A new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is underperforming its review process for projects to clean up abandoned coal mining sites. The report identified several challenges, including inadequate funding and staffing issues, and suggested improvements to the process. The length of federal reviews at OSMRE has led some states to abandon their proposals, and the report noted that OSMre took over 1,100 days to review a project proposal, resulting in $1.6 million in lost funding. The GAO also highlighted four recommendations for improving data tracking, clarifying staff roles, and providing guidance to states and tribes.
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
