All Energy Voices
What Obama's climate plan means for his pick to head EPAPresident Obama's plan to combat climate change may help the environment, but it will likely put one potential member of his cabinet in political jeopardy. Gina McCarthy, his pick to head the EPA, is already facing heated opposition from some lawmakers. The climate change plan Obama outlined Tuesday could make McCarthy's confirmation process even more complicated.
Obama climate plan: bold, but will China go along?President Obama's climate plan aims to address climate change with an eye toward global听partnerships. Without cooperation from China and the developing world, international climate treaties have fallen short 鈥� a shortcoming Obama hopes to remedy with his climate plan.
How shale gas can slow global climate changeShale gas has done much to reduce US emissions as the nation shifts from coal to natural gas, Holland writes, but the US is exporting record amounts of coal, essentially outsourcing part of the emissions that would otherwise have been produced here. Globalizing the shale revolution could change that.
How energy companies fight terrorismEnergy companies across the globe are forming special units to respond to acts of terrorism听after recent attacks in Algeria.听With the economy just as much a viable target as any, counter-terrorism may becoming more than just the military's game.
Supreme Court sides with ethanol in renewable fuel debateRenewable fuel advocates praised a Supreme Court decision Monday听not to hear a challenge to higher ethanol blends of gasoline,听while opponents warned of potential mechanical damage. The Supreme Court decision comes as fuelmakers struggle to meet federal renewable fuel standards.
Methane leaks of shale gas may undermine its climate benefitsIf methane leak rates are more than 3 percent of output, fracking of shale gas formations may be boosting greenhouse gas emissions rather than lowering them.
Can Baghdad stop exports of Kurdish oil?For the moment, Baghdad won't be able to stop the Kurdish oil and gas momentum growing in Northern Iraq, Alic writes.听Once the pipeline is up and running, the game is over and Baghdad doesn鈥檛 have the resources to turn it into a conflict.
Tesla: It's faster to 'recharge' electric car than pump gasElectric carmaker Tesla Motors debuts its much anticipated 'battery-swapping' technology, upending preconceived notions about energy and transportation. Can electric cars that 'recharge' in 90 seconds finally break through the public skepticism that has dogged the industry?
Developing nations: First, find your 'green' energy, then develop itMany developing countries have immense wind and solar resources, but lack the data and infrastructure to harness them. A new project from The World Bank aims to change that, partnering with nine countries to develop more sustainable energy strategies.
The future of natural gas is the car?Rising use of natural gas in the transportation sector will offset a slowdown in other areas, says the International Energy Agency in听a new report. But don't expect natural gas vehicles to dominate roadways anytime soon.
Record US coal exports fuel climate change debateWith cleaner-burning natural gas cutting into the US electricity mix, American coal companies have found an eager customer in the East, fueling urbanizing economies in Asia with cheap steelmaking coal.听It's why coal export terminals are emerging as a flash point in the fight against climate change.
Will Obama's new climate policy lead to a greener future?President Obama is expected to roll out a major climate policy that may include EU-style benchmarks for renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions. Can Obama make progress on clean energy in his second term?
To frack or not to frack? Well, it's complicated.Fracking and shale gas are often听portrayed听as black or white issues, Grealy writes, when in reality there is a need for shades of gray. And the urgency of the climate change issue means that, with natural gas from shale, we have to make a choice between the perfect and the good.
The consequences of 'extreme energy'Proponents of fracking, the Keystone XL pipeline, and deep-offshore production all say that these are just other forms of 'oil' and 'clean-burning natural gas,' without explaining that these forms of 'extreme energy' have significantly worse impacts on the environment, Michael Klare, a professor of peace and world security studies at Hampshire College, says in an interview with OilPrice.com.
Why squirrels are nuts about solar panelsSquirrels have taken a shine to gnawing through home solar panel wires, according to various reports. The good news is there's a simple solution to prevent squirrels from feasting on your photovoltaic array.
Is the world consuming less oil?Some misleading news reports have mistakenly suggested that global oil consumption is in decline, Rapier writes.听What is correct is that growth in oil consumption has slowed. That's an important distinction.
Fighting climate change with nuclear energyNuclear power is currently the only carbon-free energy source that can provide base load electricity, Stepp writes, a characteristic crucial to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and fighting climate change.听Next-generation nuclear energy offers even more productive strategies for reducing carbon emissions.
G8 leaders tackle inequities of global oil, coal extractionG8 leaders aim to level the global resource playing field this week, discussing a consequential, if obscure, energy issue at the G8 summit. Are developing nations getting a fair share of their oil, coal, and mineral wealth?
BP ends cleanup of oil spill in Gulf of MexicoBP is wrapping up cleanup operations of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The move comes with permission from the US Coast Guard, which says BP no longer needs to send out regular patrols to clean the tar from the coastline.
Is Europe ready for a shale boom?The world has plenty of shale resources, a report showed last week. Europe can either access their own, or buy someone else鈥檚, but shale is the future either way, Grealy writes.
