Energy

US Approves its First Big Offshore Wind Farm, Near Martha’s Vineyard – it’s a Breakthrough for the Industry

COMMENTARY | Building a U.S. offshore wind industry will require more than just fast-tracking permits.

  • By Erin Baker and Matthew Lackner, The Conversation

State-Supported 'Clean Energy' Loans Are Putting Borrowers At Risk of Losing Their Homes

Dozens of Missouri homeowners who used PACE loans to fix up their houses ended up trapped in debt and could soon see their homes sold at auction.

  • By Haru Coryne and Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica

Gallup: Americans’ Anxiety About Energy Prices, Supply Sharply Rises

In the organization’s latest poll, 73% of those surveyed say they worry a “great deal/fair amount” about the availability and affordability of energy.

  • By Brent Woodie

How to Improve Public Health, the Environment and Racial Equity All at Once: Upgrade Low-income Housing

COMMENTARY | Retrofitting low-income housing is a way to tackle some of the nation's pressing health, social and environmental challenges.

  • By Jonathan Levy, The Conversation

Huge Winter Storm Gas Bills Push Cities to the Brink

The freezing temperatures that lingered over much of the country last month led to astronomical natural gas prices and put some cities on the verge of bankruptcy.

  • By Alex Brown, Stateline

Solar Project to Produce Half of State Government’s Electricity

Pennsylvania announced a new solar project that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lock in energy pricing for 15 years.

  • By Andrea Noble

In Colorado, the Looming Liability of Oil and Gas Cleanup

After collecting only a fraction of the funds needed from companies, the state is reforming financial requirements.

  • By Nick Bowlin, Undark

Analysis: One Way or Another, Texans Will Get the Bill for Fixing the Electric Grid

It's going to be expensive to make sure the state's electricity stays on during winter storms like the one that blacked out most of Texas last month, and the money will come, one way or another, from average Texans.

  • By Ross Ramsey, The Texas Tribune

Republicans Grill Interior Nominee Over Potential Energy Job Losses

U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland sought to downplay her previous statements against fracking and drilling, while also reiterating that the Biden administration is committed to shifting toward clean energy.

  • By Andrea Noble

Texans Blindsided By Massive Electric Bills Await Details of Gov. Greg Abbott's Promised Relief

Electric bills are likely to rise for everyone, experts and consumer advocates say, but some Texans on variable rate contracts have been hit with immediate, massive price spikes. Lawmakers and the governor have promised to help, but haven't said how.

  • By Shannon Najmabadi, The Texas Tribune

A Pennsylvania County Goes Hydro With its Government Buildings

Allegheny County will power its facilities with hydroelectric power under a 35-year agreement with a planned plant on a nearby river.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

'We’re in It Alone': Power Outages Leave Millions of Texans Desperate for Heat and Safety

Texas residents said the storm — and ensuing partial collapse of the state's power system — sapped what mental reserves they had left after eleven months of a global health crisis that has cost thousands of jobs and claimed more than 40,000 lives in the state.

  • By Shannon Najmabadi and Marissa Martinez, The Texas Tribune
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Power Outages Across The Plains: Four Questions Answered About Weather-Driven Blackouts

COMMENTARY | An energy expert explains why weather extremes can require power utilities to take drastic steps that can leave millions of people without power.

  • By Michael E. Webber, The Conversation

‘Indian Country’ Is Excited about the First Native American Secretary of the Interior – and the Promise She Has for Addressing Issues of Importance to All Americans

COMMENTARY | U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland's record shows she is committed to making progress on larger challenges that affect all Americans, like climate, environmental protection, public lands and natural resource management.

  • By Traci Morris, The Conversation

Living With Natural Gas Pipelines: Appalachian Landowners Describe Fear, Anxiety and Loss

COMMENTARY | Many of the lines were built in the past five years. While energy companies promise economic benefits for depressed regions, the projects often upend the lives of people in their paths.

  • By Erin Brock Carlson and Martina Angela Caretta, The Conversation

Biden’s Pause on Oil Leases Could Squeeze State Budgets

But experts caution that it’s hard to know at this point what the financial toll could ultimately look like.

  • By Jacob Fischler

To Make the U.S. Auto Fleet Greener, Increasing Fuel Efficiency Matters More than Selling Electric Vehicles

COMMENTARY | To cut carbon from cars sooner rather than later, it is crucial to greatly improve the fuel economy of the gasoline vehicles that will still be sold in the years ahead.

  • By John DeCicco, The Conversation

Electric Cars’ Looming Recycling Problem

COMMENTARY | Financial incentives to recycle spent electric vehicle batteries are eroding. That could spell environmental disaster.

  • By Perry Gottesfeld, Undark

Biden Moves to Rejoin Paris Climate Pact, Halt Keystone XL Pipeline

After he was sworn into office on Wednesday, President Biden signed a slate of executive actions, including measures to begin reversing Trump era environmental policies.

  • By Bill Lucia

Colorado Lawmakers Eye Renewable Natural Gas Mandate

When the legislative session starts this winter, lawmakers are expected to again take up a proposal to mandate the state's largest utility use so-called "renewable natural gas." But some environmentalists are critical of RNG, saying other strategies will be more effective at combating climate change.

  • By David O. Williams

Can a Future Ban on Gas-Powered Cars Work?

With more than 270 million motor vehicles registered in the U.S. and a long tradition of powering cars and trucks with fossil fuels, how will it be possible to make the switch to electric vehicles?

  • By Amitrajeet A. Batabyal, The Conversation