All Environment
Potash cartel: Russia's Uralkali quits major potash venturePotash cartel upended as Russia's Uralkali drops out of the Belarusian Potash Company, heralding a price war for the key crop nutrient. The break-up of a major potash cartel leaves North America's Canpotex as the dominant potash export venture.
Will urbanization save energy?If urbanization trends continue, American cities have the potential to become far more sustainable, Chahar writes, rather than continuing the 20th century trend of sprawling further and further away from the city with an ever-increasing carbon footprint.
Piracy threatens India's quest for oilIndia, following in China’s lead, has been investigating the possibilities of African oil production, but its rising imports from west Africa have been threatened by the age-old scourge of piracy.
With no room to grow, Canadian town evicts oil sands companiesThe Canadian town of Fort McMurray is booming largely thanks to the nearby oil sands industry. Now the town needs more housing and infrastructure and has nowhere to put it, so its taking back the land it has leased to oil companies.
U.S. accuses JPMorgan: Bank pays $410 million settlementU.S. accuses JPMorgan: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission says JPMorgan traders manipulated electricity prices. JPMorgan Chase & Co. agreed to pay $410 million on Tuesday to settle the claim by U.S. energy regulators.
EPA head: Fighting climate change will create more jobsClimate change is not an environmental issue but an economic challenge, said newly confirmed EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy in her first public speech since taking office. Ms. McCarthy outlined a vision for EPA that focused on combating climate change while spurring economic growth.
Florida gas plant explosion rocks central FloridaA Florida gas plant explosion sent 'boom after boom after boom' through the central Florida neighborhood around it early Tuesday. Several people were injured in the Florida gas plant explosion, with at least three critically injured.
Quebec train crash: Will oil shipments by rail fall?The Quebec train crash has sparked a flurry of emergency directives to increase railway safety, but there is no sign of shipments of oil by rail slowing as a result, Burgess writes. Indeed, the oil-by-rail industry is set to grow despite the catastrophic derailment, and amid a criminal investigation that has resulted in a raid on the offices of the train’s operator.
Philadelphia explosion blamed on gas leakPhiladelphia explosion was caused by a gas leak, officials said Monday. The Philadelphia explosion injured eight people and toppled an unoccupied row house.
Tropical storm Flossie: Hawaii braces for first direct hit in 20 yearsTropical storm Flossie is weakening as it heads toward Hawaii, but its torrential rains could be 'life threatening.' It would be the first tropical cyclone to make landfall on the islands since 1992.
BMW i3: With electric car, BMW eyes an urban futureThe BMW i3 is the German automaker's first mass-production electric car and offers a panoply of high-tech doodads aimed at an urbanizing global population. But it's too soon to tell if the BMW i3, or any electric car, will win wide appeal from a public slow to warm to alternative-fuel technology.
Samet Island coast marred by oil spillSamet Island, a popular tourist destination in Thailand's eastern sea, was in the path of an oil spill that washed up black waves of crude oil on its beaches over the weekend. The Samet Island oil spill came from a leak in the pipeline operated by a subsidiary of state-owned oil and gas company PTT Plc.
Earthquakes: Another source of global-warming gas, scientists sayA team of scientists has linked a major earthquake in southwest Asia in 1945 to the ongoing release of methane gas from the Arabian seafloor.
EU, China settle solar-panel trade disputeChinese companies agree not to sell their solar panels below a specified price in the EU market. EU officials say new agreement will stabilize solar-panel market after steep losses and job cuts by European manufacturers.
New lake at North Pole? More of a pond, reallyIs the buzz warranted over a new "lake" at the North Pole thanks to global warming? Mostly no. But the Arctic ice is melting.
Halliburton spill probe resolved. Will BP contractor cut another deal?Halliburton has agreed to pay a fine for its role in the 2010 Gulf oil spill, thereby resolving a U.S. Justice Department criminal probe. Still, Halliburton, the cement contractor involved in the spill, has a powerful incentive to cut another deal with businesses and residents.
Could Alaska end tax breaks for Big Oil?Republicans in Alaska have long argued that only a massive tax break would give oil companies the certainty necessary to ramp up production to bolster the state economy, but citizens backed by Democrats feel this was a simple giveaway of the state’s oil wealth and that they won’t see much in return.
- Tropical storm Dorian: Will it fall apart or head for Puerto Rico?
Tropical storm Dorian is projected to weaken over the next 24 hours, only to gain a bit of that strength back four days from now. The center of the storm is currently about 1,500 miles east of Puerto Rico.
On the road in Texas, where oil is king againThe increase in US oil and gas production buys some time in terms of resource scarcity and depletion concerns, Warren writes. The windfall also brings with it time to wisely reflect about what America’s energy landscape should look like for the generations that follow.
Gulf oil spill: Halliburton to plead guilty to destroying spill evidenceGulf oil spill: Halliburton Energy Services has agreed to plead guilty to destroying evidence in connection with the 2010 Gulf oil spill, the Department of Justice said Thursday.
