Energy Topic News

Wind could provide 20% of nation's energy (5/13/2008): Such growth would pose a number of major challenges, but is achievable without the need of major new technological breakthroughs.

McCain takes on global warming (5/13/2008): The presidential contender said expanded nuclear power must be considered to reduce carbon-fuel emissions. He also set a goal that by 2050, the country will reduce carbon emissions to a level 60 percent below that emitted in 1990.

Who Is Really Responsible For The High Prices You Pay For Gasoline? (5/13/2008): For the last 28 years, Democrats in Congress and a few Republicans have again and again opposed our drilling for oil in Alaska's ANWR area when we knew it contained at least 10 billion barrels of oil we could be using now.

IEA Cuts Oil Demand Forecast Again (5/13/2008): The International Energy Agency cut this year's forecast for world oil demand growth for the second consecutive month citing increasing evidence that high oil prices are having a marked impact on U.S. and European appetite for oil.

Honda says its new fuel cell vehicle is lighter, more efficient (5/13/2008): Honda's new hydrogen-powered vehicle, set for leasing within a few months, radically reduced the sizes of its fuel cell and motor for a superclean car with the same interior space as a regular car.

Why pump prices need to stay high (5/12/2008): A tax on fossil fuels will cut greenhouse gases - as Sweden has done since 1991.

Startup shows off electric car planned for Israel (5/12/2008): Group hopes to sell large number by 2010, but technical issues persist.

Congress divided on energy plan (5/12/2008): As millions of people approach the summer vacation season under the threat of $4-per-gallon gasoline, Congress is scrambling to respond. But don't wait for anything that will drive down prices at the pump.

Oil Shock 2? (5/12/2008): With prices at $120 a barrel, Americans are facing an oil adjustment.

Climate bill may raise natural gas and power costs (5/12/2008): Pending legislation to cap greenhouse gas emissions would increase the cost of electricity and natural gas, as generating companies turn away from dirty coal, according to a new analysis by the Energy Information Administration.

Planes fly more, emit less greenhouse gas (5/9/2008): The U.S. aviation industry has cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 13% since 2000, even as the amount of flying has reached record levels.

The Gift of Solar (5/9/2008): Solar energy's presence is now felt. If its influence is to expand, however, researchers must innovate and develop tools to store the power.

Turning fungus into fuel (5/9/2008): A spidery fungus with a voracious appetite for military uniforms and canvas tents could hold the key to improvements in the production of Biofuels.

Democrats' Windfall Tax -- On You (5/9/2008): In their ongoing war against U.S. oil producers, Senate Democrats say they'll slap Big Oil with a windfall profits tax and take away $17 billion in tax breaks, among other punishments.

The Case For $80 A Barrel Oil (5/9/2008): Oil prices may hang above $100 a barrel for the rest of this year but will fall as low as $80 next year as world demand slackens and Saudi Arabia tries to buy influence with the incoming president by pumping more crude oil.

Bill Targets Oil Firms and OPEC (5/8/2007): The legislation, dubbed the Consumers First Energy Act, features a 25 percent windfall profits tax on oil companies operating in the United States.

Shell Oil president wants more access to energy resources (5/8/2007): The United States' reliance on foreign oil is increasing because of limits on where companies can search for resources.

The 18-Cent Solution (5/8/2007): BOTH Hillary Clinton and John McCain say that we should suspend the 18-cent-per-gallon federal gas tax this summer.

Global Investment in Renewable Energy Reaches $100 Billion (5/8/2007): High oil prices and an array of government incentives are leading to soaring rates of investment in renewable energy.

Energy Efficiency and Traditional Generation (5/8/2007): The report says that new efficiencies in the electric power sector have the potential to cut the need for electric generation by 7-11 percent.

U.S. sees oil use down on weak economy and high prices (5/7/2008): Higher U.S. gasoline prices and a slowing economy will cut into U.S. oil demand through the summer driving season much more than previously thought.

Brazil's energy plan examined (5/7/2008): While Brazil consumes 20 billion gallons of ethanol, gasoline and diesel combined each year, the United States uses 182 billion gallons a year.

Meeting Energy Challenges in the Western Hemisphere (5/7/2008): Today, and in the months and years ahead, meeting U.S. energy needs will be critical to the success of U.S. foreign policy.

Environmentalists Still Can't Get It Right (5/7/2008): Now that another Earth Day has come and gone, let's look at some environmentalist predictions they would prefer we forget.

Solar water heat required in new Hawaii homes (5/7/2008): Solar water heaters typically cost home buyers about $5,000 extra on their mortgage, but island residents will save thousands of dollars over the years on their electricity bills, supporters said.

Senators call for EPA to reconsider ethanol output mandate (5/6/2008): Senate Republicans have asked environmental regulators to use their power to halt the country's plans to expand ethanol production amid rising food prices.

Testing The Waters (5/6/2008): The United Nations World Meteorological Organization recently reported that global temperatures had not risen since 1998.

All-electric sports car gets L.A. showroom (5/6/2008): The car goes from 0 to 60 mph in just under four seconds and tops out at 125 mph. It goes 225 miles on one charge and can be fully recharged in 3.5 hours.

Poles likely on thinning ice, experts report (5/6/2008): They expect Arctic to keep warming, and new parts of Antarctica to start.

High Gas Prices: Fuel for Thought (5/6/2008): When it comes to soaring gasoline prices, we need a federal government that does less. Less contributing to the problem, that is.

Cooler Climate May Hit N. America, Europe Next Decade (5/5/2008): Shifting ocean currents could throw some cold water on global warming over the next decade, a new study suggests.

Global warming a threat to sea life (5/5/2008): Low-oxygen zones where sea life is threatened or cannot survive are growing as the oceans are heated by global warming, a new study warns.

The Ship Turns (5/5/2008): U.S. fuel demand in the first three months of 2008 was down 1.4% from a year earlier - the third straight quarterly year-over-year decline in a row.

Where Credit Is Due (5/5/2008): Even without the taskmaster of the Kyoto Protocol, the U.S. is doing a better job of holding down its greenhouse gas emissions.

Exxon to build carbon-capture test plant (5/5/2008): $100 million project set to start this summer in gas-rich Wyoming.

China leaves U.S. in dust as the No. 1 CO offender (5/1/2008): A study published today and two others - one recently published and another coming - agree that China's carbon-dioxide emissions surpassed those in the USA in 2006.

Farmers say ethanol is not to blame for higher food prices (5/1/2008): Farmers and ethanol producers defended their good fortune Wednesday in the nation's capital, where more lawmakers are blaming a corn-for-fuel policy for soaring food prices.

Amber Waves Of Pain (5/1/2008): Senate Republicans want to freeze ethanol mandates that don't cut the price of fuel or help the environment.

A 10-year timeout for global warming (5/1/2008): Additional warming - already on hold over the first seven years of this decade - is likely to remain that way for another decade.

Pittsburgh surpasses L.A. as sootiest U.S. city (5/1/2008): Pittsburgh, a former steel-making center once known for its sooty skies, is the worst U.S. city for short-term particle pollution.

Start Drilling (4/30/08): The truth is that we're almost powerless to influence today's prices because we didn't take sensible actions 10 or 20 years ago. If we persist, we will be even worse off in a decade or two.

Siphoning off corn to fuel our cars (4/30/08): As farmers feed ethanol plants, a costly link is forged between food and oil.

Congress Vs. You (4/30/08): President Bush let the Democrat-led Congress have it with both barrels Tuesday, lambasting lawmakers for fiddling while the energy crisis burns.

Bush Says Congress Stands In Way Of Cheaper, More Reliable Energy (4/30/08): Following are excerpts from President Bush's Rose Garden press conference Tuesday that dealt with energy.

'Small wind' power plants are blowing strong (4/30/08): Climate concerns, rising utility costs, better technology, and new laws are making home units more attractive.

Solving global warming with giant vacuums (4/29/2008): The technology works, but it would require millions of carbon dioxide filters across the planet at a cost of trillions of dollars a year.

U.N. sets up group to tackle global food crisis (4/29/2008): First priority will be meeting $755 million World Food Program shortfall.

The Ethanol Cure's Side Effects (4/29/2008): Even with gas at $3.50 a gallon, the author of the article would be more than willing to pay a much higher gas tax than he does now because it would knock down demand.

Oil Price Rise Fails to Open Tap (4/29/2008): As prices flirt with $120 a barrel, many energy experts are becoming worried that oil consumption is not falling and production is not rising.

A Note of Caution as Wind Energy Whips Through Texas (4/29/2008): Wind alone cannot meet the increasing demand for electricity because it is unreliable and environmentally harmful.

The Real Cost of Tackling Climate Change (4/28/2008): An 80 percent reduction in emissions by the year 2050 would send us back to emissions levels last witnessed when the cotton gin was in daily use.

Climate change threatens polar bears (4/28/2008): But Canadian scientists stop short of saying the species faces extinction.

Ice reveals good news, bad news on climate (4/28/2008): Climate scientists for the last 25 years or so have suggested that some kind of natural feedback mechanism regulates our planet's temperature and the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

McCain Favors End To Ethanol Subsidy As Food Costs Soar (4/28/2008): Most politicians, like Obama and Clinton, have been swept up by the ethanol craze, except John McCain.

Tax-credit stalemate imperils green energy industry (4/28/2008): Continued congressional delays over extending tax breaks to solar, wind and other renewable-energy companies are starting to affect 2009 deals being made now by Silicon Valley companies.

Natural-gas vehicles hot in Utah, where the fuel is cheap (4/25/2008): At 63.8 cents per gallon equivalent, compressed natural gas in Utah has created a hot market for vehicles that run on the fuel.

U.N. chief calls food price rise a global crisis (4/25/2008): World Food Program faces 40 percent increase in food costs, new requests.

Eight of 10 Americans Support Federal Alternative Energy Incentives (4/25/2008): The survey shows that 79 percent of Americans approve of providing tax credits "as an incentive to companies to build solar, wind and advanced-design nuclear power plants."

In Alternative Energy Hunt, Ethanol Under the Gun (4/25/2008): Corn-based ethanol has become the favorite whipping boy for people concerned about global food shortages and soaring costs for wheat, beans, rice and other food products.

Biofuels are the solution, not the problem (4/25/2008): The truth is that increases in food prices are rooted largely in increases in fuel prices.

Watch for climate flaws in fixes, experts warn (4/24/2008): Studies show warming, ozone depletion are more closely tied than thought.

Scientist: New Zealand glacier shrinking fast (4/24/2008): New Zealand's biggest glacier is melting at its fastest pace in recent history.

High oil prices put focus on Strategic Petroleum Reserve (4/24/2008): Uncle Sam is adding 60,000 barrels of oil a day to giant underground caverns in Texas and Louisiana to be used for the proverbial "rainy day."

Back to the '70s? (4/24/2008): Democrats have focused on a global warming plan that would cost $1.2 trillion and breaks for biofuels that have helped send food prices soaring.

Global Warming and Social Justice (4/24/2008): Because of its past contributions, does the United States owe remedial action or compensation to those nations, or those citizens, most likely to be harmed by climate change?

Drought over? West's snowy winter will help (4/23/2008): The Colorado mountains are poised to unleash more runoff than they have in 11 years.

Globally, two greenhouse gases rose sharply in '07 (4/23/2008): Despite international levels to curb their growth, global emissions of two key greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide and methane - rose sharply last year.

Aid agency warns of ‘silent tsunami' of hunger (4/23/2008): World Bank says food prices have risen 83 percent in three years.

Army of scientists study Arctic haze, warming (4/23/2008): Are the floating particles accelerating the unprecedented warming going on in the far north?

Scrap The Guzzlers (4/23/2008): One way to bring down the soaring price of gasoline is by taking older, less fuel-efficient cars off the road.

All-electric car set for U.S. sales in 2009 (4/22/2008): The electric car goes 110 miles without a charge and costs less than $25,000.

Major report links smog to deaths (4/22/2008): Short-term exposure to smog, or ozone, is clearly linked to premature deaths that should be taken into account when measuring the health benefits of reducing air pollution.

Changing the Current (4/22/2008): Although Congress failed to set a nationwide standard for utilities' use of renewable resources as part of its energy bill last year, bills passed by state legislatures are steering utilities away from power plants that generate greenhouse gases.

California to sign UN compact to help China cut emissions (4/22/2008): California, which puts out more greenhouse gases than any other state, is promising to share ideas and research to help China cut back on its own emissions.

[EIA Study] Federal Financial Interventions and Subsidies in Energy Markets 2007 (4/22/2008): Total Federal energy-specific subsidies and support to all forms of energy are estimated at $16.6 billion for fiscal year (FY) 2007.

Running Out of Planet to Exploit (4/21/2008): Rich countries will face steady pressure on their economies from rising resource prices, and some poor countries will find themselves living dangerously close to the edge - or over it.

Asian Development Bank: Biofuels making food more expensive (4/21/2008): Developed nations should stop paying agricultural subsidies to encourage biofuel production because the payments are making staple foods more expensive.

Can the earth provide enough food for 9 billion people? (4/21/2008): That's how many are expected to inhabit the world by 2050. Experts worry over looming food shortages.

Efficiency not enough to maintain USA's Energy demands (4/21/2008): Even with widespread purchases of energy-saving appliances and better-insulated homes, the USA will still need to build at least 151 gigawatts of new generation - enough to power 75 million homes - by 2030.

Time Bomb (4/21/2008): Time calls green "the new red, white and blue" and likens global warming to the fight against Nazism and fascism.

The Torch Has Been Passed  (4/18/2008): A new study will confirm China is the world's No. 1 polluter.

ETHANOL, PRO AND CON: New energy source means brighter future (4/18/2008): Biofuels are good news, because they mean more U.S. dollars spent on energy will be kept within our borders.

The rising impact of high oil prices (4/18/2008): Americans now spend a larger share of their income on energy than at any time since 1986.

Bush's climate goals vague - but a start (4/18/2008): His call for US emissions to stabilize by 2025 marks a policy change, but is still behind other nations.

Senate bill would extend energy tax credits (4/18/2008): Extending the tax credits, which were scheduled to expire at the end of this year, would help ensure that some $20 billion in energy projects and investments go forward.

Bush Seeks Voluntary Curb On Greenhouse Gas Emission (4/17/2008): President Bush yesterday called for a national goal of halting the growth of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.

New study advances method to make energy from farm waste (4/17/2008): Hog and cow manure is a persistent pollutant from industrial-sized barns and feed lots, but can become a useful source of fuels like methane when broken down by bacteria.

Brazil: Biofuels are not at the root of hunger crisis (4/17/2008): President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva made an impassioned defense of biofuels, denying that their production contributes to food scarcity and rising global prices.

A controversial fighter in the climate-change debate (4/17/2008): NASA's James Hansen frequently clashes with global warming 'deniers,' as well as the Bush administration.

The Green Zone (4/17/2008): But President Bush's announcement of a plan to halt growth in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2025, legitimizes environmentalists' argument that global warming is caused by humans and an imminent threat to mankind.

Oil Prices Hit a New High, and So Does a Gallon of Gas (4/16/08): Oil prices surged to a new high on Tuesday, reaching $114 a barrel.

Energy Relief Now (4/16/08): McCain has suggested that the U.S. government suspend the 18.4-cent-a -gallon gas tax and the 24.4-cent diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day and stop adding oil to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

UN Panel Urges Changes to Feed Poor While Saving Environment (4/16/08): The report recommends producing food that is less dependent on fossil fuels; favors locally available resources, natural fertilizers and traditional seeds; and tries to preserve the soil and water supply.

Bush revises strategy on curbing greenhouse gases (4/16/08): Revising his stance on global warming, President Bush will propose a new target for stopping the growth of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.

US scientists to study Arctic smog (4/16/08): Key question: Is air pollution from lower latitudes causing the region's recent warming?

Bush prepares global warming initiative (4/14/2008): President Bush is poised to change course and announce as early as this week that he wants Congress to pass a bill to combat global warming.

Energy Independence Isn't Very Green (4/14/2008): There's broad agreement that America should reduce its dependence on imported oil, but far less agreement on why. Are we combating global warming, or are we distancing ourselves from hostile and unstable regimes?

The Democrats' Shale Game (4/14/2008): While a North Dakota field holds at least 4 billion barrels of oil and possibly much more, Democrats are preaching independence while doing nothing to achieve it.

Ethanol And Hunger (4/14/2008): The world's poor are learning what happens when government subsidizes the burning of food for fuel.

Revisiting the global warming-hurricane link (4/14/2008): A new study underscores the difficulty of estimating global warming's effect on weather.

Government says huge oil fields in N.D., Mont. (4/11/2008): The government estimated Thursday that up to 4.3 billion barrels of oil can be recovered from the Bakken shale formation in North Dakota and Montana, using current technology.

UN official says economic fears must not impede fight against global warming (4/11/2008): If you're looking at economic stimulus packages, why not combine them also with achieving objectives in terms of CO2 emissions reductions?

On Passing Climate Treaty: US Election May Help (4/11/2008): The U.N. climate chief said Thursday he is encouraged by the climate views of the three contenders in the U.S. presidential election.

Scientists predict climate change could cause more flooding and droughts (4/11/2008): Experts meeting in Hungary say the coming weather changes could bring more flooding to the Northern Hemisphere.

Imbalance Of Powers (4/11/2008): A team of researchers has assembled a 213-page handbook that will provide the next president a blueprint for rapidly addressing climate change issues through executive authority.

Newest energy source: cow patties (4/11/2008): A facility near Fresno captures methane gas that wafts from a huge vat of cattle manure and sells it to the local electric utility.

Target Atmospheric CO2: Where Should Humanity Aim? (4/8/2008): If humanity wishes to preserve the planet, CO2 will need to be reduced from its current 385 ppm to at most 350 ppm, a much stricter target than even Europe is proposing.

A Shift in the Debate Over Global Warming (4/8/2008): The changed and complex debate over how to slow down global warming has become a lot more complicated.

More waters off California may be off limits to oil drilling (4/8/2008): A stretch of the Pacific Ocean off California's wild north coast seems poised to get permanent federal protection from oil exploration and other development.

The Growth in 'Green-Collar' Jobs (4/8/2008): Even in a shaky economy, there are expanding opportunities in environmentally friendly industries.

Good science isn't about consensus (4/8/2008): The story about anthropogenic global warming (AGW) doesn't seem to stack up as the best science, despite the supposed consensus about it among "thousands of scientists".

The Chill is On (4/8/2008): The United Nations World Meteorological Organization is reporting that global temperatures have not risen since 1998.

WHO: Climate change threatens millions (4/7/2008): Millions of people could face poverty, disease and hunger as a result of rising temperatures and changing rainfall expected to hit poor countries the hardest.

Grains gone wild (4/7/2008): Land used to grow biofuel feedstock is land not available to grow food, so subsidies to biofuels are a major factor in the food crisis.

Climate change debate: push emissions goals or technology?  (4/7/2008): Should the world put less focus on emissions caps and more on spurring clean technologies?

Corn Hits $6 a Bushel on Tight Supplies (4/7/2008): Corn prices are being driven up by an expected supply shortfall that will only add to Americans' growing grocery bill and further squeeze struggling ethanol producers.

Congress' Oil Barons (4/3/2008): A hypocritical Congress drills oil executives for high gas prices while driving up food prices by subsidizing ethanol.

Military feels fuel-cost gouge in Iraq (4/3/2008): Military units pay an average of $3.23 a gallon for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, some $88 a day per service member in Iraq.

U.S. warns deep emission cuts could hurt economies (4/3/2008): Japan, for instance, recently issued a report estimating it would cost $500 billion just to cut domestic emissions 11 percent from 2005 levels by 2020.

Dust plays huge role in climate change (4/3/2008): Black carbon particles in the atmosphere have a more powerful global-warming effect than any of the greenhouse gases except carbon dioxide.

IMF Sees Modest Growth Tradeoff From Tighter Emissions Rules (4/3/2008): The International Monetary Fund forecast that sharply reducing greenhouse gas emissions would slow global growth, but only minimally if economic policies were designed to encourage companies to adopt low-emission strategies.

Talks Begin on a New International Climate Treaty (4/1/2008): Representatives of more than 160 countries began formal negotiations here on Monday on a treaty to address climate change, with the secretary general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, urging governments to help in "saving the planet."

Congress Has Big Questions for Big Oil (4/1/2008): Senior executives of the five largest U.S. oil companies were to appear before a congressional committee Tuesday where they were likely to find frustrated lawmakers in no mood for small talk.

Corporate Sponsorship for a Wind Farm (2/26/2008): This is a new business model, and it could attract any brand that wants to be linked with sustainability.

House Passes Renewable Energy Credit (2/28/2008): The House on Wednesday approved a bill to extend more than $17 billion in tax credits and other incentives to encourage the production of energy from solar, wind and other renewable sources, and to promote energy conservation.