Democrats in Congress are asking the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate whether cash-strapped coal companies are flouting federal law and avoiding cleanup of former, polluted mine sites. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, home to thousands of abandoned mines, asked the GAO to determine if mine operators are delaying reclamation and potentially reducing costs. Demand for coal has dropped by 50 percent from 2008 to 2021, and it is no longer clear that Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) provisions are effective or fully enforced. The mining sector has responded, stating that the industry has a strong track record in fulfilling its reclamation commitments.
Solar Dominates US Energy Capacity Growth
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has published data showing that solar accounted for over 75% of US electrical generating
