All Environment
Amid Ukraine crisis, Europe weighs frackingAs a Ukraine crisis continues, Europe is reconsidering its stance on a controversial drilling technique that has unlocked vast amounts of oil and natural gas in the United States. Europe is concerned about the security of its gas supply from Russia as the Ukraine crisis shows little sign of easing.聽
Phoenix flooding: Record rainfall snarls trafficPhoenix flooding turned freeways into small lakes as commuters scrambled to escape their inundated cars. The Phoenix flooding came after the city broke its all-time record for rainfall in a single day.
Flood leaves thousands stranded in KashmirA flood in Kashmir and eastern Pakistan has caused hundreds of fatalities and left thousands stranded. Indian and Pakistani soldiers are working to rescue those threatened by the massive flood.
Yosemite fire quadruples in size, forces evacuationYosemite fire quadrupled in size as of Monday morning, according to officials. The growing Yosemite fire forced the helicopter evacuation of about 100 park visitors.
EU adopts new Russia sanctions on oil; Russia-China gas alliance; Nevada's clean-energy goldTh EU adopted new Russia sanctions on energy as an uneasy ceasefire continued in Ukraine; Russia and China broke ground last week on a massive gas pipeline that offers an alternative for Russia amid the Ukraine crisis; Nevada struck clean-energy gold by landing the Tesla Motors gigafactory. Catch up on the latest in global energy with Recharge. 聽
PG&E's San Bruno fine: huge, but will it stick?Pacific Gas and Electric got hit with a record $1.4 billion fine from the California Public Utilities Commission. But Wall Street thinks the final penalty will be smaller.
Albino cobra: Snake in Thousand Oaks capturedAn albino cobra on the loose in Thousand Oaks, Calif., has been captured, officials said Thursday. The albino cobra had been on the loose in Thousand Oaks since at least Monday evening.聽聽
BP grossly negligent in 2010 oil spill, judge saysBP was grossly negligent in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a US district judge has ruled. The BP ruling is a critical milestone in a legal case that is looking at the cause of the worst offshore oil spill in US history.
Jail goats: How one jail mows the lawnA jail in Tulsa, Okla. is using two donated goats 鈥� named Scooby and Scrappy 鈥� to clear grass and weeds in the jail's atrium. Inmates are not allowed contact with the jail goats.聽
US is awash in new oil. So why are gas prices still so high?The supply of oil and natural gas is booming in the US, but gas prices and electricity costs remain high. Even as the US posts record production, global demand and bottlenecks in supply have prevented consumers from enjoying price breaks.
Kayakers survive great white shark attackTwo聽Massachusetts kayakers survived a great white shark attack Wednesday while out taking pictures of seals. Officials are still searching for the great white shark that attacked the kayakers.
Fracking in China: Just add waterChina holds enormous potential for shale gas development, but water scarcity stands in the way of any kind of major gas production boom. A new report outlines the high water stress that may prevent China from recovering its shale gas resources.
BP made 'profit-driven decisions' in 2010 oil spill, judge saysBP bears most of the blame for a deadly 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a federal judge ruled Thursday.聽In a 153-page ruling, the judge said BP made 'profit-driven decisions' during the drilling of the well that led to the deadly blowout.
Albino cobra 'probably freaking out,' says officialAn albino cobra on the loose in Southern California has officials warning parents to watch their children and keep them away from dark holes. The albino cobra has been loose since at least Monday evening, when it bit a dog.
Michigan Senate race: Can outsider millions make climate change an issue?Outside groups backed by the Koch brothers on the right and environmentalist billionaire Tom Steyer on the left are pumping millions into a race that tests whether climate issues can play well for Democrats in moderate states.
Ukraine crisis: Putin speeds up Russia pivot to AsiaAs the Ukraine crisis continues, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia may let China hold a share in one of its biggest energy projects in Siberia. It's a sign that Putin is looking increasingly to Asia for new energy customers as its relations with Ukraine and Europe deteriorate.聽
Obama at NATO: Can US energy save Baltic allies?NATO is looking to the US to shore up energy security, particularly as tensions rise with gas-rich Russia over the Ukraine crisis. At this week's NATO Summit, European allies will likely press President Obama for accelerated gas exports and a lift of the US oil export ban as a counter to Russian influence.
PG&E gets $1.4 billion fine for gas pipeline explosionPG&E should pay a $1.4 billion penalty for a deadly 2010 gas pipeline explosion, according to a ruling from California regulatory judges Tuesday. PG&E, the state's largest utility, said in a statement it fully accepts that a penalty is appropriate.聽
Arctic drilling: Will oil lure Shell back to icy waters?Oil supermajor Shell is considering a return to Arctic drilling, after a series of setbacks nearly ended the company's plans in the Arctic for good.聽But before Shell can move its rigs into the Arctic, several obstacles remain.
Russia-Ukraine gas talks fail, IS and oil, Obama鈥檚 global climate plan [Recharge]Failed Russia-Ukraine-EU gas talks last week raise the specter of a cold, dark winter in Ukraine; the Islamic State's oil-fueled spread is bolstering similar aspirations among Boko Haram in Nigeria; President Obama looks to sidestep Congress in global climate change efforts. Catch up on the week in global energy with Recharge.聽聽