All Environment
5 new ways Obama could jumpstart clean energyPresident Obama can push clean energy forward without the need for congressional action, Cunningham writes. A new report lists over 200 recommendations for executive action on clean energy and energy efficiency.
Winter storm Janus: Natural gas prices soar in NortheastWinter storm Janus brings shivering cold and heavy snow to much of the Northeast Wednesday, causing a spike in demand for natural gas. Spot prices in the Northeast are already hitting record levels, and the cost of winter storm Janus may eventually trickle down to consumers.
Will the frequency of devastating El Niño events double?Intense weather events caused by El Niño may soon occur every 10 years, instead of every 20 years, thanks to warming Pacific waters.
What happens when the shale oil boom ends?The shale revolution in the United States, as with any revolution, will be brief, Graeber writes. It's what happens after the revolution ends that matters.
A quarter of world's sharks and rays at risk of extinction, say scientistsAn assessment of 1,041 species of cartilaginous fish revealed that these animals face a significantly higher risk of extinction than most other animals.
- Propane shortage: Winter storm prompts energy emergency in Midwest
A propane shortage in the Midwest is raising concerns about residents who rely on the fuel for heating. The propane shortage has prompted a state of emergency in Ohio, as bitterly cold weather descends on the Midwest.
Halliburton manager is sentenced in Gulf oil spill trialHalliburton manager given one year of probation for destroying evidence from BP's 2010 Gulf oil spill. The Halliburton manager must also perform 100 hours of community service and pay a $1,000 fine.
Will California frack? Not without water.California sits atop the largest tight oil formation in the US, Cunningham writes, but the state's water crisis threatens to hamper oil and gas production and put an end to a Bakken-like bonanza.
UN warns on climate change, as emissions bounce backNations are falling behind in efforts to slow climate change, the UN warns in a draft report, and must dramatically reduce carbon emissions in the next 15 years. That is proving difficult as the world's major economies rebound from a global recession.
China's pollution: The desolation of smog?Beijing's mayor has come up with a series of measures – including banning all heavily polluting vehicles to punishing officials for lax enforcement – to battle air pollution in China's capital.
Pregnant women, water don't mix in W.Va.Pregnant women told water is unsafe to drink in West Virginia after a chemical spill last week. Officials say pregnant women should not drink tap water, but the 'do not use' water order has been lifted for tens of thousands of customers.
Will Iraq turmoil halt oil growth?While western Iraq is in the hands of Al Qaeda, recent trends suggest there's no safe oil investment refuge even in the Kurdish north, Graeber writes.
California wildfire: why winter hasn't brought reliefCalifornia wildfire spread through the dry foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains Thursday. A wet winter reduces the risk of a California wildfire, but the whole state is experiencing historically dry conditions.
Why did consumer prices rise last month? Gas prices.Consumer prices rose 0.3 percent in December, largely due to an unexpected jump in gas prices and other energy costs. Gas prices could rise again in late January and put more upward pressure on the consumer price index.
Bristol Bay salmon: EPA warns of threat from miningBristol Bay salmon are threatened by mining in the Bristol Bay region, according to a new assessment by the US Environmental Protection Agency. A large-scale copper and gold mine could have devastating effects on Bristol Bay salmon and other wildlife, the EPA says.
As emissions rise, US coal steps up push for carbon captureAfter three years of decline, greenhouse-gas emissions are rising again, largely because of increased coal use. The best chance for the industry to erase its 'dirty coal' image is through carbon capture, which is making progress.
Blackie the hippo: Why was he put down?Blackie the hippo, a Nile hippopotamus believed to be the oldest in North America, was put down Monday at an Ohio zoo. Blackie the hippo was about 59 years old, while most hippos live to 30 or 40 years in the wild.
Cracks in Arctic ice sucking in toxic mercury, study findsAir currents above cracks in Arctic ice are drawing mercury, a neurotoxin, into the snow and ice, say researchers.
Possible Iran-Russia oil deal ruffles feathers in WashingtonA potential $1.5 billion oil-for-goods swap between Iran and Russia has prompted harsh responses from Washington, which says such a deal could trigger new US sanctions.
Clean energy investment down, but not outGlobal investment in clean energy and energy efficiency technologies dropped 12 percent in 2013, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. It marks the second consecutive year of declines in clean energy investment, but there are reasons to be optimistic about wind and solar energy.
