All Environment
In a global 'war on coal,' coal is winningGlobal coal consumption rose 3 percent in 2013, despite efforts in some places to scale back use of the carbon-heavy fuel. Why is it hard to stop depending on coal for energy?
Is China on the brink of a solar power breakthrough?Both the US and China have been quickly working toward reducing the cost of solar energy. The US's solar energy quest has remained in the private sector, while China has taken a different approach.聽
North Dakota oil output hits 1 million barrels per dayNorth Dakota oil production levels hit a new high in April, according to the most recent state data. North Dakota oil now makes up more than 12 percent of all US oil production 鈥� an unfathomable scenario just a decade ago.
Bipartisan attempt to raise gasoline taxA pair of US senators, one Republican and one Democrat, want to raise the nation's gas tax for the first time in over 20 years.
We will never run out of oil, but that's not the pointThe notion that the world will never run out of oil is misleading, writes Kurt Cobb. The real issue is about the rate of oil production.
Iraq crisis: Threat of oil shutoff puts onus on Saudi ArabiaThe Iraq crisis threatens to disrupt the country's oil output, a scenario for which the world has to prepare, says US President Barack Obama. Saudi Arabia is starting to feel pressure to help with the global oil supply if Iraq's oil can't be accessed.
Obama seeks to create world's largest marine sanctuaryWith the aim of protecting marine wildlife, President Obama is considering greatly expanding the聽Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, an ocean preserve that lies between Hawaii and Samoa.
World Cup 2014: How much energy does it take?The World Cup 2014 could be the most-watched and most expensive tournament in soccer history. But, it could also be the most-energy consuming World Cup in history.
Iraq crisis: Oil-rich Kurdistan capitalizes on chaosAs Iraq continues to deal with the militant Sunni group ISIS, Kurdistan's leaders are using the situation for leverage against Iraq's government. Kurdistan's oil prospects, however, remain in question.
EPA emissions limits? Brazil sees potential gains.Brazil's state of Acre, preserving the Amazonian rain forest, expects demand for its carbon credits to increase because of new US EPA limits on greenhouse gases. But any boost will be indirect. 聽
Can an open-source Tesla Motors spur electric car growth?Tesla Motors' Elon Musk has opened up his company's patents, hoping automakers will start putting more electric cars on the road. But electric cars have a long road ahead before going mainstream.
Crude oil prices hit 10-month highs on Iraq crisisCrude oil prices continued their rise Friday as investors feared a spreading insurgency in Iraq would disrupt production. The violence in Iraq is centered away from major oil-producing regions, but it is still putting upward pressure on crude oil prices. 聽
Carbon pricing won't solve climate change. Innovation will.Putting a price on carbon doesn't work because no one wants to pay the real cost of using fossil fuels. But funding R&D and demonstration projects that lower clean-energy costs will create real economic incentives to fight climate change.
ISIS advances put Iraq oil rebound on holdISIS attacks in Iraq have sent oil prices soaring and cast further doubt on long-term growth in Iraq's oil sector. As recently as February, oil production in Iraq was booming 鈥� a sign of economic progress that traders worry will be reversed.
Is the nation鈥檚 'greenest' utility green enough? Boulder says no.Boulder, Colo., wants to take over generating its electric power from Xcel Energy it says the utility relies too much on fossil fuels. Xcel, a leader in renewables, has gone to court to stop the takeover.
Oil prices rise as Iraq crisis threatens OPEC oil balanceOil prices聽jumped Thursday morning on fears that violence in Iraq could disrupt output. The unrest could send oil prices even higher and undermine the聽balanced oil supply and demand OPEC has enjoyed in recent years.
Ukraine-Russia gas talks stall. Why they won't fail.Gas talks between Russia and Ukraine threaten to fall apart as European officials fail to broker an agreement between the two over a longstanding gas price dispute.聽Ultimately, Russia and Europe have too much to lose to let them fail.
Iraq crisis: What the Mosul siege means for OPECSunni militants attacked Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, while Iraq and other OPEC countries meet in Vienna.聽The world has come to take Iraqi oil for granted, Cunningham writes, and a significant loss of oil production would send prices skyrocketing.
Are we throwing away an energy solution?Burning all the US's landfill waste would provide an extra 33 gigawatts 鈥� the equivalent of 33 large electricity generating plants, says Philipp Schmidt-Pathmann, founder of Zero Landfill Initiative. Could trash help power the future?
OPEC meeting: How the oil landscape has changedOPEC will meet on June 11 in Vienna with world oil demand rising and production slowing down. Six months ago, it seemed like the oil industry reached 'the age of abundance,' but why did it change?
