All Environment
Fukushima radiation in Canadian waters is not a threat, scientists sayA plume of radioactive cesium from Fukushima has reached waters off British Columbia and is expected off the US coast this year. But the concentrations are much too low to be a hazard, scientists say.
Volcanoes, trade winds may be behind 'pause' in global warmingA 12-year pause in global warming, after 20 years of rapidly rising surface temperatures, has scientists probing for the reason. Volcanic eruptions and undersea heat storage are emerging as likely explanations.
Why the US Army is spending billions on clean energyThe US Army has made some impressive commitments to renewable energy, Daly writes, in an effort to procure reliable and locally generated energy sources.
How Detroit made gas-fueled cars smarterAutomakers have found new ways to save energy, such as the Ford聽F-150's new aluminum body and聽Chrysler's nine-speed cars.
In North Carolina coal ash spill case, feds eye Southern regulatorsFederal authorities are investigating whether the relationship between Duke Energy and politically-connected state regulators in North Carolina contributed to a massive coal ash spill into the Dan River.
Will methane burn down natural gas's 'bridge' to the future?Natural gas is cleaner than coal, but only if the industry can control its methane releases. A new report says it's doing OK, but methane releases are underestimated.聽
Keystone XL pipeline hits another snag. Will it ever be built?The Keystone XL pipeline suffered a legal setback Wednesday when a聽state court voided the Nebraska governor's approval of the project. After more than five years of review, the fate of the Keystone XL pipeline still hangs in the balance. 聽
North America summit: Can 'Three Amigos' be friends on energy?The 'Three Amigos' at Wednesday's North American Leaders Summit Meeting will have a lot to talk about when it comes to energy. The region is in the middle of an oil and gas boom, and analysts say better cooperation between the three NAFTA countries on energy could help grow their economies.聽
New nuclear plant gets $6.5 billion federal loan. Nuclear comeback?A new nuclear project in eastern Georgia 鈥� one of a handful of nuclear projects to be built in recent decades 鈥� will receive $6.5 billion in federal loan guarantees, the Energy Department announced Wednesday. It's a boost for a nuclear industry that has suffered amid high-profile disasters and a weak economy.聽聽
Clean energy offers boost for remote island nationsMany islands are blessed with large amounts of sun, wind, and water, making renewable energy a promising solution, Guevara-Stone writes. One small island off the coast of Africa has embraced these resources, most notably through an innovative hybrid hydro-wind system.
Global warming: Ice loss makes Arctic itself a bigger climate changerAs the Arctic region loses ice cover to global warming, it is itself becoming a stronger contributor to warming than climate models had predicted it would, a new study finds.
How safe is the grid from cyberattacks?The next major attack against the energy sector may be by a state actor, Graeber writes, and it may come from a computer.
Iran nuclear talks: Will rising oil output hurt negotiations?Nuclear negotiations got underway between six world powers and Iran Tuesday, after reports show that Iran increased oil exports by 100,000 barrels per day in January. The interim nuclear deal with the United States and its western allies has breathed some life into Iran鈥檚 oil sector, Cunningham writes.
Obama tightens truck fuel standards. Why efficiency matters.President Obama announced Tuesday plans for tightening the fuel-efficiency standards of medium- and heavy-duty trucks by 2016. Amid high-profile energy issues like clean-energy subsidies and the Keystone XL pipeline, Obama has quietly made efficiency a cornerstone of his 'all-of-the-above' energy policy.聽
In drought-ravaged Calif, Obama talks preparation for climate changeSpeaking on water needs in California, President Barack Obama said the US must plan ahead for weather-related disasters. He announced $160 million in federal financial aid, which will cover loss of livestock and help families affected by water shortages.
Would you pay more for 'organic electricity'?Just as with organic supermarket produce, green power programs remain a niche market, Bronski writes. But the ability for consumers to pay a premium for 'organic electricity' is increasingly making inroads to mainstream markets.
Kerry pushes climate change cooperation in IndonesiaA day after signing an agreement with China to curb greenhouse gases, US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Indonesia with the hope of making similar deals in developing countries.
EPA seen as underreporting emissions: what that means for natural gas useResearchers say US methane emissions could be 25 percent to 75 percent higher than EPA estimates. The finding affects how natural gas stands up, environmentally, to other fossil fuels.
Great Lakes nearing a record for ice, with more winter aheadNot since 1979 has so much of the Great Lakes been coated in ice. It's not a plus for the shipping industry, but the ice bonanza could be good for wildlife and, most important, the lakes' water levels.- Great Lakes nearly frozen. Why it means less snow.Great Lakes are almost completely covered with ice as a long stretch of bitter cold has battered the Upper Midwest. Ice cover extended across 88 percent of the Great Lakes as of Thursday, according to government data.
