All Environment
How GE is boosting its oil and gas portfolioGE's acquisition of a Lufkin聽significantly boosts GE鈥檚 oil and gas portfolio, which was worth $15.2 billion of its total $147 billion in revenues for 2012, Alic writes. Over the past three years, GE鈥檚 oil and gas segment has realized annual growth of 16 percent due to an ambitious acquisition drive.聽
Has clean energy hit a plateau?Clean energy growth worldwide has stalled despite significant gains in electric聽vehicles聽and renewable power, and financing has slowed, according to separate studies released Wednesday. Is increased government funding the answer for clean energy, or should private business play a bigger part?聽
Why the 2012 US drought keeps growingDrought conditions now cover nearly two-thirds of the continental US, according to a new report. The South and West are particularly vulnerable to drought in years ahead, scientists say.
A global fracking revolution? Curb your enthusiasm.While China, Saudi Arabia, and other nations are pushing to replicate America's shale boom, they face huge logistical obstacles. Some nations may find the investment is just too big.聽
Keystone XL pipeline: Could Congress bypass Obama to get it built?The Keystone XL pipeline's fate hangs in the air, with some in Congress hoping to move forward without approval from the Obama Administration. New legislation for the Keystone XL pipeline proposes to do just that, but faces significant obstacles.
Antarctic ice tells conflicting story about climate change's role in big meltTwo different areas of Antarctica tell two very different stories about how climate change might be affecting ice melt. The data appear to confirm that climate change impacts can be very local.- Antarctic ice tells conflicting story about climate change's role in big meltTwo different areas of Antarctica tell two very different stories about how climate change might be affecting ice melt. The data appear to confirm that climate change impacts can be very local.
In Germany, a building that aims to run on algaeThe world鈥檚 first ever algae-powered building is being built and tested in Hamburg, Germany, Kennedy writes.聽With the outer facades covered in glass panelled bioreactors the building can produce its own energy.
How oil exporters reach financial collapseHigh oil prices are good for oil exporters while low oil prices are good for oil importers, Tverberg writes. The result is聽a price tug of war between oil importers and oil exporters.
Tesla Motors and Fisker Automotive: a tale of two electric carsTesla Motors will do well to distance itself from Fisker Automotive as much and as quickly as possible, as they really do have a different tale to tell, Stuebi writes.
Giant snail invasion hits South Florida. Gooey mess.Giant snail invasion puts more than 500 plant species and even stucco and plaster at risk. More than 1,000 giant African land snails caught each week in Miami and invasion expected to spread in upcoming rainy season.聽- Giant snail invasion hits South Florida. Gooey mess.Giant snail invasion puts more than 500 plant species and even stucco and plaster at risk. More than 1,000 giant African land snails caught each week in Miami and invasion expected to spread in upcoming rainy season.聽
Why peak oil demand is already a major problemOil demand has to do with how much oil we can afford, Tverberg writes, and many of the developed nations are not able to outbid the developing nations when it comes to the world鈥檚 limited oil supply.
Will we ever understand 2012 drought? Study blames 'random weather'The drought of 2012 was more about unusual weather patterns than global warming, says a study. But its authors acknowledge the record-smashing event likely will be a puzzle for years to come.
The decline of the world's major oil fieldsAging giant fields produce more than half of global oil supply and are already declining as group, Cobb writes. Research suggests that their annual production decline rates are likely to accelerate.
China temperature spikes linked to burning of fossil fuelsA new study from Chinese and Canadian researchers聽links the burning of fossil fuels to China's rise in its daily temperature spikes.聽China emits more greenhouse gas than the next two biggest carbon polluters 鈥� the US and India 鈥� combined.- China temperature spikes linked to burning of fossil fuelsA new study from Chinese and Canadian researchers聽links the burning of fossil fuels to China's rise in its daily temperature spikes.聽China emits more greenhouse gas than the next two biggest carbon polluters 鈥� the US and India 鈥� combined.
New technology could mean tar sands production in USThe US Department of Energy has unveiled a new technology that can be used to make US oil sands and heavy oil economically viable for refining.
EPA nominee Gina McCarthy says coal a 'significant' energy sourceGina McCarthy, President Obama鈥檚 pick to lead the EPA, told a Senate panel on Thursday that coal will remain important in the US energy mix and that if confirmed that she will be flexible in applying new pollution rules for coal-fueled power plants.
France's geothermal 'fracking' conundrumFrance聽has banned fracking but is now planning to tap into geothermal energy which requires a process similar to fracking, Alic writes.聽The oil industry likely sees an opportunity to reverse the fracking ban.