All Environment
Fuel cell technology: has its moment finally arrived?Fuel cells were left by the wayside as solar power and wind power grew in popularity. But now it seems as though fuel cells are beginning to establish themselves in niches that show promise for the future, Kennedy writes.
Climate change: Global emissions hit record high, UN saysCarbon dioxide pollution levels in Earth's atmosphere hit a record high in 2012, according a UN report released Wednesday. The concentration of carbon dioxide, a primary contributor to global warming, is far beyond the level some scientists and environmental groups say is the upper limit for a safe level.
Election day 2013: Fossil fuels take hits from Virginia to Washington StateFrom Virginia to Colorado to Washington, voters on election day 2013 threw their weight behind politicians and policies that limited the use of coal, oil, or natural gas.聽Bans on fracking, coal exports, and tar sands were on the ballot in a handful of states, and in most cases, the election day 2013 results did not favor fossil fuels.
Tesla Motors (TSLA) hits sales record. Investors hit sell button.Tesla Motors' (TSLA) third-quarter sales numbers came in under most analysts' expectations late Tuesday, and the electric carmaker's stock price plunged, triggering a 'circuit breaker' on the Nasdaq. But the fundamentals of Tesla Motors appear to remain strong, and the California-based company has plans for expansion.
Virginia governor's race: EPA supporter narrowly beats 'war on coal' messengerVoters in Virginia narrowly elected Democrat聽Terry McAuliffe聽for governor over Republican聽Ken Cuccinelli II, who differed among other things on the future of the state's coal industry. Mr. McAuliffe supported new EPA regulations on power plants that will make it difficult for new coal plants to be bought.聽
How 'smart' street lights save energyAn intelligent streetlight system, designed by Dutch Delft University of Technology, uses motion sensing technology that automatically dim streetlights when no pedestrians or vehicles are in the vicinity, Kennedy writes, and the idea is ready to go commercial.
India Mars mission: How much fuel do you need to get to Mars?India launched its first spacecraft to Mars Tuesday at a price tag of $72 million. It takes less fuel to propel India's Mars orbiter 485 million miles to the Red Planet than you think.
Your thermostat is about to get 'smart'A new generation of 'smart' thermostats leverage cheap sensors, data analytics, and other bells and whistles of the IT world to take the guesswork out of programming your thermostat. It's an emerging field that is expected to grow as users demand more from their everyday devices.聽
In Britain, to frack, or not to frack?With the British shale story in its infancy, a new report downplays the risk of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, leading to groundwater contamination. Will Britain follow in the US footsteps towards a shale gas boom?
Good news on global warming? Emissions going up, but more slowly.A new study suggests that carbon-dioxide emissions last year 鈥� while still a record high 鈥� grew more slowly than over the past 10 years on average. That could signal an important change.
Coloradans weigh fracking bans. A litmus test for oil and gas?Residents of four Colorado towns will vote on fracking bans Tuesday. Oil and gas production is growing in the western states, and what happens in Colorado is being closely watched in other shale-rich states.- Alligator at O'Hare airport. Really.Alligator at O'Hare airport: A two-foot long alligator was discovered under an escalator at Terminal 3 of O'Hare International Airport.
Tropical Storm Sonia gains strength, takes aim at MexicoTropical Storm Sonia is expected to make landfall early Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center. The Mexican states of Sinaloa and Durango are expecting heavy rainfall and high winds.
Five myths about Al Gore's 'carbon bubble'The carbon bubble idea is an interesting hypothesis, Styles writes, but there are some flaws in the arguments Al Gore makes in its support. Carbon bubble or no, there's nothing wrong with investors wanting to track their carbon exposure, consider shadow carbon prices, or ensure they are properly diversified.
Daylight saving time ends: How to light up the fall (and save money)Daylight saving time ends this Sunday, meaning peak heating and lighting season really ramps up. Daylight saving time is itself a means to save energy, but there are plenty of other ways to save money and energy this fall and winter.
Tesla Motors Model S fires: Another setback for electric cars?Two fires in damaged Tesla Motors Model S cars have raised some concerns over the safety of lithium ion batteries. But the concern should be more about the response from Tesla Motors, Finley writes, than the fires themselves.
Gas prices hit new low for 2013. Who's paying under $3?Gas prices are continuing their downward slide, hitting the lowest average price since last December Friday. Gas聽prices are expected to continue to fall this year, and in many places, drivers are already paying less than $3 a gallon to fill up their gas tank.
After Fukushima, Japan divided over future of nuclear energyAs Japan moves forward with its energy future after the Fukushima disaster, it tries to balance stable electricity with public safety. Will Japan return to nuclear energy?
How much of your tax money goes to oil and gas?The US will begin publishing annual reports on how much the government spends on fossil fuel subsidies. It's part of the White House's broader push to be more transparent in mineral wealth extraction, but there's debate over exactly what subsidies are and how important they are to US energy.
US military warms to electric carsDefense Department plans to buy 92,000 hybrid and electric vehicles over the next seven years to trim its fuel bill. They could be especially cost-effective in war zones.