Comeback in coal-fired power generation may be short-lived

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Daily Caller – The coal industry may be catching a break, as coal-fired power generation has been on the rise due to rising natural gas prices, according to government energy projections. But the industry believes this “coal renaissance” will be short-lived as looming environmental regulations make it impractical to build a coal plant in the U.S.

The Energy Information Administration expects that coal will be used to produce 39.1 percent of the country’s total electricity generation in 2013 and 2014, up from 37.4 percent last year. This is due to rising natural gas prices.

The EIA reported that natural gas prices will average around one dollar more in 2013 and 2014 over the 2012 average — $3.53 per million British thermal units in 2013 and $3.84 per MMBtu in 2014. The average price was $2.75 per million MMBtu in 2012.

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TV Ads Show Public is Skeptical of Higher Taxes on Oil and Natural Gas Companies

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WASHINGTON, March 13, 2013 – New TV ads show Americans don’t support higher taxes on the oil and natural gas industry, API Executive Vice President Marty Durbin told reporters in a briefing this morning:

“Starting today, the API is running ads on broadcast and cable channels that feature the unscripted words of everyday Americans who believe higher taxes on energy companies may translate into higher energy costs for consumers.  We decided to run the ads to remind Congress that at a time when many families have had to scramble to balance their budgets, asking them to pay more for the energy they need to live their lives is bad policy and frankly bad politics.

“According to a study by Wood Mackenzie a $5 billion per year tax increase would result in a decrease of $233 billion in revenue to federal, state and local governments by 2030.  Further, the study estimates that increased investments, as a result of pro-growth and energy development policies, could generate an additional $800 billion in revenue by 2030. That’s a $1 trillion difference to government’s bottom line.

“If increased revenue is truly the objective [of those proposing to increase taxes on the industry], then allow the oil and natural gas industry to continue to do what it has always done – invest in America’s economy by providing good-paying jobs here at home that develop the energy America needs.  That’s what the American people support and in the long-term the result would be far better for the American economy, for consumers, for our energy security, and for the nation’s long-term economic growth.”

API is a national trade association that represents all segments of America’s technology-driven oil and natural gas industry.  Its more than 550 members – including large integrated companies, exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms – provide most of the nation’s energy.  The industry also supports 9.2 million U.S. jobs and 7.7 percent of the U.S. economy, delivers $86 million a day in revenue to our government, and, since 2000, has invested over $2 trillion in U.S. capital projects to advance all forms of energy, including alternatives.

“New Energy Taxes – Big Mistake”: 

“Can’t Afford That Tax”: