All Environment
Is US oil production becoming a potential foreign policy tool?Some energy analysts may suggest the US is becoming an important source of energy supply for the world. But, the US's oil supply may not translate as a foreign policy tool, writes聽Daniel J. Graeber.
Kansas pipeline eruption leaves worrisome oily residue across OlpeKansas pipeline eruption:聽A plume of dark, oily substance erupted from a gas pipeline on Thursday. Plants and trees coated by the gas product聽have begun to wither or die.聽
Global warming to disrupt US economy by mid-century, report findsCosts of economic disruption from global warming are likely to total hundreds of billions of dollars by 2050, a new risk assessment finds. The bipartisan report tallies losses to four sectors of the US economy.
Japan considers restarting nuclear reactors. Could it hurt US liquefied natural gas suppliers?New US liquefied natural gas (LNG) suppliers are seeing a shrinking window of opportunity as new supplies come online and Japan considers restarting some of its nuclear reactors. What does this mean for new LNG suppliers and the difference in natural gas pricing in North America and Asia?
El Ni帽o 2014: What it is, when it's coming, and what to expect El Ni帽o is stirring in the Pacific, although forecasters aren't ready to pronouncing it awake just yet.It's warming effect on Earth's climate can lower winter heating bills in some regions and reduce the formation and growth of Atlantic hurricanes. But it also alters rainfall patterns in ways that increase the risk of floods in some areas and drought in others.Here鈥檚 a look at what to expect this time:
Russia to Ukraine: Pay off gas debt to resume negotiationsAfter Russia cut off gas for Ukraine, Russia says it won't negotiate with Ukraine until the country pays off its gas debt. Ukraine鈥檚 parliament is considering聽legislation that would allow its gas transit and storage facilities to be leased as joint ventures with the US or EU member countries.
FocusGlobal warming: Can post-Kyoto climate pact work by taking a different tack?Previous agreements to restrict greenhouse-gas emissions, including Kyoto, have largely failed. To curb global warming, negotiators are hoping countries will design and enforce their own cuts.
Colorado oil spill dumps 7,500 gallons in Poudre RiverColorado oil spill hits downstream vegetation but not drinking water, officials say. The Colorado oil spill was caused by floodwaters damaging a storage tank. 聽
Why Rick Perry wants Tesla Motors in TexasMany states want electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors to build a 'gigafactory' in their states. But in more conservative Texas, Governor Rick Perry is working hard to market itself toward Tesla Motors, writes Jesse Morris.
Summer 2014 outlook: Temperatures above normal for much of the USSummer 2014 is upon us! What do longterm forecasts say about where it will be hot and dry, where it will be wet and muggy, and where it will be refreshingly cool.
Ukraine crisis: Why Shell put shale projects on holdRoyal Dutch Shell says it stopped its shale projects in Ukraine because of air strikes, but there may be more economic reasons. The oil supermajor was disappointed with the economic viability of what it once thought was a large shale deposit, Alexeev writes, and was looking for a way out.聽
Oil prices near 9-month high on Iraq crisisOil prices stayed near a nine-month high Friday on concerns that the Iraq crisis would spread and disrupt the country's oil production. US oil prices rose 2 cents to $106.07 per barrel while Brent crude oil slipped 12 cents to $114.94.
Electric Harley-Davidson: All the power with none of the roar?Harley-Davidson debuted an electric bike called the LiveWire. Will its innovation drown out the gas-guzzling gusto of other motorcycles?
Iraq crisis: Why Baiji refinery matters for Iraq 鈥� and beyondSunni jihadists battled with Iraqi government forces for control of the country's largest refinery. Loss of the Baiji refinery wouldn't directly impact global oil markets, but it would exacerbate the Iraq crisis and further destabilize a fragile regional situation.聽
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.
