All Environment
Germany pushes to settle EU-China solar trade rowAs China asserts itself as a global leader in photovoltaic manufacturing, the European Union and United States have grappled with how to respond. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is leading a cohort of EU member states hoping to negotiate a settlement to a long-simmering trade row over cheap Chinese solar panels.
Iran's new president unlikely to reverse tightening sanctionsLast week, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a resolution that would tighten economic sanctions on Iran even further by focusing on oil exports. With sanctions tightening on Iran, it's unlikely that any in the pool of candidates for president of Iran have a chance to turn things around, Graeber writes.
3 feet of snow for Memorial Day? Yes, in NY.3 feet of snow fall over Memorial Day weekend on Whiteface Mountain in New York. Authorities forced to close mountain highway after 3 feet of snow.
Global protests target Monsanto, genetically modified foodOrganizers say 'March against Monsanto' protests held in 52 nations and 436 cities. Anti-Monsanto rallies sparked by a Facebook page in February.
Energy economics: What's next for gas prices?Mark Thoma, a macroeconomist and time-series econometrician at the University of Oregon, discusses the future of gas prices and clean energy in an interview with OilPrice.com.
Memorial Day travel: myth-busting tips to save gasMemorial Day weekend means taking to the road for many Americans and an estimated $1.4 billion spent to fuel up. Here are tips on how to save gas on your Memorial Day travel.
Energy secretary calls for review of US natural gas exportsErnest Moniz was officially sworn in as secretary of the Department of Energy Tuesday and called for a further review of the proposals before making any final decisions on liquefied natural gas exports. This has somewhat dampened the momentum following the Department of Energy’s (DOE) decision last Friday to conditionally approve a Texas liquefied natural gas export project, Alic writes.
Hurricane forecast: Three to six 'major' storms could emerge this yearWarm sea-surface temperatures and the long-reaching effect of conditions in the tropical Pacific are among the factors that could mean above-normal activity during the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season.
The race against time for liquefied natural gasDespite substantial gains in US oil and natural gas production, there are restrictions in place on how much of those reserves can reach foreign markets, Graeber writes. Some suggest the liquefied natural gas race is going to be a race against time.
Google kite? Tech giant buys 'flying windmill' firm Makani.Google X, the company's secretive research and development arm, has acquired Makani Power, a California-based developer of airborne wind power. Google's purchase of Makani Power reflects the company's interest in renewables and energy innovation.
Tesla repays $465 million loan. Will Energy Department lend to more firms?Tesla $465 million loan is no more. As the Department of Energy gets back its Tesla $465 million loan, the new Energy secretary will have to decide whether to make more such controversial clean-energy loans.
Keystone XL: Hot topic in D.C. Ho-hum in rest of US.The House of Representatives issued another symbolic vote Wednesday in favor of the Keystone XL pipeline. But after years of debate, a new poll shows half of Americans have never heard of it. Is anyone listening to the Keystone XL pipeline debate?
Are oil pipeline spills inevitable?Talking points over pipelines are focused on economic and energy security interests on one side of the argument versus emissions and cleanup on the other. Given the legacy of pipeline spills since the Keystone XL debate began more than four years ago, the "real" issue may be the lack of debate over just why so many of these pipelines have burst open in the first place.
Oklahoma tornado: Energy dodges a bulletA devastating Oklahoma tornado left a trail of destruction Monday. How and why did the state's vast oil and gas infrastructure emerge seemingly unscathed from the Oklahoma tornado?
When natural gas prices rise, who loses?Natural gas is an important feedstock for the chemicals and fertilizer industries, so higher prices could pressure those sectors, Rapier writes. Oil companies with significant chemical operations could also see this business segment take a hit.
When oil forecasts get it wrongOil forecasts fail so often that it's puzzling that the media, governments, corporations, and the public put so much faith in them, Cobb writes. Those whose plans were based on the IEA's 2000 oil forecast were completely blindsided by developments just a few years later.
Does the US need federal fracking regulations?Federal regulations on fracking barely apply because the states involved already have a say in the way drilling proceeds, Graeber writes. Perhaps, he adds, it's the energy industry that has a right to question why the government 'is moving forward with these requirements in the first place.'
Boeing 787 Dreamliner back in US skies. Battery questions linger.The Boeing 787 Dreamliner's return to US passenger flight is an important step for a company eager to demonstrate the potential for lithium-ion technology in aviation. Despite a preventative fix, the root of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner's battery problems remains unclear.
Water may reshape energy industryDemand for fresh water could exceed supply by an estimated 40 percent by 2030, pushing up prices for the water-intensive energy industry. Soaring water prices would help wind, solar, and natural gas, but hurt coal and nuclear plants.
US eases natural gas glut with second export terminalThe Energy Department authorizes a second US terminal to export liquefied natural gas (LNG), ending months of speculation. LNG exports boost the prospects for domestic natural gas drillers and should help key allies, but they're also likely to boost prices for US consumers and manufacturers and they raise environmental concerns.
