Environment

As part of a proposed settlement with environmental groups, St. Louis-based Patriot Coal has agreed to phase out mountaintop removal mining at several of its mines in West Virginia, saying the controversial mining practice isn’t in the company’s best interest.

The University of Louisville has announced a new award for game-changing work in renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The Leigh Ann Conn Prize for Renewable Energy is named after the late daughter of two of the major supporters of the U of L’s Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research. It’s intended to recognize innovative work that will likely have a global effect, and carries a $50,000 award.

Kentucky author, farmer and environmentalist Wendell Berry was on The Diane Rehm Show yesterday to talk about his new book “A Place in Time.” It’s a collection of 20 stories about life in the fictional small town of Port William. Besides discussing and reading from the book, Berry also talked about the relationship between a land and people, and his views on energy and the environment.

During the presidential campaign, both President Obama and Governor Mitt Romney seemed to be avoiding any comment on climate change, and what policies either would pursue if elected. Now that Mr. Obama has been elected to a second term, he still won't say what he'll do about the issue in the next four years.

A new report says many of the nation’s coal-fired power plants won’t be competitive once they’re upgraded with pollution controls.