) and Raven Ridge Resources.
Other co-sponsors are:
- BCCK Engineering, Inc.,
- Colorado Oil & Gas Association,
- Norwest Corp. / Norwest Questa Engineering/ Norwest Applied Hydrology
- Oxbow Mining, LLC / Gunnison Energy Corp.,
- Peabody Natural Gas, LLC
- REI Drilling
- Schauenburg Flexadux Corp.
- SGS North America, Inc.
- Target Drilling, Inc.
The workshop will feature experts from both government and industry with talks and case studies specific to the western U.S. coal mine methane (CMM) market. The latest in technology as well as expert insight on legal issues relevant to CMM will be discussed in depth. Last year's inaugural workshop opened to widespread acclaim and proved to be a great educational and networking opportunity.
August 3, 2006 - Sharpe Resources Acquires WV Coal-Gas Rights
As reported on www.marketwire.com, Sharpe Resources Corporation has closed an option agreement to purchase a 100% interest in the coal and coal gas rights to approximately 17,000 acres in Preston County, West Virginia. The purchase option involves several payments including $250,000 to exercise the option to purchase. A final payment of $100,000 is to be paid within 180 days of the purchase option agreement date.
The property involves approximately six (6) separate coal seams to include the Bakerstown, Upper Freeport, Lower Freeport, Upper Kittanning and Lower Kittanning followed by the deeper Clarion coal seam. Some of the Upper Freeport coal has been mined previously on this property. Sharpe has completed an evaluation of the coal resources on the property with the help of an independent coal resource consulting firm.
This property offers an excellent opportunity for development of a large coalbed methane (CBM) program encompassing the ability to drill and complete a several hundred well drilling program. Additionally the coal resources are potentially mineable, as indicated some of these coal resources have been mined previously.
In addition to the CBM program, this effort will include the evaluation and selection of coal mining contractor/operators interested in developing the open pit and underground coal resource potential on this property. The Company has been contacted by coal operator with an interest in developing some of the coal acreage.
The coal gas potential will involve the initial drill testing of test wells on the property over the next 6 months in an effort to establish methane production from the deeper coal seams to include the Upper and Lower Kittanning seams. The Company is evaluating the possibility of acquiring additional coal resource acreage in this area, property that adjoins Sharpe's current land position.
June 29, 2006 - 2nd Western States Coal Mine Methane Recovery and Use Workshop
View conference information (PDF) (1 pg, 127K)
June 22, 2006 - Several U.S. States Adopt Renewable Portfolio Standards
The Pew Center on Global Climate Change has recently issued a report entitled, "Race To The Top: The Expanding Role of U.S. State Renewable Portfolio Standards", authored by Barry Rabe of the University of Michigan. According to the report, a growing portion of U.S. states' electricity is being provided by renewable energy. States are using increasingly aggressive and ambitious Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) in order to spur economic development and create a reliable and diversified supply of electricity, as well as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conventional pollutants. In addition to examining challenges and opportunities inherent in policy design and implementation, the report includes case studies of five states - Texas, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Nevada. Currently, Pennsylvania is the only state that includes coal mine methane in its renewable portfolio standard.
June 15, 2006 - President Bush to Sign New Mine Safety Legislation into Law
Last week, the U.S. Congress passed legislation to improve mine safety in underground mines in the wake of several mining tragedies at U.S. coal mines earlier this year. President Bush is expected to sign this legislation into law on June 15, 2006. The MINER Act ("Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006") requires mines to improve accident preparedness and response, including evacuation plans.
The legislation requires that miners have access to larger oxygen supplies (2 hours of breathable air) in the event of an emergency, as well as access to wireless communication from underground to above in the event of an accident. President Bush is expected to sign the law on June 15, 2006. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will have the responsibility of setting criteria for mine rescue teams. The law directs the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to create an Office of Mine Safety and Health that will develop new mine safety technologies.
Details of this legislation >>
June 8, 2006 - EPA Roundtable Breakfast
View conference information (PDF) (1 pg, 99K)
February 9, 2006 - MSHA Holds "Stand Down for Safety" Day in U.S.
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health David G. Dye asked coal mines across the United States to conduct a time-out, or "Stand Down for Safety," on Monday, February 6, in the wake of a recent upsurge in fatal mine accidents in the U.S. As of February 1, there were 19 fatalities at U.S. coal mines. In all of 2005, there were a total of 22 coal-mining related deaths in the U.S., the safest year on record for the industry.
Dye also announced that MSHA is deploying additional mine safety inspectors to West Virginia to respond to the unusually high number of mine fatalities in the state this year.
Dye urged miners and management "to do the right thing - to take one hour out for safety's sake...to be proactive in preventing future accidents and saving lives...[W]e urge that extra time be taken at the beginning of each shift and before the start of any mining activity to go over the hazards involved with mining and the vital safeguards that need to be taken."
MSHA sent packets of safety information to stakeholders for discussion at coal mines and posted information on the "Stand Down for Safety" page on MSHA's Web site at www.msha.gov. Information on each mining fatality is also available on the MSHA Web site under "Fatality Information."
January 5, 2006 - News Updates from the Mine Safety Health Administration (MSHA)
On December 27, 2005, MSHA announced that nine states and the Navajo nation would receive $1.5 million in grants to provide mine safety and health training and education to miners. Grantees in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Navajo Nation, New Mexico, and Virginia will use the funds to provide federally mandates training to workers at surface and underground coal mines as well as metal and nonmetal mines. Grants are administered by state mine inspectors' offices, state departments of labor, or state-supported colleges and universities.
Two days later, MSHA released information on the Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association 2006 Scholarship Program, which awards scholarship funds to graduating high school seniors, enrolled undergraduate students, and graduates of a college or university pursuing careers in safety and health fields within the mining industry. MSHA believes that such a program will result in safer mines and healthier environments within the mining industry.
Finally, a draft copy of a Program Policy Letter concerning Methane Concentration in Bleeders under 30 CFR Part 75.323(e) has been posted on the MSHA Web site. The Agency seeks public participation in the development of this Policy Letter because it has determined that the application of Section 75.323(e) to bleeder systems is of immediate concern to the coal mining industry and that the Agency's interpretation of the standard needs further explanation in order to facilitate improved compliance. Anyone interested in this Policy Letter is encouraged to submit written comments by February 3, 2006.