Category: Energy
“Power companies get exactly what they want”: How Texas repeatedly failed to protect its power grid against extreme weather
Texas regulators and lawmakers knew about the grid’s vulnerabilities for years, but time and again they furthered the interests of large electricity providers. by Jeremy Schwartz, Kiah Collier and Vianna Davila, ProPublica/Tx Tribune Tuesday, February 23,…
Media reaction: Texas ‘deep freeze’, power blackouts and the role of global warming
This week, a blast of Arctic air has engulfed much of the central US, bringing freezing conditions and record low temperatures to many states. by Josh Gabbatiss, Robert McSweeney, Carbon Brief Texas, in particular, has been…
Fossil fuel exec brags of ‘Hitting the Jackpot’ as natural gas prices surge amid deadly crisis in Texas
The GOP is erroneously blaming frozen wind turbines for power outages because the Green New Deal is “the biggest legislative threat against the corrupt powers responsible for (and benefiting from) the suffering unfolding now,” said Rep….
Living with natural gas pipelines: Appalachian landowners describe fear, anxiety and loss
Some reported never hearing about a planned pipeline until a “land man” – a gas company representative – knocked on their door offering to buy a slice of their property; others said that they found out…
Dutch court orders Shell Oil to pay for harm done to Nigerian farmers
“After 13 Years, Justice!” “Victims of environmental pollution, land grabbing, or exploitation now have a better chance to win a legal battle against the companies involved.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Friday, January 29, 2021 Global…
Denouncing ‘handouts to Big Oil,’ Biden calls on Congress to end $40 billion in taxpayer subsidies for fossil fuels
“Biden campaigned on eliminating fossil fuel giveaways, and voters agree by a huge margin,” said one climate activist. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Thursday, January 28, 2021 In a speech Wednesday outlining his new executive actions…
Environmental groups applaud Biden’s plan to pause new oil and gas leasing on public lands
“The simple truth is that we need to stop drilling and fracking everywhere, as soon as possible.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Wednesday, January 27, 2021 As President Joe Biden prepares to enact a temporary moratorium…
Biden praised for pause on drilling leases
“Let’s Turn This ‘Temporary Halt’ to Permanent Ban” “The federal oil and gas program is nothing but an injustice,” said Jeremy Nichols of WildEarth Guardians. by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Thursday, January 21 President Joe Biden…
Cheaper solar power means low-income families can also benefit – with the right kind of help
“Until recently, rooftop solar panels were a clean energy technology that only wealthy Americans could afford. But prices have dropped, thanks mostly to falling costs for hardware, as well as price declines for installation and other…
Lethal levels of radiation found in damaged Fukushima reactor will have ‘huge impact’ on shutdown
The radiation levels reported around shield plugs at two reactors are high enough to kill a worker exposed for even an hour. by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Wednesday, December 30, 2020 In what Japanese regulators on…
Federal regulators are rewriting environmental rules so a massive pipeline can be built
Federal regulators and West Virginia agencies are rewriting environmental rules again to pave the way for construction of a major natural gas pipeline across Appalachia, even after an appeals court blocked the pipeline for the second…
Biodiesel, before and after
by Wade Rathke December 7, 2020 New Orleans Over a decade ago, ACORN stumbled into an offer that seemed exciting as a progressive experiment. Friends and relatives of friends and comrades had been bitten by…
How renewable energy could power your state
Some parts of the United States could easily generate 10 times their energy needs, according to a new report. by Tara Lohan, The Revelator November 20, 2020 How much of U.S. energy demand could be met…
Trump Admin rushes to auction off Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling rights before Biden inauguration
The pristine reserve is home to the Gwich’in people, who call it “Iizhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodlit,” or, “the sacred place where life begins.” by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Monday, November 16, 2020 In what critics are…
Renewables on track to be largest source of global electricity in five years
“Renewable power is defying the difficulties caused by the pandemic, showing robust growth while others fuels struggle,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol. by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Wednesday, November 11 The International Energy Agency on…
Study shows US switch to 100% renewables would save hundreds of billions each year
‘What the Future Can Look Like’ “Too often we are told doing the right thing for the environment requires sacrifice and costs more. But we can actually make a better economy and save people money and…
Investing $2 trillion in US clean energy and infrastructure could create millions of ‘good jobs’
“We don’t have to choose between a strong economy or a healthy environment—we can have both,” says an EPI data analyst. by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Tuesday, October 20 Pursuing trade and industrial policies that boost…
Harvard study finds elevated airborne radiation levels downwind of US fracking sites
“If you asked me to go and live downwind [of fracking sites], I would not go,” said the lead author of the new study. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Wednesday, October 14 A study released Tuesday…
IEA says solar now ‘cheapest electricity’ in human history
‘So What Are You Waiting For?’ Solar “is on track to set new records for deployment every year after 2022.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Tuesday, October 13 Solar is on track to be the “new…
Inside the utility company lobbying blitz that will hike electric bills
Democrats who campaigned against Virginia’s largest public utility, Dominion Energy, swept into office. Then the company’s lobbying efforts kicked into high gear. Here’s how it fought against legislation meant to lower residents’ electric bills. by Patrick…
Report details massive Fed bailout of fossil fuel industry
‘A $100 Billion Lifeline While Most Americans Are Being Left Behind’ “Big Oil is exploiting Covid-19 to go on an unprecedented borrowing binge, and the Trump administration is to blame.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Thursday,…
Putting ‘its money where its brains are,’ Cambridge announces historic fossil fuel divestment of £3.5 billion endowment
While welcoming the move as a “massive victory,” campaigners said that “this announcement comes five years too late and we’ll be pushing for the 2030 commitment to be brought forward.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Thursday,…
BP and Shell still back anti-climate lobby groups, despite pledges
‘Trying to Have It Both Ways’ The Unearthed and HuffPost report reveals the companies failed to disclose membership in at least eight Big Oil lobbies in their transparency reports. by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Monday, September…
Why is Bank of America still open to funding the destruction of our homelands in the Arctic?
We stand together, the Iñupiat and the Gwich’in, in calling on Bank of America to listen to Indigenous people, protect our homelands, and stay out of the Arctic Refuge. by Bernadette Demientieff, Siqiñiq Maupin Monday, September…
