Feisty keynote session kicks off

Feisty keynote session kicks off MINEXCHANGE 2024 SME Annual Conference The MINEXCHANGE 2024 SME Annual Conference & Expo got under way in Phoenix, AZ on Feb. 26 with a keynote session titled “Energy is Everything.” Moderated by Alex Epstein, author of the book Fossil Future: Why Global Human Flourishing Requires More Oil, Coal and Natural Gas–Not Less, the thought-provoking session covered many issues of the global energy sector including the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, the stability of the power grid and the reliability of energy sources. Epstein opened the session with a talk in which he argued that the modern world we enjoy was created through the use of fossil fuels and that fossil fuels should remain part of the global energy mix. Epstein also contended that because of technology, humans have the ability to overcome and even master climate change. For example, technology and fossil fuels give humans the ability to heat our homes when it is cold and cool them when it is hot. Finally, he made the case that the rapid change from fossil fuels to renewable energy is both dangerous and doomed to failure at the current rapid pace. Panelist Jimmy Brock, chief executive officer of CONSOL Energy and Jimmy Staton, president and chief executive officer of Santee Cooper agreed with Epstein on the point that the efforts to move away from fossil fuels is creating a dangerous void for the United States’ energy security. Brock said his concerns about the national energy grid include the speed in which the transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is taking place as well as the time required to construct an energy transmission infrastructure. “We are losing some reliability because we are retiring dispatchable energy sources before another replacement energy source is ready,” said Brock. “Before dispatchable sources are allowed to retire, replacement generating capacity should be built and in operation. The replacement capacity should have at least the same capacity value and other reliability attributes as the retiring capacity and any transmission that is needed to replace the capacity should be built and in place, not just in planning or under construction.” Likewise, Staton expressed concerns about the ability to meet the growing demand for electricity. He cited the expanding growth in data centers, reindustrialization in many areas of his home state of South Carolina and the electrification of the transport market. “That is creating incredible growth. We expect to see 40 percent growth by the end of the decade, so it is coming and it’s scary,” Staton said. “In addition to that, permitting of any energy project is challenging.” But not everyone on the stage was always in agreement with the keynote presenter. Bradford Crabtree, Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) pushed back on a number of points Epstein brought up and often found himself defending the DOE and its efforts to move toward a net zero carbon emission future. MINEXCHANGE 2025 will be in Denver, CO Feb. 23-26, 2025 at the Colorado Convention Center. One primary issue of disagreement between Crabtree and Epstein was if the goal of net zero emissions by 2050 is a realistic goal or even if it is a good goal. “It’s not a policy, but rather it’s a metric, and one that we can use to hold ourselves accountable,” said Crabtree when asked about net zero goals. “It will be very challenging to get there by 2050 but I would also suggest that challenging the goal of net zero by 2050 by contending with the climate science behind it has not served (the mining) industry well. I understand the pride with which people have to their work and the threats they feel to their livelihoods but we have lost two generations of young people in the world by not embracing this challenge and not being optimistic about the technology. I don’t disagree with any of the concerns that my colleagues on the panel have raised about reliability of renewable power but basically rejecting a net zero framework means we are not willing to tackle the problem. I think you can be in favor of energy abundance and also be optimistic about technology and still get to net zero.” Epstein countered by saying, “The key to net zero by 2050 is based on horrifically bad thinking that is based on fossil fuel benefit denial, climate mastery benefit denial and the distortion of climate science. It is not about denying any negative climate impact; it’s about embracing science and economic reality. That is a message that can win people over.” Power grid During the discussion, the issue of the national power grid and the demands that will be placed on it through rapid growth in electrification were discussed. When speaking about the efforts to support the national grid Crabtree said, “For the first time in U.S. history we have the most comprehensive framework of federal funding, financing and incentives to help industry deploy energy projects. As a result of that, we have 200 publicly announced carbon management projects, 25 of which are in the power sector.” Brock was a bit less optimistic about the stability of the grid. “For the grid to be reliable we need an all-of-the-above approach, we need all of these energy sources but we are moving far too fast,” said Brock. “I have huge concerns that the grid is not reliable today. Grid operators need to look at all of the attributes of reliability including fuel security and the fuels stored on the ground that can be there in times of high demand. I am concerned about the time it takes to replace the dispatchable generation. To reach the goal of having the grid as reliable as we want it to be it is estimated that we will have to build between 1,400 and 10,000 miles of transmission lines in the next five years. In 2022, we built 675 miles and in 2023 we have built 275 miles, so it’s a massive undertaking. If we are going to grow the way the projections say we are, we will need the transmissions and the energy to provide that electricity.” Permitting reform One area of agreement among all of the speakers was the need for permitting reform in the United States. “We urgently need permitting reform. Sometimes we make progress on policy when everyone is losing,” said Crabtree. “Whether you look at it from the industry perspective like you need more capacity and you need to bring projects online, the failure to get permits hurts you. If you are a climate advocate and you are looking at the Infrastructure Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act and all of these policies to support clean energy and you cannot build projects, then you are missing that opportunity for deployment. So, this is starting a conversation, that won’t happen in an election year most likely, but this is starting the first conversation in a generation about permitting reform.” National energy policy Staton followed that with a call for a national energy policy, saying, “We cannot continue to try to modify the grid in fouryear sprints. There has to be something that is a consistent guidepost for the industry to change the transmission infrastructure for new generation of all types. And I absolutely agree that we need permitting reform.” Murray Innovation Award Following the keynote address was the presentation of the Murray Innovation Award to CONSOL Energy. The award is given annually to recognize individuals or organizations who advance the mining industry through the implementation of technical innovation. Its primary focus is to award operations or organizations that are changing the mining industry through the inclusion or adaptation of cutting-edge technologies and innovative processes. Brock along with Daniel Connell, senior vice president of CONSOL Innovations and Jacqueline Fidler, vice president of environmental and sustainability at CONSOL accepted the award and spoke about the company’s “Not So Fast Campaign: The continuing role of coal in a sustainable future.” “Even though some may say coal is obsolete, in 2023 global coal production and use hit an all-time high surpassing 8.7 Gt (9.6 billion st),” Fidler told the audience. “Some may say that is today and we need to reverse this trend, but that is not how we are looking at it. Based on 2023, it’s obvious coal is needed and attempting to eliminate it will create unintended consequences for society and the economy. Between now and 2050 the world population is going to grow by as much as 21 percent and in parallel, the world continues to move toward worldwide electrification as a way to achieve net zero and with that, electricity demand is expected to grow by as much as 150 percent. So let’s change the narrative. Let’s stop talking about an energy transition in a manner that pits environmental aspirations against economic and social advancement. Instead, let’s talk about an energy expansion. We see a great opportunity for every miner in this room to contribute to a positive, technicalbased and financially reasonable change.” Connell spoke about CONSOL’s use of technology to utilize coal in a more sustainable and environmentally and economically beneficial way. “We are exploring the extent to which we can find ways to use coal in entirely new ways to meet unmet needs of the future,” Connell said. “Whether that means producing net negative base load power for 21stcentury power plant projects and for products and materials, there truly is an opportunity to be disruptive through radical change by being innovative and being a leader in consolidation.” Sessions and exhibits The MINEXCHANGE 2024 SME Annual Conference & Expo was one of the largest and most successful conferences for SME in a number of years. The nearly 7,000 attendees had 109 technical sessions that they could choose to attend. The technical program is unmatched and features sessions covering virtually every aspect of the global mining industry. In the exhibit hall, 584 companies were on hand to display some of the most innovative technology in the world. MINEXCHANGE 2025 will be in Denver, CO Feb. 23-26, 2025 in the Colorado Convention Center.

Feisty keynote session kicks off

Authored by:
William Gleason

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To view the past issues of the UCA magazine you must be a member of SME/UCA.

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