BOSTON, Massachusetts, Feb. 19 -- 350.org, an organization that works to end the age of fossil fuels and build a community-led renewable energy, issued the following news release: * * * 350.org responds to Japan's 'unacceptably low' climate targets Tokyo, Japan - The Japanese government today released its climate action plan and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) which sets an emissions cut target of 60% below 2013 levels by 2035. Falling far short of the 81% emissions reduction target   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare issued the following news release: * * * Acting SSA Chief Did the Right Thing Standing up to Musk & DOGE "Former acting Social Security Commissioner Michelle King did the right thing by standing up to Elon Musk's DOGE squad. Her resignation from SSA after more than 30 years of service was an act of integrity in defense of all Social Security beneficiaries, whose most personal data is at risk from Musk's unt  more

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia, Feb. 18 -- West Virginia Wesleyan College posted the following news: * * * Applications for 18th Annual WVWC, Metro News West Virginia Scholar Program Now Accepted BUCKHANNON, WEST VIRGINIA - West Virginia Wesleyan College and West Virginia MetroNews have launched the 18th annual West Virginia Scholar Program to award a full, four-year scholarship including tuition, room and board and fees at WVWC to one current Mountain State junior. First and second runner-ups wil  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 18 -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Ken Paxton and National Coalition Sue New York to Stop Unconstitutional Attempt to Destroy American Energy Industry Attorney General Ken Paxton and a coalition of attorneys general have sued New York over its blatantly unconstitutional law that seeks to destroy America's energy industry. Titled the Climate Change Superfund Act, New York's law would retroactively fine coal, n  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSFR) -- Blue Diamond Coal Co. has petitioned the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) for a modification to existing safety regulations at its Calvary No. 81 mine in Leslie County, Kentucky. The company is requesting permission to use Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs), specifically the CleanSpace EX and 3M Versaflo TR-800, in areas where current rules prohibit unapproved electronic equipment. The petition argues that these devices, though not MSHA-certifi  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSFR) -- The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has announced that Blue Diamond Coal Co. has petitioned for a modification of a safety standard concerning the use of respirators in its Mine No. 77 in Kentucky. The company is requesting permission to use specific unapproved Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs), the CleanSpace EX and the 3M Versaflo TR-800, in certain areas of the mine. Currently, these PAPRs lack MSHA approval, and the company states that th  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSFR) -- Blue Diamond Coal Co. has submitted a petition to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requesting a modification of safety regulations at Mine No. 77 in Perry County, Kentucky. The company is seeking approval to use two unapproved Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs)--the CleanSpace EX and the 3M Versaflo TR-800--within areas restricted under existing safety rules. While these devices are not MSHA-certified as permissible, Blue Diamond Coal argue  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2025: * * * Comer, Burlison Launch Investigation Into the Detrimental Energy Policies Imposed by the Biden Administration Americans will continue to endure the consequences of the Green New Deal agenda until President Trump's new, America First energy policies are fully implemented House Committee on Oversight and Government Refo  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release: * * * Democrats Will Fight Against Trump's War on Working People Arrow MEMORANDUM TO: Interested Parties FROM: Ken Martin, DNC Chair DATE: February 18, 2025 RE: Democrats Will Fight Against Trump's War on Working People * * * When I talk about the state of the Democratic Party, I often speak about the impact of perceptions - what voters see, feel, and sense. I believe the canary in the c  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Dentons, a law firm, issued the following news: * * * Dentons advises banking consortium on largest BESS in the Netherlands February 18, 2025 Amsterdam --Global law firm Dentons has advised a consortium of six banks - ABN AMRO, Rabobank, ING Bank, Triodos Bank, Santander CIB, and ASR - on the EUR350 million loan to Lion Storage for the project financing of Project Mufasa. With 350MW capacity Mufasa is the largest battery energy storage system   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2025: * * * Administrator Zeldin Approves West Virginia's Class VI Primacy Application This action expands cooperative federalism, gives West Virginia primary authority to protect groundwater, and bolsters energy dominance WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin signed a final rule approving the State of West Virginia's request to regulate t  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSFR) -- Blue Diamond Coal Co. has submitted a petition to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requesting a modification to existing safety regulations at its Calvary No. 81 mine in Leslie County, Kentucky. The company seeks approval to use non-MSHA-certified Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs), specifically the CleanSpace EX and the 3M Versaflo TR-800, as part of its respiratory protection program. These devices, which are designed to provide continuou  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSFR) -- Blue Diamond Coal Co. has petitioned the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) for a modification to existing federal safety regulations, seeking approval to use unapproved Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) within 150 feet of pillar workings or longwall faces at its Mine No. 77 in Perry County, Kentucky. The petition specifically requests authorization for the CleanSpace EX PAPR and the 3M Versaflo TR-800 Intrinsically Safe PAPR, arguing that both   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSFR) -- The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has received a petition from Blue Diamond Coal Co. seeking a modification of existing safety regulations at its Calvary No. 81 Mine in Leslie County, Kentucky. The company is requesting an exemption from the requirement that only MSHA-approved electrical equipment be used within 150 feet of pillar workings or longwall faces. Specifically, the petition aims to permit the use of unapproved Powered Air Purifying Respi  more

BOONE, North Carolina, Feb. 18 [Category: Sociological] -- Appalachian Voices posted the following news release: * * * STATEMENT: Coal company's bankruptcy filing reflects growing pressure to end reckless mining in West Virginia February 18, 2025 CONTACTS Olivia Miller, Program Director, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, (304) 704-2997, olivia.miller@wvhighlands.org Andrew Young, Staff Attorney, Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance, (434) 202-4397, ayoung@abralliance.org Dan Radmacher,  more