All Environment
- IEA: After years of decline, US oil demand back on the rise
Demand for oil in the US has fallen in six of the past seven years, but driven by increased consumption of industrial fuels used to power trucks and trains, and in the petrochemicals industry, there has been a strong resurgence in demand.
- Hyperloop: Elon Musk imagines a tubular future of travel
Hyperloop plans revealed Monday envision a 'fifth mode of transport' in which passengers travel at extreme speeds through tubes to reach their destination. Elon Musk, chief executive of Tesla Motors and SpaceX, says the idea is 'extremely speculative.' But if Elon Musk's hyperloop is ever built, it could revolutionize transportation and energy.
- Fukushima nuclear plant: 10 workers exposed to radiation
Fukushima workers were exposed to small amounts of radiation Monday while conducting cleanup work at the nuclear power plant. Officials said they're still investigating how workers were contaminated at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant.
- Lobster shell disease moves toward Maine
Lobster shell disease, first noticed in southern New England waters, is beginning to show up in small numbers in Maine. Lobster shell disease doesn't harm humans but makes the crustaceans less valuable commercially.
- Missouri, Kansas flooding: three fatalities, one missing
Missouri flooding, linked to three fatalities, is abating after days of heavy rainfall in southern Missouri. Flooding in south-central Kansas, where a search is ongoing for a teen who went swimming, remains a threat as more rain is forecast.
- California wildfire season: 43 percent more fires, so far
California wildfires burn twice the acreage of last year's total. And Santa Ana winds, which fan California wildfires, haven't arrived yet.
- The promise of advanced biofuels
Corn ethanol has gone a long way to reducing our oil use, Holland writes, but it's gone about as far as it can go due to the 'blend wall.' The next generation of biofuels can pick up the slack, with support from the EPA's Renewable Fuels Standard.
- First baby pandas for UK? Maybe, zoo says.
Baby pandas could be weeks away if Edinburgh Zoo's Tian Tian is really pregnant. No baby pandas have ever been born in Britain.
- ExxonMobil buys stake in Canadian oil sands
ExxonMobil Canada and Imperial Oil will pay $720 million for 226,000 acres of ConocoPhillips' oil sands property in Canada. The property exists nearly 100 miles to the south of Fort McMurray in Alberta, and entails of ConocoPhillips entire stake in the Clyden oil sands in the Athabasca Region.
- Silver fire spreads, threatening homes in California
Silver fire was estimated at nearly 22 square miles Thursday with 20 percent containment, but the direction could change in the area. Evacuation orders were issued in five towns around the Silver fire.
- Sumatran tiger cubs born in Washington
Sumatran tiger cubs born at The National Zoo in Washington, the zoo announced Thursday. The Sumatran tiger cubs won't be exhibited for several months, but fans can watch them on webcams.
- Sumatran tiger cubs born in Washington
Sumatran tiger cubs born at The National Zoo in Washington, the zoo announced Thursday. The Sumatran tiger cubs won't be exhibited for several months, but fans can watch them on webcams.
- Tesla stock surges as Tesla Motors beats the odds
Tesla stock (TSLA) soared 17 percent to record highs after a surprisingly good earnings report. Tesla Motors continues to defy expectations, making Tesla stock an intriguing option for many clean tech investors.
- Yemen plot foiled: Al Qaeda threat targets energy infrastructure
Yemen plot foiled: The Yemen government says it uncovered an Al Qaeda plot to attack oil and gas facilities in the country. Although the Yemen plot was foiled, Islamic militants have previously carried out a stream of attacks against energy infrastructure in the area, including natural gas and oil pipelines.
- Can 'smart' turbines give renewables a second wind?
New 'smart' wind turbines combine improved blade designs with batteries that can store electricity when the wind isn't blowing.
- Chevy Volt price slashed. An EV price war?
Chevy Volt gets a $5,000 price cut to compete with other electric cars aimed at price-conscious customers. With a price tag of $34,995, GM hopes its Chevy Volt can better compete with the Nissan Leaf and other electric cars.
- Al Qaeda threat: Is energy a target?
Al Qaeda threat has closed down US embassies in the Middle East this week. Details of the Al Qaeda threat made little reference to the energy sector, but past attacks in the region suggests oil is an emerging target for terrorists.
- Fukushima's new 'emergency' – radioactive water leaks
Fukushima nuclear plant is creating an 'emergency,' Japan's nuclear watchdog says. Highly radioactive water from Fukushima is leaking into the ocean and discharges could accelerate if nothing is done.
- Is the next energy hub in Ukraine?
With energy as its motor and the EU as its guide, Ukraine appears to finally be poised to break with a history of domination from the East, Belinksi writes.
- State Department watchdog probes Keystone XL review
Keystone XL pipeline is under scrutiny as the State Department's inspector general probes conflict of interest charges surrounding a review of Keystone XL.