The United States is adding record amounts of renewable energy capacity, but an industry warning of a sharp slowdown as soon as 2028 is drawing attention to federal policy and the future supply of electricity.

Major oil companies have again turned to the US Supreme Court, teeing up a case that could determine the fate of dozens of climate-related lawsuits by state and local governments against fossil fuel companies.

Financial flows to the sector are, however, highly concentrated: Chinese banks account for 62% ($289 billion), US banks for 14% ($67 billion) and Japanese banks for 6% ($28 billion) of total bank support to the coal industry.

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reject the proposed acquisition of AES Corporation, citing concerns about electricity rates, competition and the costs of serving energy-intensive data centers.

The New South Wales Independent Planning Commission has approved the Hunter Valley Operations North and South Open Cut Coal Continuation Projects, extending the operating life of a major Australian thermal and metallurgical coal complex.

The market for seaborne thermal coal in Asia is engaged in the slowest of races as a mild decline in demand competes with an equally gentle decline in supply in the coming years.