All Energy Voices
Energy disruption: Will fracking end Big Oil?The US shale gas and oil revolution has shown that hydrocarbons are almost everywhere, Grealy writes, and we no longer need to go to the ends of the earth or spend or spend a ton of capital to find them. The new energy paradigm is a world where the most attractive projects are those closest to markets.
Top 10 reasons 2013 was a good year for clean energyClean energy developments helped bring us closer to a clean, prosperous, and secure energy future in 2013, Guevara-Stone writes. Here's the Rocky Mountain Institute's pick for top 10 clean energy developments of 2013.
West Virginia chemical spill: What's 4-methylcyclohexane methanol?A West Virginia chemical spill, which has cut off water to hundreds of thousands of citizens across nine counties in the state, is used in the coal industry. The compound involved in the chemical spill into West Virginia's Elk River – 4-methylcyclohexane methanol – is used to clean coal.
Gas prices in 2014: more relief at the pump?Gas prices averaged $3.49 per gallon in 2013, down about 12 cents from the record-high price in 2012. What's the outlook for gas prices in 2014?
Clean energy storage on the cheap in new flow batteryA new battery developed by Harvard scientists uses an inexpensive chemical and a unique structure to address the intermittent nature of wind and solar power.
How a small town in Italy struck green goldTwo decades ago, Varese Ligure, Italy was fading away due to a lack of jobs, industry and essential services, Guevara-Stone writes. Today, it's a charming town with bustling markets and thriving tourism. How wind turbines and solar panels helped it get there.
Train derailment: Oil train catches fire in CanadaTrain derailment in Canada forces about 150 people from their homes, as oil and propane continued to burn. The train derailment is the latest in a series of accidents that have raised questions about the safety of transporting oil by rail.
Polar vortex: How will it affect your utility bill?The polar vortex gripping the nation is as unpleasant for utilities and grid operators as it is for you. What does the polar vortex mean for your next utility bill?
Polar vortex: Stressed about the cold? So is the power grid.The polar vortex that has swept much of the US in the past days is creating a headache for utilities struggling to keep up with increased demand and spiking prices. The impact of the polar vortex is particularly harsh on New England, where natural gas pipeline infrastructure is lacking.
Trade deficit down on US energy boom. Time to export oil?The US trade deficit fell to a four-year low in November, aided by growing US energy production. Some say lifting decades-old restrictions on oil and gas exports would close the gap further, but skeptics say more exports undermine energy security.
7 things you think you know about energyThere are many, many things that the public and policymakers know for sure about energy that just ain't so, Cobb writes. Here are seven alternative takes on conventional energy wisdom for 2014.
C-Max Solar Energi: Ford goes off-grid with new solar carFord's C-Max Solar Energi concept car uses rooftop solar panels and a large concentrating lens to run on the power of the sun alone. It won't be cruising down your street anytime soon, but the Ford C-Max Solar Energi hints at an automotive future powered directly by renewable energy.
Wind's tax credit winds down, but debate at full forceSubsidies for wind energy end at midnight Dec. 31, but Democrats are pushing for renewal of wind's production tax credit for 2014. Opponents say the subsidies are costly and inefficient.
Predictions for 2014: Energy is anything but conventionalWith dramatic new sources of both supply and demand emerging across the globe, energy is poised to get even more unconventional in 2014. What's next for oil, gas, and renewables?
Will Russia frack for oil?Shale oil is poised to go international, Grealy writes. It’s already happening in Argentina, Australia and China, but the big prize is in Russia’s Bazhenov shale in Western Siberia.
Turning coal into gas: A solution for China's smog?It’s not hard to imagine China’s planners viewing synthetic natural gas as a promising avenue for addressing severe local air pollution, Styles writes, but the increase in carbon dioxide emissions from converting coal to synthetic natural gas could be substantial.
Fracking debate: light on oil, heavy on gasProtests against fracking tend to focus on natural gas, even though the potential for oil from fracking is significant. Would talking about oil change the debate?
Paying for solar power isn't what it used to beMany consumers still can’t afford the steep sticker price of home solar, even if it offers the promise of low-cost, clean renewable energy in the long term. But innovative third-party financing is changing how solar panels are bought and sold.
Mexico embraces shale. Has Europe missed the boat?Mexico’s energy reform will unfortunately only isolate Europe further from the shale oil and gas revolution taking place in North America, Grealy writes. Funds desperately needed for the European energy sector will flow to governments that are truly serious about shale.
South Sudan violence undermines hope for oil wealthSouth Sudan is rich in oil, but infrastructure challenges and rising violence could undermine economic hopes for a troubled region, Graeber writes. The country gained independence in 2011, but border issues, ethnic fighting and disputes over oil have led to violence in South Sudan.
