Energy News
- Dot Earth Blog: PBS Series Explores ‘A New Wild’ Sustained, Instead of Wrecked, by People4 February 2015, 8:06 pm
In a new PBS series, a conservation biologist explores how people can be a nurturing presence in what used to be called “the wild.”...
- Green Column: The Horrors of Fishing With Dynamite4 February 2015, 7:51 pm
Some nations have clamped down on blast fishing, which is generally illegal, but it continues in areas where explosives are available and people are desperate.... - Low Energy Prices Offer Opening for Subsidy Cuts4 February 2015, 1:13 am
Middle Eastern and developing countries have long kept oil cheap for political reasons, but a new global energy picture presents an opportunity to stop.... - National Briefing | West: California: Water Use Down, but Emergency Persists4 February 2015, 12:36 am
December’s rains enabled Californians to finally meet Gov. Jerry Brown’s call for a 20 percent reduction in monthly water consumption, but more restrictions loom as the state adapts to a drought.... - DealBook: Slump in Oil Prices Brings Pressure, and Investment Opportunity3 February 2015, 5:31 pm
Scores of debt-laden oil companies face struggles that could lead to layoffs and losses for banks and investors. At the same time, new fortunes stand to be made.... - By the Barrel: Saudi Oil Is Seen as Lever to Pry Russian Support From Syria’s Assad3 February 2015, 2:33 pm
Talks have centered on persuading President Vladimir V. Putin to stop backing the Syrian president, officials said, in return for moves to raise the price of oil, which could bolster Russia’s economy.... - Grid Sensors Could Ease Disruptions of Power3 February 2015, 1:16 pm
Utilities are experimenting with new systems that can monitor the flow of electricity and pinpoint failures more quickly, perhaps even avoiding them.... - BP Posts Net Loss of $4.4 Billion in Fourth Quarter3 February 2015, 10:05 am
Plummeting oil prices caused the British giant to write off about $5.5 billion on the value of certain assets while sharply reducing capital spending.... - Oil and Gas Prices Steady Despite a Refinery Strike2 February 2015, 10:04 pm
The United Steelworkers action comes as the nation is awash in fuel, though a lengthy strike could affect two-thirds of production.... - Dot Earth Blog: A Fresh Look at the Watery Side of Earth’s Climate Shows ‘Unabated Planetary Warming’2 February 2015, 9:44 pm
New measurements show an unabated buildup of heat in the world’s oceans, mainly in the Southern Hemisphere.... - Lower Oil Prices Strike at Heart of Canada’s Oil Sands Production2 February 2015, 7:43 pm
Suppliers of items like safety boots, cleaning services and housing have experienced uncertainty as excavation projects seek to cut operating costs.... - Exxon Mobil Revenue and Profit Off 21% on Oil Decline2 February 2015, 6:00 pm
The company said its fourth-quarter results were bolstered somewhat by asset sales and improved profits in its chemical business.... - By the Barrel: Russia Outlines Prescription to Bolster Its Ailing Economy, but Experts Scoff2 February 2015, 2:42 pm
Some insiders said they expected the Kremlin to react to the economic crisis the way it had in 2008 — with disaster management, but no fundamental changes.... - ConocoPhillips and Occidental Post Losses, Reflecting Oil Price Plunge2 February 2015, 6:48 am
After years of the industry making record profits both companies said that they lost money in the fourth quarter.... - Louisiana Squeezed as Oil Prices Drop31 January 2015, 7:22 pm
Every downturn is a little bit different, and every downturn falls unevenly — even within the oil industry, as Louisiana’s complicated place in the current price collapse shows.... - Oil Prices Surge 8% After Long Slide Down31 January 2015, 6:09 pm
Energy experts said the sudden increase could be explained by various factors, including reports that the Islamic State terrorist group was advancing in an offensive near Iraq’s northern oil fields.... - A Silver Lining Coated in Coal Dust in Eastern Ukraine31 January 2015, 5:30 pm
The rebel government has lifted a ban on private coal mining, a widespread practice in the financially struggling region.... - Climate Change’s Bottom Line31 January 2015, 4:00 pm
The Risky Business Project’s well-known business and policy leaders hope its research will persuade companies to prepare for, and help mitigate, climate change.... - With Oil Revenue Dropping, Mexico Announces Budget Cuts31 January 2015, 3:15 am
The government said it would cut $8.3 billion, sharply reducing the budget of the state oil company and effectively canceling a bullet train project at the center of a conflict-of-interest scandal.... - National Briefing | Rockies: Wyoming: U.S. Government Sells Teapot Dome Field31 January 2015, 1:10 am
A private company will finally be able to legally drill in the Teapot Dome oil field....
- Stocks Falter4 February 2015, 8:51 pm
The Dow industrials gave up gains and the S&P 500 moved lower after an ECB statement that boosted jitters on Greece.... - Home Builders Reporting Stronger Sales in January4 February 2015, 8:41 pm
The housing market has been disappointing in the past year, with sales essentially flat. But there are signs that the market is starting to stir.... - Oil Falls With Supply Near 80-Year Highs4 February 2015, 8:06 pm
Oil prices tumbled 8.7% on Wednesday, the largest one-day drop in two months, after data showed that U.S. crude supplies had climbed to their highest level in about 80 years.... - California Rains on Gas Drillers4 February 2015, 7:25 pm
Drought in the West isn’t boosting natural gas prices this winter.... - CEO Bust: Video Reveals FBI Tactics in Bribery Probe4 February 2015, 6:46 pm
A secret FBI recording of an oil CEO talking with his general counsel-turned- informant captures a rare inside look at efforts to uncover alleged bribery of overseas officials.... - Finland Rejects Pay Raises at Two Companies4 February 2015, 6:42 pm
Finland’s government said Wednesday it will block proposed pay raises for board members at two major listed companies as a perception of rising wage inequality fuels voter discontent.... - Corporate Watch: News Digest4 February 2015, 6:11 pm
China’s government will merge a leading nuclear-technology company with one of the nation’s biggest power producers, as the government looks to consolidate its burgeoning nuclear sector.... - Petrobras CEO Resigns4 February 2015, 1:55 pm
The chief executive and five other executives of Brazil’s state-controlled oil company Petrobras have resigned, capping a tumultuous period for a company mired in debt and embroiled in a vast corruption scandal.... - HDFC Bank Share Sale Likely Within a Week4 February 2015, 8:48 am
HDFC Bank’s planned share sale to raise 100 billion rupees ($1.6 billion) is likely to take place within a week, four people familiar with the matter said.... - Statoil Names Sætre CEO4 February 2015, 7:36 am
Statoil said acting Chief Executive Eldar Sætre would head the company permanently, as the energy industry faces a challenging period of high costs and lower oil prices.... - Cnooc Doesn’t Walk Oil Talk4 February 2015, 5:25 am
China’s big offshore energy producer is cutting spending, but not enough given current oil prices.... - What’s News4 February 2015, 5:01 am
Here are the top business stories from today’s Wall Street Journal Europe.... - China to Merge Power Firms as Nuclear Ambition Grows4 February 2015, 4:51 am
China’s government will merge a leading nuclear-technology company with one of the nation’s biggest power producers, as the government looks to consolidate its burgeoning nuclear sector.... - Air-Safety Officials Back Tracking Jetliners4 February 2015, 4:35 am
International air-safety officials meeting in Montreal endorsed the goal of implementing the universal tracking of virtually all airliners world-wide within the next few years.... - ADM Sees Weaker Profit Margins in Ethanol Business4 February 2015, 2:38 am
Archer Daniels Midland Co. said its ethanol profit margins would be softer this year, reflecting a dramatic drop in crude-oil prices that has pressured margins for producers of the corn-based biofuel.... - Petrobras CEO May Be Let Go After Third-Quarter Report4 February 2015, 1:11 am
Petroleo Brasileiro SA CEO Maria das Graças Foster may be let go from the Brazilian energy firm after the company reports its third-quarter earnings.... - As Oil Prices Climb, Some Harbor Doubts4 February 2015, 12:38 am
Crude prices rose to the highest level this year amid signs a global supply glut could ease, but some investors and analysts said the worst of the oil rout may not be over.... - Cliffs Natural Resources Cries Foul Over Steel Imports3 February 2015, 11:23 pm
Cliffs Natural Resources plans to join steelmakers in filing complaints over steel imported into the U.S., its chief executive said, a move that could increase pressure on the U.S. government to add more tariffs on steel products.... - Oil Prices Surge 7%3 February 2015, 10:01 pm
Oil prices soared to a one-month high on Tuesday, providing investors some respite from a prolonged selloff that rattled financial markets, the energy sector and oil-dependent economies.... - BP Posts Loss Amid Oil Rout3 February 2015, 9:30 pm
BP joined a raft of oil companies, big and small, slashing their budgets for finding and tapping new sources of crude, offering a pessimistic outlook on a day it reported a net loss for the latest financial quarter....
- US Government Energy Consumption Is at the Lowest Level Since 19754 February 2015, 6:55 pm
In 2007, the U.S. government passed the Energy Independence Act, which called for federal agencies to start weaning themselves off petroleum fuels and increasing the energy efficiency of buildings. The desired results of those programs, which have been enacted across the federal government, from the General Services Administration to the U.S. Department of Defense, are now being realized. New data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows that government energy use, including e... - This New PG&E Program Will Allow Customers to Go 100 Percent Solar4 February 2015, 6:38 pm
California state regulators gave Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) the green light last week for a voluntary program that will allow customers to get up to 100 percent of their energy from solar by paying a monthly surcharge. The program, expected to roll out by the end of the year, will allow PG&E to procure solar from small and medium-sized solar projects (0.5 megawatts to 20 megawatts) located within its service area. Participating residential and commercial customers can sign up to... - An Illustrated Guide to the State of America’s Clean Energy Sector4 February 2015, 5:22 pm
The U.S. largely depends on fossil fuels to power its economy, but there are signs that the country is getting modestly cleaner. America has separated oil consumption and electricity consumption from economic growth; energy productivity has increased 11 percent since 2007; non-hydro renewable electricity generation has increased by 4 percent since 2007; wind and solar capacity have grown 2.5 times since 2008; and although carbon dioxide emissions are up 4 percent since 2012 due to an increas... - Minnesota’s Great Leap Into Solar Begins4 February 2015, 2:00 pm
Minnesota, now blanketed in snow, is preparing for a sun-filled spring. Pro-solar legislation has led to an explosion of solar development in the state, leading Xcel Energy to dramatically revise its future investment plans. The utility now expects to get 10 percent of its power from the sun by 2030. But market developments suggest that number may be conservative. While Minnesota has a long history of progressive energy policy, the state's solar story really began in 2013, when t... - Under Scrutiny for Questionable Accounting, Hanergy Chair Is Now China’s Richest Man4 February 2015, 12:14 pm
Reuters: Alibaba's Jack Ma Dethroned as China's Richest by Solar Magnate Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.'s Jack Ma is no longer China's richest man, according to a report on Tuesday, with the top spot snatched by Li Hejun, a solar energy entrepreneur whose Hanergy Holding Group Ltd. has come under fire for its intragroup dealings. E-commerce tycoon Ma and his family slipped to No. 3 in China, and No. 34 globally, on the Hurun Global Rich List, with a personal wealth of $24.5 bil... - Siemens Moves Into Microgrids, Partners With Utilidata3 February 2015, 4:52 pm
Microgrids could be a very useful tool for integrating distributed energy resources such as solar PV, backup generators, behind-the-meter batteries and other grid-edge technologies. But to share those capabilities with the grid at large, microgrid-owning customers need some kind of technology platform to connect them with utilities and grid operators -- and to allow them to make money while they do it. On Tuesday, Siemens became the latest grid giant to offer its own answer to this challenge... - NRG Acquires Verengo Solar’s Northeast Sales and Operations Teams3 February 2015, 4:45 pm
NRG Energy executives weren't kidding when they told investors that solar is a central part of their strategy to double the company’s earnings by 2022. Today, the energy giant put resources behind those words by acquiring the Northeast sales and operations teams of Verengo Solar, a leading U.S. solar installer. The move underscores NRG’s commitment to expanding its presence in the rapidly growing residential solar market. “It’s an ever-consolidating space in res... - Money Versus Morals: Why Economic Rewards Trump Polite Messaging in Efficiency3 February 2015, 2:00 pm
From food placement in grocery stores to the way Facebook curates newsfeeds, behavioral science is at the core of corporate strategies to maximize sales and engagement. As understanding of consumer behavior evolves, energy efficiency companies have also become much more sophisticated in how they target their efforts. The so-called behavioral efficiency approach was pioneered by Opower, which based its business model off a 2004 study showing that consumers are more likely to cut en... - How California Can Dramatically Streamline Interconnection of Distributed Energy3 February 2015, 1:30 pm
California is getting serious about distributed energy resources (DER), which include small utility-scale solar, bioenergy and wind generation, energy storage, energy efficiency, demand response and combined heat and power facilities. By definition, distributed energy resources interconnect to the distribution grid, which means they are located closer to load than are conventional resources. This makes for a more efficient and more stable grid, among many other benefits. Governor Brown mad... - Canadian Solar Finally Acquires Recurrent Energy for $265 Million in Cash3 February 2015, 2:09 am
In December of last year, the Nikkei Business Daily reported that Sharp had finally sold off Recurrent Energy, an active solar project developer, to Canadian Solar for approximately $247 million. A spokesperson for Recurrent Energy informed Greentech Media at the time that Canadian Solar had not bought the firm and that other bidders were still in the race. Today, it's finally official. Canadian Solar has acquired Recurrent Energy from Sharp Corporation for $265 million. (We heard ...
- A Battery for Electronics That Lasts Twice as Long2 February 2015, 10:20 pm
A startup called SolidEnergy has developed a kind of lithium-ion battery that stores far more energy.A new kind of lithium-ion battery could let portable electronics such as smartphones and smart watches last twice as long between charges.... - Seven Must-Read Stories (Week Ending January 31, 2015)30 January 2015, 8:00 pm
Another chance to catch the most interesting, and important, articles from the previous week on MIT Technology Review.... - Recommended from Around the Web (Week Ending January 31, 2015)30 January 2015, 7:00 pm
A roundup of the most interesting stories from other sites, collected by the staff at MIT Technology Review.Ageing Research: Blood to BloodIs young blood a treatment for Alzheimer’s? —Antonio Regalado, senior editor, biomedicine... - A Cheap Material Boosts Solar Cells by 50 Percent30 January 2015, 5:00 pm
Researchers have found a way to augment ordinary silicon solar cells with a material called a perovskite.Putting a new kind of photovoltaic material on top of a conventional solar cell can boost overall power output by half. Researchers at Stanford University added a type of material known as a perovskite to a silicon solar cell, validating an idea for cheaply increasing the efficiency of solar power that was first proposed several years ago.... - Sales of Bigger Cars Will Force Manufacturers to Stress More Fuel-Efficient Ones29 January 2015, 5:00 am
Carmakers must also push out more of the cleaner vehicles to meet average fleet emissions standards.Falling gas prices last year were correlated with increased sales of gas-guzzling SUVs and a softening in demand for hybrids like Toyota’s Prius—resulting in a dip in the average fuel efficiency of vehicles sold at the end of the year.... - Harvesting Data Helps Farms Grow Yields23 January 2015, 9:40 pm
640Labs, acquired by Monsanto, provides analytics that can help farmers increase production.Matt Schweigert owns 7,000 acres of corn and soybean fields in Cuba City, Wisconsin. His 25 tractors, combines, and other farm machinery are fitted with the latest in agricultural technology: sensors that track GPS location and measure the number of seeds planted, the volume of fertilizer sprayed, and the quantities of harvested ears and beans.... - Seven Must-Read Stories (Week Ending January 24, 2015)23 January 2015, 5:00 am
Another chance to catch the most interesting, and important, articles from the previous week on MIT Technology Review.... - Recommended from Around the Web (Week Ending January 24, 2015)22 January 2015, 9:00 pm
A roundup of the most interesting stories from other sites, collected by the staff at MIT Technology Review.Smartphones Don’t Make Us DumbIt’s not clear that phones shrink our attention span, but they may be changing the way we think, reducing reflection and daydreaming. —Nanette Byrnes, senior editor, Business Reports... - Resurrecting a Meltdown-Proof Reactor Design22 January 2015, 8:30 pm
A new design for a molten-salt reactor could make nuclear power safer and more economical.A new take on an old reactor design could make nuclear power cleaner and safer, and therefore more competitive with fossil fuels.... - Hawaii’s Solar Push Strains the Grid20 January 2015, 5:00 am
Kauai’s utility takes a second stab at battery storage as solar heads toward 80 percent of peak power.The prospect of cheaper, petroleum-free power has lured the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) to quintuple utility-scale solar capacity over the past year, building two 12-megawatt photovoltaic arrays. These facilities are the biggest and a significant contributor to the island’s 78-megawatt peak power supply. When the second plant comes online this summer, peak solar output on Kauai w... - Seven Must-Read Stories (Week Ending January 17, 2015)16 January 2015, 2:00 pm
Another chance to catch the most interesting, and important, articles from the previous week on MIT Technology Review.... - Recommended from Around the Web (Week Ending January 17, 2015)15 January 2015, 10:10 pm
A roundup of the most interesting stories from other sites, collected by the staff at MIT Technology Review.In China, Projects to Make Great Wall Feel Small The New York Times outlines the pros and cons of a number of multibillion-dollar engineering “mega-projects” under way in China. Photo slideshow included. —Mike Orcutt, reasearch editor... - Can GM Go from Volt to Bolt?12 January 2015, 10:21 pm
GM revealed a concept all-electric hatchback today that it claims will have a 200-mile range.GM today unveiled an all-electric concept car, called the Bolt, which it says will have a 200-mile range. That’s comparable to the range of Tesla’s electric luxury cars, but the Bolt will cost around $30,000 (while a Tesla will sell for between $70,000 and $94,000).... - Low Oil Prices Mean Keystone Pipeline Makes No Sense9 January 2015, 6:50 pm
New exploration on the bulk of Canada’s oil sands reserves can’t start unless prices are at least $60 per barrel, economists say.The recent dramatic plunge in oil prices threatens to make the proposed Keystone XL pipeline something of a white elephant.... - Seven Must-Read Stories (Week Ending January 10, 2015)9 January 2015, 2:00 pm
Another chance to catch the most interesting, and important, articles from the previous week on MIT Technology Review.... - Recommended from Around the Web (Week Ending January 10, 2015)8 January 2015, 10:30 pm
A roundup of the most interesting stories from other sites, collected by the staff at MIT Technology Review.Genius IdeaThis, by Nick Carlson, is how you annotate a story on Rap Genius. (You let your sources annotate.) —Jason Pontin, editor in chief and publisher... - How Much Fossil Fuel Should Be Left in the Ground?8 January 2015, 9:45 pm
A new study pinpoints the type and location of fossil fuels that should remain unburned if the world is to meet its climate goal.The planet still holds vast reserves of fossil fuel that could be extracted economically. However, according to a new analysis, a third of the world’s oil, half of its gas, and 80 percent of its coal reserves must remain unused if we are to have a good chance of avoiding potentially devastating climate change.... - Grid Batteries for Wind, Solar Find First Customers8 January 2015, 7:50 pm
Niche applications will help advanced power-grid-battery technology.Several new types of battery, each capable of cost-effectively storing the energy output from a wind or solar farm, are finally being hooked up to power grids. The so-called grid batteries could lower the cost of renewable energy by eliminating the intermittency problem that arises when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing.... - Seven Must-Read Stories (Week Ending January 3, 2015)2 January 2015, 5:00 am
Another chance to catch the most interesting, and important, articles from the previous week on MIT Technology Review.... - The Top Technology Failures of 201431 December 2014, 5:00 am
What do the latest technologies to flop, fizzle, and flame out tell us about innovation?All successful technologies are alike, but every failed technology flops in its own way....
- Security: Protecting customers charging electric vehicles on smart electricity grids4 February 2015, 2:01 pm
As electricity grids become more sophisticated, grid administrators can collect instantaneous data on consumer and supplier behavior. The 'smart grid' then learns to improve the reliability, costs and sustainability of electricity distribution. However, smart grids present new security challenges, especially for mobile systems such as electric vehicles (EVs), which can be attacked both electronically and physically.... - Potential for graphene and other 2D crystals in the energy sector3 February 2015, 2:43 pm
Graphene has many potential applications, among them energy generation, conversion and storage. Graphene – a single layer of carbon atoms – and related two-dimensional crystals combine high electrical conductivity with physical flexibility and a huge surface to weight ratio. Such qualities make them suitable for storing electric charge in batteries and supercapacitors, and as catalysts in solar and fuel-cell electrodes.... - How is noise produced by wind power plants experienced?3 February 2015, 2:43 pm
The disruptiveness of the noise generated by wind power plants in Finland is the focus of a new study that combines the measurement of the noise produced by wind power with the noise experienced by humans in relation to sound pressure levels and the time and frequency behavior of sound. ... - Josephson junctions generated in atomic-layered superconductors3 February 2015, 2:41 pm
In an atomic-scale thick superconductor formed on a silicon surface, a single-atom difference in height between atomic layers (atomic step) acts as a Josephson junction that controls the flow of supercurrent.... - A third industrial revolution for Norway3 February 2015, 2:41 pm
Norway's wealth and prosperity over the last four decades has been built on oil, but a futurist and social and economic thinker, says it's time for the country to change. The Third Industrial Revolution is coming, and Norway needs to abandon fossil fuels and move towards a greener future that relies on renewable energy, shared transport and ultra-efficient housing, he says.... - Singapore's first 3-D-printed concept car3 February 2015, 2:41 pm
University students have built Singapore's first urban solar electric car with an innovative 3D-printed body shell that has 150 parts. Mounted on a carbon fibre single shell chassis, the NTU Venture (NV) 8 will race in the Urban Concept category at this year's Shell Eco-marathon Asia.... - Quest for efficiency in thermoelectric nanowires3 February 2015, 2:21 am
Reseachers have developed a single electroforming technique that tailored key factors to better thermoelectric performance: crystal orientation, crystal size and alloy uniformity.... - Five ways to put tiny targets in front of an x-ray laser3 February 2015, 2:21 am
X-ray devices have long been used to see the inner structure of things, from bone breaks in the human body to the contents of luggage at airport security checkpoints. But to see life's chemistry and exotic materials at the scale of individual atoms, you need a far more powerful X-ray device.... - Scalable electric drive for buses, trucks and more2 February 2015, 1:07 pm
Although electric cars meet current trends, driving axles are still too heavy, too expensive and too large for them. To address this situation, researchers have designed an optimized axle module for commercial vehicles. It is powerful, lightweight, compact and cost-effective.... - Novel technology could combat flight pollution2 February 2015, 1:06 pm
A breakthrough propulsion technology to provide greener air transport could be developed after the underlying engineering was declared a success.... - Transforming biochar into activated carbon30 January 2015, 5:16 pm
It's about transforming corn stover, dried distillers grain solids and even native grasses into a product more than 1,000 times more valuable--graphene. A team of researchers is converting biochar into graphene which they hope can one day be used in place of expensive, activated carbon to coat the electrodes of supercapacitors.... - Water purification: Running fuel cells on bacteria30 January 2015, 1:15 pm
Researchers in Norway have succeeded in getting bacteria to power a fuel cell. The "fuel" used is wastewater, and the products of the process are purified water droplets and electricity. This is an environmentally-friendly process for the purification of water derived from industrial processes and suchlike. It also generates small amounts of electricity – in practice enough to drive a small fan, a sensor or a light-emitting diode. In the future, the researchers hope to scale up this energy gen... - Pinholes are pitfalls for high performance solar cells30 January 2015, 1:15 pm
The most popular next-generation solar cells under development may have a problem – the top layer is full of tiny pinholes, researchers have found.... - Crystal light: New family of light-converting materials points to cheaper, more efficient solar power and LEDs29 January 2015, 10:03 pm
Engineers have shone new light on an emerging family of solar-absorbing materials that could clear the way for cheaper and more efficient solar panels and LEDs. The materials, called perovskites, are particularly good at absorbing visible light, but had never been thoroughly studied in their purest form: as perfect single crystals. Using a new technique, researchers grew large, pure perovskite crystals and studied how electrons move through the material as light is converted to electricity.... - Generating Mobius strips of light29 January 2015, 8:16 pm
Physicists have experimentally produced Möbius strips from the polarization of light, confirming a theoretical prediction that it is possible for light's electromagnetic field to assume this peculiar shape.... - Solar chip monitors windows29 January 2015, 2:42 pm
A new kind of radio chip is intended to warn when windows are left open. This way, you can avoid having the heat go out the window on cold days. The sensor also detects break-in attempts early on. The key: This maintenance-free chip powers up with energy supplied by solar power.... - To reassure electric car buyers, combine battery leasing with better charging28 January 2015, 8:22 pm
A proper choice of business model plays a critical role in electric vehicle industry where many consumers are subject to range and resale anxieties. In particular, a combination of owning or leasing electric batteries and improving charging technology can reassure such skeptics and help increase the electric vehicle adoption, according to a new study.... - Missing link in metal physics explains Earth's magnetic field28 January 2015, 7:16 pm
Earth's magnetic field shields the life on our planet's surface from cosmic rays. It is generated by turbulent motions of liquid iron in Earth's core. Iron is a metal, which means it can easily conduct a flow of electrons. New findings show that a missing piece of the traditional theory explaining why metals become less conductive when they are heated was needed to complete the puzzle of this field-generating process.... - Demystifying nanocrystal solar cells28 January 2015, 5:54 pm
Researchers have developed a comprehensive model to explain how electrons flow inside new types of solar cells made of tiny crystals. The model allows for a better understanding of such cells and may help to increase their efficiency.... - New instrument to study the extreme universe -- the X-Ray polarimeter X-Calibur28 January 2015, 3:06 pm
X-ray polarimetry promises to give qualitatively new information about high-energy astrophysical sources, such as black hole systems, the bright and active centers of galaxies, compact neutron stars, and gamma-ray bursts. The instrument will measure the polarization of 20-80keV X-rays. The detector is completed, tested, and fully calibrated and ready to be flown on a high-altitude balloon....
- Africa’s First Grid-Connected Biogas Plant to Start in Kenya4 February 2015, 7:33 pm
Africa’s first grid-connected biogas plant will begin supplying power by March 1, according to Johnnie McMillan, managing director of Tropical Power Kenya Ltd.... - Renewables Beat Natural Gas, Provide Half of New US Generating Capacity in 20144 February 2015, 3:31 pm
Ending a year-long race that had been nip-and tuck every month, renewable energy sources cumulatively provided more new electric generating capacity in 2014 than did natural gas.... - The Other War: Underreported but Not Insignificant4 February 2015, 3:16 pm
Judging by press coverage both mainstream and marginal, there’s one epic fight—and pretty much one epic fight only—going on in America’s utility-energy industry: The “war on coal.”... - Wind Energy Outlook 2015: Could Total Installed Wind Capacity Reach 2,000 GW by 2030?4 February 2015, 2:10 pm
Under an advanced policy scenario — the manifestation of the iron political will required in order to address climate change — wind power could reach a total installed global capacity of 2,000 GW by 2030, supplying up to 19 percent of global electricity. This is the key conclusion of the latest Global Wind Energy Outlook (GWEO) from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and Greenpeace.... - The Solar Customer’s Hero’s Journey4 February 2015, 1:56 pm
Most of us in the solar field see ourselves as renewable energy warriors, working every day to thwart the dastardly deeds of fossil fuel energy, to disrupt utility monopolies, and to provide our customers with the gold from the slain dragons’ coffers – free solar electricity! But are we doing a good job making our customers feel like heroes? Inspir... - California's Clean Tech Industry Best in US for Jobs and Investment3 February 2015, 4:57 pm
California’s bet on green energy is paying off, with clean technology companies creating more jobs and investing more money than competitors in any other state.... - Sharp Sells Recurrent to Canadian Solar for $265 Million3 February 2015, 4:50 pm
Sharp Corp. will sell its Recurrent solar operation to a U.S. unit of Canadian Solar Inc. for $265 million, or 13 percent less than it paid five years ago, in the latest move to scale back operations outside Japan.... - How Community Solar Is Finally Addressing Clean Energy’s Equity Problem3 February 2015, 3:42 pm
It is no secret that the residential solar market is booming. Declining panel prices, the rise of third-party PPAs, and the spread of the Solarize model—these are familiar storylines to anyone with a passing knowledge of the solar industry. And those of us with a passion for clean energy are more than happy to share the good news.... - Fukushima, Japan Accelerating Deployment of Solar to Create Self-Reliant Communities3 February 2015, 2:46 pm
This March will mark the four-year anniversary of when the world’s worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl hit the northeast of Japan. Communities severely affected by the triple-disaster of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown have made a strong commitment to become energy self-reliant by producing safe, clean energy locally for local consumption.... - How the Chinese Are Turning Fecal Sludge Into ‘Black Gold’3 February 2015, 2:39 pm
Heinz-Peter Mang is obsessed with turning human waste into gold. As millions of Chinese move to cities, the German engineer is convinced the country is on the way to hitting the jackpot.... - Obama Proposes $4 Billion for States Beating Climate Goals2 February 2015, 9:27 pm
The Obama administration is proposing a $4 billion fund to reward states that exceed cuts in greenhouse-gas emissions, and wants Congress to back steeper royalty rates for oil, gas and coal extraction from public land.... - Financing Community-Scale Resilient Power Projects by Bundling Loans2 February 2015, 3:17 pm
A new report by Clean Energy Group proposes bundling loans for resilient power projects, such as solar PV with battery storage, to get this clean energy market to scale. The report shows how to use an old finance tool, a warehouse credit facility, to assemble portfolios of loans for resilient power projects, which will protect vulnerable population... - Want to Buy a Used German Power Plant? Shipping Is Included2 February 2015, 3:17 pm
Germany’s utilities, battered by the country’s shift to wind turbines and solar panels, would be glad to sell you a power plant on the cheap. They’ll even pack it up and ship it to another country.... - Tanzania Rooftop Solar Gets a $7 Million Boost2 February 2015, 3:05 pm
Off-Grid Electric Ltd., a provider of distributed-generation solar systems, raised $7 million in loans to install rooftop systems in Tanzania.... - New Study Shows Alternative Fuel Supplies Could Triple on the West Coast2 February 2015, 2:44 pm
In my line of work to protect public health and the environment from car and truck pollution, one of the largest barriers continues to be the lack of clean, alternative fuel choices. For every fifteen gasoline stations you drive by, on average only one will offer an alternative fuel option.... - Getting Homeowners to the Yes: 8 Expert Tips To Speed Up the Solar Sales Process2 February 2015, 2:33 pm
It’s safe to say that solar doesn’t have a public image problem. Polls show that an overwhelming percentage of Americans support solar power. The New York Times recently reported that the cost for solar continues to go down. In fact, solar is increasingly becoming cost-competitive with conventional fuels in many parts of the country. Still, the Sol... - Listen Up: Ten Energy Saving Myths2 February 2015, 2:20 pm
With energy prices changing so quickly — and new technologies ramping up into the marketplace — the "conventional wisdom" about energy is often wrong. I've been as guilty as other people when it comes to trusting emotions and public opinion about energy, as opposed to real math and science.... - Carbon Nanoballs Can Transform the Renewable Energy Supply2 February 2015, 2:18 pm
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have discovered that the insulation plastic used in high-voltage cables can withstand a 26 per cent higher voltage if nanometer-sized carbon balls are added. This could result in enormous efficiency gains in the power grids of the future, which are needed to achieve a sustainable energy system.... - Latest US Offshore Wind Auction Draws Few Bidders30 January 2015, 6:06 pm
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management held its fourth offshore wind lease auction yesterday, but unlike the action seen in auctions past, the event was much more subdued. The auction consisted of a massive parcel of land — 742,000 acres, divided into four parcels — off the coast of Massachusetts near the island of Martha’s Vineyard.... - Solar Partnership Generates Cash, Credibility for Community Groups30 January 2015, 4:46 pm
Community groups and businesses that value environmental stewardship are building their reputation and earning cash through a unique partner program. Clean Energy Collective (CEC), a community solar developer with projects in eight states, is building a nationwide network of partners that aspire to make the world a cleaner, more sustainable place f...
- CHEMICALS: Military begins disposal of mustard gas weapons cache4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
The U.S. military will start destroying its largest remaining cache of chemical weapons next month as part of a plan to comply with a 1997 treaty banning the technology.... - CLIMATE: Troutman Sanders' Glaser talks 'just say no' option for states on power plan compliance4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
Should states opt to "just say no" to U.S. EPA's Clean Power Plan proposal by either not submitting compliance plans or creating mechanisms that do not follow the agency's building blocks? During today's OnPoint, Peter Glaser, a partner at Troutman Sanders LLP, explains why he believes this could be a viable option for some states. He also discusses his expectations for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's technical conferences on the power plan proposal.... - COLORADO: GOP seeks to trim renewable energy standards4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
Colorado's Republican-controlled Senate could vote as early as today on legislation rolling back the state's renewable energy requirements.... - EUROPEAN UNION: Bloc OKs vehicle emissions tests on road rather than in lab4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
The European Commission has approved on-the-road emissions testing of vehicles, rather than standard laboratory testing.... - GULF OF MEXICO: Voluntary fertilizer reductions won't stop 'dead zone' -- study4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
Voluntary strategies used in the Midwest don't do enough to remove nutrients from fertilizers that fuel the "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico, according to a new study.... - NEW JERSEY: Mayor bars company from chemical cleanup site over dispute4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
Jersey City, N.J., Mayor Steve Fulop (D) is pushing a company responsible for cleaning up 20 acres of contaminated land out of the city because he says the company won't return the site to a usable state.... - WISCONSIN: Governor's budget would tighten control of resources agency4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
Wisconsin environmentalists are sounding the alarm about Republican Gov. Scott Walker's fiscal 2016 budget, which they say would strip the Department of Natural Resources of virtually all authority.... - FLORIDA: Officials may lift bear hunting ban4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
With sightings of black bears in suburban neighborhoods becoming increasingly frequent, Florida is considering lifting its 20-year ban on black bear hunts.... - CHESAPEAKE BAY: Water quality improves as threats remain -- report4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
The Chesapeake Bay is slowly recovering from pollution and overfishing but is still threatened by rising sea levels, warmer waters and urban development, according to a report released yesterday.... - AIR POLLUTION: EPA to track emissions at busy U.S.-Mexico border crossing4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
U.S. EPA announced plans yesterday to monitor air pollution at a crowded U.S.-Mexico border crossing, the Western Hemisphere's busiest land port.... - AIR POLLUTION: Enviros threaten lawsuit over toxic standards for industry4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
Nine environmental groups yesterday threatened to file a lawsuit against U.S. EPA alleging that the agency failed to complete required reviews of air toxics standards for more than 30 industry categories.... - RAIL: Feds to probe deadly commuter train crash into SUV4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
Federal investigators are on their way to New York today to investigate a Metro-North Railroad crash that killed five passengers and the driver of an SUV and injured a dozen passengers last night.... - TECHNOLOGY: Choices make it easier to ditch cars -- study4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
Car and bike sharing. Online taxi hailing. Instant transit information.... - EPA: Watchdog office failed to comply with overtime rules4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
Employees in U.S. EPA's inspector general office have been failing to comply with the agency's overtime policies, according to a new report.... - ETHANOL: Nitrogen gas could lower cellulosic production costs -- study4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
Nitrogen gas may be key to producing cost-competitive cellulosic ethanol, according to a new study by Indiana University researchers.... - ELECTRICITY: Minn. appeal of coal-power imports draws broad interest4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
The potential national ramifications of an ongoing legal fight between North Dakota and Minnesota has attracted opinions from dozens of attorneys and groups to either side of the debate over Minnesota's ban on utilities importing electricity generated from coal.... - ENERGY EFFICIENCY: DOE proposes higher standards for commercial furnaces4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
The Energy Department today unveiled a proposed rule to boost efficiency standards for commercial warm air furnaces that it said would save consumers almost $3 billion before 2050.... - WILDLIFE: Californians urged to remove bird feeders, baths to stem pigeon parasite4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
In an effort to halt a lethal avian parasite spread by urban pigeons, California wildlife officials are asking residents to remove birdbaths and feeders that attract the birds.... - MINING: Sprawling copper project divides Ariz. town4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
A controversial mine that was recently approved by Congress has divided a small Arizona town.... - FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: White House seeks to ramp up law enforcement spending on trafficking4 February 2015, 6:20 pm
The Obama administration is asking Congress to nearly triple the amount of money dedicated to wildlife trafficking law enforcement, a Fish and Wildlife Service official confirmed yesterday....
- NATIONS: Uncertainty in Indonesia over emissions reductions4 February 2015, 1:20 pm
Pressure is mounting for Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to ensure the country can meet its greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 26 to 41 percent by 2019.... - AGRICULTURE: Vertical gardens fight salt contamination in Bangladesh4 February 2015, 1:20 pm
Vertical gardens in southwest Bangladesh are helping villagers counter the effects of seawater encroachment in soils. Floods and severe storms exacerbated by climate change have breached land barriers, bringing salt water into farmland and diminishing yields.... - CLIMATE: Troutman Sanders' Glaser talks 'just say no' option for states on power plan compliance4 February 2015, 1:20 pm
Should states opt to "just say no" to U.S. EPA's Clean Power Plan proposal by either not submitting compliance plans or creating mechanisms that do not follow the agency's building blocks? During today's OnPoint, Peter Glaser, a partner at Troutman Sanders LLP, explains why he believes this could be a viable option for some states. He also discusses his expectations for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's technical conferences on the power plan proposal. Today's OnPoint will air on E&ETV ... - PUBLIC OPINION: Those on either side of the climate debate really dislike each other, study finds4 February 2015, 1:20 pm
The conflict between climate skeptics and believers is akin to a full-blown culture clash where both sides define their identities in part by criticizing the other, according to new research in the journal Nature Climate Change.... - CALIFORNIA: Environment, business groups join to stump for low-carbon fuels policies4 February 2015, 1:20 pm
SACRAMENTO -- Alternative fuels producers in California are banking on a planned policy update later this month to reinvigorate their industry, which has been left in the lurch by uncertainty on the state and federal levels.... - WEATHER: U.S. tornadoes made worse by fires in Central America -- study4 February 2015, 1:20 pm
Agricultural land-clearing fires in Central America are exacerbating tornadoes in the United States, according to a new study from the American Geophysical Union.... - NEGOTIATIONS: E.U. climate chief wants developed nations to send clear signal to markets -- a legally binding treaty4 February 2015, 1:20 pm
The world's 20 biggest economic powers should, at minimum, be among the nations that submit plans to curb greenhouse gas emissions as part of a Paris climate change agreement that will be signed in December, European Commissioner for Energy and Climate Action Miguel Arias Cañete said yesterday.... - TECHNOLOGY: Predicting the winners and losers in adaptation through genomic sequencing4 February 2015, 1:20 pm
The same genomic sequencing technology that enables scientists to map cancer genes, determine your genetic ancestry and develop more individualized medical therapies is also helping environmental scientists understand how various organisms are adapting to climate change.... - CITIES: People hug trees with their iPhones in Melbourne4 February 2015, 1:20 pm
A City Council initiative in Melbourne, Australia, encourages residents to email pictures of trees in the city to report tree-related problems such as insufficient watering or low-hanging branches. The initiative is part of a plan to highlight the effects of climate change in a country that will experience warming at a faster rate than other parts of the world.... - FORESTS: Carbon trading effort lacks protection for indigenous peoples -- report4 February 2015, 1:20 pm
Forest carbon trading efforts will prove unsuccessful until nations grant indigenous peoples and local communities control of their land, argues a new report.... - CARBON CAPTURE: DOE kills FutureGen project4 February 2015, 1:20 pm
The Department of Energy is terminating financing of the FutureGen 2.0 project, ending construction plans for one of the most expensive and high-profile carbon capture proposals in the world.... - ADVOCACY: How a small band of activists saved tropical forests by turning around 'Big Doughnut'4 February 2015, 1:20 pm
Palm oil, a prized vegetable oil, is relatively unknown in America. But its market is huge because it's used in many different products like instant noodles, shampoo and, yes, doughnuts. It's so big that palm oil is connected to the destruction of the Earth's tropical forests on a scale that the Indonesia-based Center for International Forestry Research has called "an ecological disaster."...
- URANIUM: Lawmakers push for expanded radiation compensation payments4 February 2015, 12:10 pm
Several Western lawmakers introduced legislation this week to expand benefits for people affected by radiation from past uranium mining and nuclear weapons testing.... - CLIMATE: Troutman Sanders' Glaser talks 'just say no' option for states on power plan compliance4 February 2015, 12:10 pm
Should states opt to "just say no" to U.S. EPA's Clean Power Plan proposal by either not submitting compliance plans or creating mechanisms that do not follow the agency's building blocks? During today's OnPoint, Peter Glaser, a partner at Troutman Sanders LLP, explains why he believes this could be a viable option for some states. He also discusses his expectations for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's technical conferences on the power plan proposal. Today's OnPoint will air on E&ETV ... - FEDERAL AGENCIES: Judiciary panel to mark up FOIA bill4 February 2015, 12:10 pm
The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to mark up legislation tomorrow that would strengthen the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).... - TRANSPORT: DeFazio calls crude-by-rail regulator to account4 February 2015, 12:10 pm
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) requested an unflinching evaluation of regulators' efforts on hazardous materials safety in a letter to the Department of Transportation's inspector general yesterday.... - REGULATIONS: White House issues veto threat against regulatory reform bill4 February 2015, 12:10 pm
The White House yesterday issued a veto threat against legislation that would impose a more stringent review of agencies' proposed regulations.... - CONSERVATION: Senate bills would boost land preservation4 February 2015, 12:10 pm
Lawmakers this week introduced two bipartisan measures to conserve lands and increase recreational access.... - RAIL: Reintroduced bill would allow small pets on Amtrak trips4 February 2015, 12:10 pm
Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) yesterday reintroduced legislation requiring Amtrak to allow passengers to take small pet dogs and cats aboard.... - TRANSPORTATION: Admin to roll out new authorization bill soon -- Foxx4 February 2015, 12:10 pm
The Obama administration plans to hand Congress a revamped version of a long-term road, rail and transit funding bill "in the very near future," Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx told reporters yesterday.... - RAIL: House bill to seek stepped-up project permitting4 February 2015, 12:10 pm
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will again push for faster environmental reviews of rail projects as part of an upcoming reauthorization bill, a key member said yesterday.... - AGRICULTURE: House chairman advocates 'bully pulpit' on regulation, not hearings4 February 2015, 12:10 pm
House Agriculture Chairman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) said yesterday his committee will likely take a sidelines approach on environmental and safety regulations, saving their hearings for the committee's more pressing matters.... - FEDERAL AGENCIES: Crackdown on enviro nonprofit's fees opens door to probing all contractors -- Dems4 February 2015, 12:10 pm
If lawmakers condemn a National Science Foundation contractor for spending taxpayer-funded fees on alcohol, parties and lobbying, it also would call into question far larger "bonus" expenditures by other contractors such as Boeing Co., Democrats on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee said at a hearing yesterday.... - CLIMATE: Clean Air Act overhaul likely to come up next year -- Whitfield4 February 2015, 12:10 pm
The chairman of a key House Energy and Commerce subcommittee said yesterday that it will likely take up legislation to overhaul the Clean Air Act next year.... - OIL: Barton introduces bill to lift crude export ban4 February 2015, 12:10 pm
Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) yesterday introduced legislation that would eliminate the decades-old ban on U.S. crude exports.... - KEYSTONE XL: Senate bill appears welcome in House -- even with climate amendment4 February 2015, 12:10 pm
House lawmakers are poised to move a Senate version of a bill to approve TransCanada Corp.'s Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada next week -- even though it has a Democratic amendment on climate change attached to it.... - WATER POLICY: Key Republican ratchets up pressure on EPA over waterways maps4 February 2015, 12:10 pm
Ahead of a major joint hearing on the Obama administration's controversial water rule set to begin this morning, a key House Republican yesterday revived concerns over a series of U.S. EPA maps that he says reveal the proposal's broad reach.... - NEW MEMBER PROFILE: In party lacking diversity, all GOP needs is Love4 February 2015, 12:10 pm
The most notable thing about the ceremonial swearing-in ceremony of the Congressional Black Caucus was that its highest-profile new member didn't attend. Utah Republican Rep. Ludmya "Mia" Love -- the first black Republican woman elected to Congress and the only member of her party to join the CBC this session -- had other plans that snowy January day.... - CARBON CAPTURE: Lawmakers likely to scrutinize DOE closeout of FutureGen project4 February 2015, 12:10 pm
The Department of Energy is pulling the plug on its involvement in the FutureGen 2.0 carbon capture and sequestration project -- a significant blow to the Obama administration's efforts aimed at boosting the technology....
- CLIMATE: Troutman Sanders' Glaser talks 'just say no' option for states on power plan compliance4 February 2015, 1:26 pm
Should states opt to "just say no" to U.S. EPA's Clean Power Plan proposal by either not submitting compliance plans or creating mechanisms that do not follow the agency's building blocks? During today's OnPoint, Peter Glaser, a partner at Troutman Sanders LLP, explains why he believes this could be a viable option for some states. He also discusses his expectations for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's technical conferences on the power plan proposal. Today's OnPoint will air on E&ETV ... - GRID: Saving energy could drive higher utility rates4 February 2015, 1:26 pm
Energy-conscious Americans will be surprised when they discover their conservation efforts could land them with a higher utility bill.... - OIL: Prices, production could find balance by year's end -- IHS4 February 2015, 1:26 pm
The U.S. oil engine has revved into the red in recent years, but low prices could bring it back to a steady drone by December, according to industry data provider IHS.... - BUSINESS: Texas driller defaults on loan4 February 2015, 1:26 pm
Texas-based energy company Lucas Energy Inc. defaulted on a $7.7 million debt payment due in December 2014. The privately owned company has slashed its general, administrative and operational budgets in light of the free-falling oil prices since last summer.... - PEOPLE: Gas technology group appoints LNG specialist4 February 2015, 1:26 pm
The former vice president of development and liquefied natural gas solutions for the U.S. Maritime Resource Center has joined the Gas Technology Institute as the new lead on its LNG projects.... - GRID: Solar technologies are ready for battle with gas -- report4 February 2015, 1:26 pm
Advances in the solar technologies could change the game in a U.S. market dominated by fossil fuels, according to a recent report by Wood Mackenzie, an analytic organization reporting on the energy industry.... - FINANCE: Oil companies barter pipelines for cash4 February 2015, 1:26 pm
Oil companies strapped for cash are auctioning off pipelines and processing plants. Low oil prices have contributed to more than $40 billion in spending cuts and the loss of thousands of jobs in the energy industry; selling the infrastructure lets companies avoid putting their oil fields on the market.... - BUSINESS: Refinery outages may be pumping up gasoline prices -- EIA4 February 2015, 1:26 pm
A nationwide labor dispute pitting refineries against the United Steelworkers union may be helping to arrest the decline of gasoline prices, new U.S. government data suggest.... - TRANSPORT: DeFazio calls crude-by-rail regulator to account4 February 2015, 1:26 pm
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) requested an unflinching evaluation of regulators' efforts on hazardous materials safety in a letter to the Department of Transportation's inspector general yesterday.... - LAW: Texas oil company drops lawsuit against Russia's Gazprom4 February 2015, 1:26 pm
A $1.37 billion lawsuit dragged across international waters and 10 years over trade secrets is finally settled as Texas-based energy company Moncrief Oil International dropped its case against Russia-based energy outfit Open Joint Stock Company Gazprom.... - COLORADO: Drilling task force advances local control, health proposals4 February 2015, 1:26 pm
DENVER -- Colorado's Oil and Gas Task Force indicated yesterday that it may move to give local governments greater input into siting new oil and gas wells, but the panel showed less enthusiasm for more aggressive tactics aimed at curbing energy development, including new setback regulations.... - UTILITIES: Xcel blamed for cost overruns at Minn. nuclear plant4 February 2015, 1:26 pm
A Minnesota administrative judge blamed Xcel Energy Inc. mismanagement for at least part of $402 million in cost overruns related to a project to increase capacity and extend the life of the company's Monticello nuclear plant.... - TECHNOLOGY: DOE pulls plug on FutureGen coal project4 February 2015, 1:26 pm
The Obama administration has pulled the plug on FutureGen 2.0 -- the second iteration of a project conceived more than a decade ago to blaze a trail for the continued use of coal amid growing concern about climate change.... - TECHNOLOGY: How much energy does a smart thermostat save? Nest gives an answer4 February 2015, 1:26 pm
The new generation of "smart" thermostats have taken to the market with sleek interfaces and claims that they can reduce energy usage, even if their users mostly ignore them (EnergyWire, Sept. 25, 2014). But putting hard numbers to those savings has been elusive.... - LAW: Texas lawyer hunts for plaintiffs in litigation against Chesapeake Energy4 February 2015, 1:26 pm
MILDRED, Pa. -- Dan McDonald is hosting his second meeting of the day -- one of nine this week, all in little Pennsylvania towns where royalty owners think a big oil and gas company is a big cheat. McDonald says the royalty owners are right about Chesapeake Energy Corp. He knows from experience, he says. And he's angry, too....