Energy & Environment Archives - Ohio Valley ReSource

Jan 22

Energy & Environment

Biden Has An Ambitious Agenda. What Will It Mean For The Ohio Valley?

After an extraordinary inauguration ceremony marked by heightened security and coronavirus safety measures, President Joe Biden started his first day in office signing executive actions on climate change, immigration, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before taking the oath of office, Biden was already addressing the nation about his ambitious plans to fight the twin crises […]

By Jeff Young , Liam Niemeyer and Alana Watson

Jan 22

Energy & Environment

Biden Has An Ambitious Agenda. What Will It Mean For The Ohio Valley?

By Jeff Young , Liam Niemeyer and Alana Watson

Dec 21

Energy & Environment

Judge Denies Former CEO’s Move to Liquidate Blackjewel Coal

A federal bankruptcy judge has denied a petition from former Blackjewel coal executive Jeff Hoops to liquidate the company. The decision means the reorganization of the company will continue under Chapter 11 bankruptcy as former employees, creditors and state agencies seek to recover millions owed by the company. Hoops cited “permanent negative cash flow” at […]

By Sydney Boles

Dec 21

Energy & Environment

Judge Denies Former CEO’s Move to Liquidate Blackjewel Coal

Sydney Boles

Dec 14

Energy & Environment

Blackjewel Coal Alleges ‘Intentional, Willful’ Self-Dealing By Former CEO

Allegations of financial misconduct by Blackjewel’s former CEO have surrounded the company’s bankruptcy case since it began last July. But a December 10 court filing lays out specific allegations against ousted CEO Jeff Hoops: webs of shell companies and secret royalty schemes that allegedly enriched Hoops at the expense of coal miners, the environment, and […]

By Sydney Boles

Dec 14

Energy & Environment

Blackjewel Coal Alleges ‘Intentional, Willful’ Self-Dealing By Former CEO

Sydney Boles

Dec 2

Energy & Environment

Blackjewel Coal Moves To Liquidate, Leaving Millions Unpaid To Workers And Regulators

The convoluted bankruptcy of coal company Blackjewel has hit another turn of events as the company’s former CEO moved to liquidate the company. A federal judge is considering a motion submitted last week to convert the bankruptcy from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7. That would mean that instead of exiting bankruptcy as a new company […]

By Sydney Boles

Dec 2

Energy & Environment

Blackjewel Coal Moves To Liquidate, Leaving Millions Unpaid To Workers And Regulators

Sydney Boles

Nov 13

Energy & Environment

What Biden’s Plan For “Building Back Better” Could Mean For The Ohio Valley

David Meinschein’s teachers, staff and students have sacrificed a lot this year amid the staggering challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. He opens the door heading inside Ballad Memorial High School’s basketball gymnasium — known locally as the “Green Palace” for its school colors. The school’s emptiness is another reminder of COVID-19’s impact. But as assistant […]

By Liam Niemeyer

Nov 13

Energy & Environment

What Biden’s Plan For “Building Back Better” Could Mean For The Ohio Valley

Liam Niemeyer

Nov 5

Energy & Environment

Ex-Massey Energy CEO Draws Thousands of Votes For President In Closely Contested States

Former coal executive Don Blankenship, who went to prison for his role in the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster in West Virginia, drew about 55,000 votes Tuesday as a third-party candidate for president, including thousands of votes in closely contested states. While not a significant amount in comparison to the more than 140 million Americans […]

By Brittany Patterson

Nov 5

Energy & Environment

Ex-Massey Energy CEO Draws Thousands of Votes For President In Closely Contested States

Brittany Patterson

Nov 3

Energy & Environment

Coal Education Group Pivots to Entrepreneurship

An eastern Kentucky nonprofit that has long promoted coal to school kids is now promoting innovation and entrepreneurship instead. Pikeville-based CEDAR Inc. was founded in 1993 with the purpose of “improving the image of the Coal Industry.” It did this through programs like the annual Coal Fair and a coal education curriculum provided to qualifying […]

By Sydney Boles

Nov 3

Energy & Environment

Coal Education Group Pivots to Entrepreneurship

Sydney Boles

Oct 28

Energy & Environment

Advocates Say Citizen Mining Complaint Process Weakened By Rule Change

Environmental and community advocates in Appalachian coal communities are concerned about a new federal rule, finalized this week, that is changing the process that allows citizens to file complaints about polluting coal mining operations. The Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement said in a Tuesday press release that the changes […]

By Brittany Patterson

Oct 28

Energy & Environment

Advocates Say Citizen Mining Complaint Process Weakened By Rule Change

Brittany Patterson

Oct 25

Energy & Environment

Ohio Valley Coal Mine Executive Bob Murray Dead at 80

Robert E. Murray, the founder and former president and CEO of Murray Energy Corp., formerly the largest privately-held underground coal company in the country, has died. He was 80 years old. Murray’s death was reported Sunday evening by television stations WTOV9 in Steubenville, Ohio, and WOWK in Huntington, West Virginia. According to the news outlets, […]

By Brittany Patterson

Oct 25

Energy & Environment

Ohio Valley Coal Mine Executive Bob Murray Dead at 80

Brittany Patterson

Oct 23

Energy & Environment

From Appalachia To Wyoming: Youth From Coal Country Discuss The Future After Coal

On a recent Saturday, over Zoom, a group of seven high schoolers from Wyoming, eastern Kentucky and West Virginia gazed at an image of a gleaming, pale blue, coal-fired power plant. “OK, so this one really interested us,” said Sarah Belcher, a senior from eastern Kentucky. “So we noticed your all’s coal facilities, they’re really […]

By Brittany Patterson

Oct 23

Energy & Environment

From Appalachia To Wyoming: Youth From Coal Country Discuss The Future After Coal

Brittany Patterson