All Environment
- Lima climate talks reach deal; $10 billion for clean energy; US debates oil exports [Recharge]
Lima climate talks ended in a deal leaders hope will spur global action on climate change; Industrialized nations raised $10 billion to finance clean energy across the globe; Congress made its first major foray into debating the end to the US oil exports ban. Catch up on global energy with Recharge.
- Cover StoryHow cheap oil changes the world
Consumers get lower heating bills and prices at the pump. Russia, Iran, and Venezuela face shrinking treasuries, while Saudi Arabia tries to still US drills.
- Kuwait oil chief: Get used to low oil prices
Oil prices will stay at $64 per barrel for six or seven months unless OPEC changes its production policy or the global economy recovers, according to the chief executive of Kuwait's state-run oil company.
- Oil prices at five-year low as IEA cuts demand forecast
Oil prices have plunged to a fresh five-year low after the International Energy Agency reduced its outlook for global oil demand. The benchmark New York oil price slipped further below $60 a barrel in early Friday trading.
- How the US could beat OPEC in an oil prices war
The US could fight back in an oil prices war with OPEC by employing one simple, big move. But, I can confidently predict that the country will not do it. Why? Because it involves a tax, a tariff actually.
- Oil prices continue slide, fueling calls for US crude exports
Surging US oil production and plummeting oil prices has ignited a debate over a decades-old ban on US crude exports. It's an issue that will get increasing attention in a GOP-dominated Senate next year.
- Oil prices keep falling, but US drillers keep drilling
Oil companies are still drilling in the United States despite a supply gut causing the drop in oil prices. It defies predictions that drilling, much less exploration, would decline because of collapsed oil prices.
- BP job cuts: Energy giant scales back amid low oil prices
BP job cuts come as the company looks to pare down its business operations amid plunging oil prices. BP said it will invest in gas projects, which are typically less exposed to oil prices.
- Lima climate talks carbon footprint is huge, but will be offset
At more than 50,000 metric tons of CO2, the Lima climate talks' carbon footprint will be about 1 1/2 times the norm, say officials.
- Obama on Colbert: What he said about Keystone XL
During an appearance on the Colbert Report, President Obama tip-toed around his position on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. Republicans are likely to push Obama to approve the pipeline when they control the US House and Senate next year.
- Ukraine makes payment for Russian gas as winter arrives
Ukraine has sent $378.22 million to Russia as advance payment for natural gas supplies. The payments and the flow of gas come just in time, as wintry weather settles on Ukraine.
- Low oil prices are bad news for Norway
New oil projects are being scrapped in Norway amid falling production and low oil prices. Despite efforts to diversify, Norway’s economy is overwhelmingly dependent on oil, which accounts for more than half of the country’s exports.
- South Stream loses steam; Oil prices keep plunging; Optimism at Lima [Recharge]
Moscow cancels the South Stream pipeline; More global actions put downward pressure on oil prices; Climate talks in Lima come amid progress on emissions. Catch up on global energy with the Monitor's Recharge.
- Why a Florida utility suddenly wants to serve Hawaii
Like many big utilities, NextEra is looking at strategic mergers that offer a business advantage. Its $4.3 billion deal to buy Hawaiian Electric will give it important experience dealing with distributed renewable energy.
- Will low oil prices derail renewable energy growth?
A rosy outlook for clean energy now takes on an air of uncertainty as renewables look to avoid becoming a casualty of an era of low oil prices.
- Want bipartisanship? Look to energy, former Senate leaders say
Energy could provide fertile ground for bipartisan compromise in the next Congress, two former Senate majority leaders and the head of a think tank said at a Monitor breakfast Thursday. That could mean legislative action on anything from Keystone XL, to energy efficiency, to oil exports.
- Why emissions are falling from a source you might not expect
Technology is making it possible for the energy industry to produce more natural gas and do it in a cleaner and more efficient way. It’s why the United States leads the world in carbon and other emissions reductions.
- Data shows 2014 was an exceptionally hot year
Rejecting claims global warming has paused, The World Meteorological Organization said the global average temperature for much of 2014 was above average, and is on track to tie the record hot year of 2010.
- As rain finally falls in California, are residents weary of conserving water?
After three years of severe drought, some California residents appear to be succumbing to water conservation fatigue. Officials worry that this week's heavy rains could tempt others to fall off the conservation wagon.
- California gets rain at last: Will it be enough to help with drought?
On Tuesday, downtown Los Angeles experienced the most rainfall in a single day since records have been kept – 1.21 inches of rain. But meteorologists suggest that the overall winter outlook is still sobering for California.