All Environment
- Sun, wind combine to give Germany some free electricity
On May 11, there was enough sunshine and wind in Germany to meet 75 percent of the country's demand for energy. It was also enough to cause Germany's price of electricity to cost practically nothing for an hour.
- Hurricane Amanda: The strongest May hurricane in 50 years is weakening, say experts
Hurricane Amanda, off the Pacific coast of Mexico, is still a Category 4 but it will stay far offshore as it winds down, say experts. The Pacific hurricane season started May 15.
- Hurricane forecast was way off last year. What does it say this year?
NOAA released its hurricane forecast for the 2014 season, suggesting activity might be less than usual. Part of the challenge was figuring out what went wrong with last year's forecasts.
- Crimea oil and gas will not come easy for Russia
Russia can't go it alone in drilling for oil and gas off the coast of Crimea, Cunningham writes, and it will have a hard time attracting Western partners that don't recognize Crimea as a legal part of Russia.
- China signs deal for Russian gas, boosting Putin's Asia pivot
Russia and China signed a major natural gas deal in 11th-hour negotiations Wednesday. The Russia-China natural gas deal helps to realign the focus of global energy geopolitics for decades to come.
- El Niño 2014: Which crops it will help, and which it will hurt
El Niño 2014: A new study shows that the arrival of El Niño in mid-2014 will boost soybean yields in some countries, but likely reduce corn, rice and wheat yields in some countries.
- ExxonMobil’s Papua New Guinea LNG plant opens path to Asian gas demand
ExxonMobil's joint venture-led Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas plant has started production ahead of schedule, offering new supplies of LNG to Japanese, Taiwanese, and Chinese buyers. The plant is expected to produce more than 9 trillion cubic feet of gas over 30 years of operation.
- Russia, China gas deal: The price is wrong. For now.
Russia and China have yet to close a much-anticipated natural gas supply deal as Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a state visit to Shanghai this week. A deal between Russia and China on gas is still likely to happen, but China will continue to drive a hard bargain.
- Cities that depend on snowmelt for water could face problems, study suggests
A new study finds that when more precipitation falls as rain instead of snow, stream flows in drainage basins decline. This could complicate matters for areas that need snowmelt for water.
- Why aren't more Americans driving natural gas cars?
The US in in the middle of a natural gas boom, and yet cars that run on the fossil fuel have yet to really catch on. The problem with natural gas vehicles is really a chicken-and-egg problem, Cunningham writes.
- Climate change lawsuits filed against some 200 US communities
Climate change lawsuits: Farmers Insurance filed class action lawsuit last month against nearly 200 communities in the Chicago area for failing to prepare for flooding. The suits argue towns should have known climate change would produce more flooding.
- Russian economy may falter if Ukraine crisis continues
Russian energy companies begin to feel pinch as the Ukraine crisis continues and Western nations consider sanctions against Russian energy. If Ukraine's turmoil continues, the Russian economy could lose $115 billion in revenues in 2015.
- Earthquakes: Could farming in the San Joaquin 'un-clamp' the San Andreas?
Pumping groundwater from beneath the San Joaquin Valley has lifted billions of tons of weight off the Earth's crust there, potentially easing stresses that keep the San Andreas from slipping, a study suggests.
- Gazprom says risk of gas transport through Ukraine is 'insignificant'
Russia's Gazprom says there isn't significant risk of disruption of gas to Europe because the Russian gas giant expects to have low seasonal demand. Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller announced that Ukraine would no longer receive more gas starting in June unless it will pay for deliveries in advance.
- Falling US oil imports raise questions about oil exports
US crude oil imports are down by 23 percent since 2008. Industry officials and experts are considering lifting a decades-old ban on US oil exports.
- Turkey coal mine explosion: Rush for energy undermines safety
A Turkey coal mine explosion Tuesday lies at the intersection of the country’s soaring energy demand and lax mining safety rules. Coal mine safety has improved dramatically in the US and parts of Europe, but it remains a very risky enterprise in economies eager for the cheap form of fuel.
- US fuel stockpiles: in need of a update?
US Department of Energy announced the establishment of a gasoline stockpile to serve the Northeast, in light of superstorm Sandy. But the move only copies a similar effort from the Clinton era, instead of revamping the current US Strategic Petroleum Reserve system, Styles writes.
- Latest oil train derailment adds pressure for stronger US action
An oil train derailed near Denver, two days after the Department of Transportation announced an emergency order on transporting crude oil by rail. However, some critics say that they are not satisfied with the department's slow pace.
- West Antarctic glacier loss: 'We have passed the point of no return'
Two studies released Monday signal that five glaciers in West Antarctica are undergoing irreversible decline over the next several hundred years, signaling sea level-rise of nearly four feet.