Last week, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called on Europe to “rehabilitate” coal’s image in an effort to gain energy security. According to Eurasia Group analyst Mujtaba Rahman, in light of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, countries need to find a way to lessen energy dependence on Russia. Tusk sees Poland’s massive coal resource—which currently supplies 90% of Poland’s power—as a way to prevent Russia from using natural gas as a weapon. According to Tusk, “Regardless of how the stand-off over Ukraine develops, one lesson is clear: excessive dependence on Russian energy makes Europe weak.” He proposed an “energy union” that would minimize such dependence by making use of all fuels available in Europe, including coal and shale gas. His plan would also involve the creation of a single European body that would buy gas for the entire 28-nation bloc. For the full story, see http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-23/poland-pushes-coal-on-europe-as-putin-wields-gas-weapon.html. For more on Tusk’s proposed energy union, see http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/poland-calls-eu-action-end-russias-energy-stranglehold-301670.