U.S. coal production hits lowest level in 30 years

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COAL:
• U.S. coal production has fallen to its lowest level in 30 years. (Associated Press)
• Arch Coal files for bankruptcy. (Reuters)
• ​“The world has caught up to us”: A Montana coal town confronts its future. (Billings Gazette)
A California utility has completely eliminated coal from its energy supply. (Power)

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UTILITIES: Outgoing NRG Energy CEO David Crane warns ​“there is no growth in our sector outside of clean energy.” (Greentech Media)

CLIMATE:
• Vermont’s governor says the state should divest from coal companies and ExxonMobil. (InsideClimate News)
• NRG Energy says states should consider dropping out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. (Bloomberg BNA)

NATURAL GAS:
• California orders the company responsible for a massive natural gas leak near Los Angeles to offset the climate impact. (InsideClimate News)
• The company responsible for the disaster knew its well was leaking 24 years ago. (Motherboard)
• The leak is driving people from their homes in nearby neighborhoods. (Associated Press)
• Advocates say Michigan’s large number of natural gas storage sites could be at risk of a similar leak. (MLive)

SOLAR:
• A Nevada agency requests state regulators reconsider their new rates for solar power. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
• A farmer in New York state is in a unique dispute with his utility over net metering. (Poughkeepsie Journal)
• A businessman who helps low-income people get access to solar power is invited to the State of the Union address. (Huffington Post)

FRACKING: Oklahoma lawmakers push for further restrictions on wastewater disposal amid increasing concerns about earthquakes. (Reuters)

VW SCANDAL: Volkswagen is refusing to release emails to states investigating its evasion of emissions rules, citing German privacy laws. (New York Times)

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EFFICIENCY: NASA is testing ways to make aircraft more fuel efficient. (New York Times)

COMMENTARY:
• Why Texas will continue to be a clean-energy leader. (Dallas Morning News)
• Will taxpayers be stuck paying for cleanup of strip-mining sites? (Forbes)
• Improved efficiency standards for cars has also meant better performance. (ACEEE)