All Environment
- Georgia nuclear power plant could be Solyndra redux, report says
A report by two energy-consulting firms says the US government has not protected US taxpayers well enough against the risks of federal loan guarantees to a new nuclear power project.
- Unicorns and biofuels: the case against EPA ethanol mandates
The EPA requiring gasoline blenders to blend cellulosic ethanol makes about as much sense as requiring automakers to sell unicorns, Rapier writes.
- John Kerry to lead review of Keystone XL pipeline
John Kerry, confirmed by the US Senate as the next secretary of State, will lead the State Department's review of the Keystone XL pipeline. Environmentalists hope John Kerry will block the project but supporters say that approving the Keystone XL pipeline is in the nation's best interest.
- Exxon Mobil, BP face off in Iraq-Kurd oil conflict
BP and Exxon Mobil have taken opposite sides in the escalating conflict over oil between the Iraqi central government and the Iraqi Kurds, Alic writes.
- Departure of Chesapeake CEO McClendon signals new era in natural gas
If the change at Chesapeake is any indication, the natural gas industry is going to be far more buttoned-down as it pares debt and boosts operating profit.
- Tornado threat: How are January tornadoes possible?
A tornado threat was posted Tuesday. Tornadoes are unusual in winter, but a large swath of the country was under a tornado watch, with some areas facing a tornado warning.
- Tornado threat: How are January tornadoes possible?
A tornado threat was posted Tuesday. Tornadoes are unusual in winter, but a large swath of the country was under a tornado watch, with some areas facing a tornado warning.
- Mississippi River oil spill: why Yazoo turn is treacherous
A Mississippi River barge that crashed Sunday is still leaking oil. The accident occurred at one of the two most difficult turns on the river.
- Mississippi River oil spill: why Yazoo turn is treacherous
A Mississippi River barge that crashed Sunday is still leaking oil. The accident occurred at one of the two most difficult turns on the river.
- A123 purchase by Chinese firm approved by US. Are energy secrets safe?
The acquisition of A123 Systems Inc. by China-based Wanxiang Group Corp. passed its last official hurdle with the authorization by the US government. The approval comes despite concerns that the A123 Systems deal would expose sensitive energy technology to Chinese authorities.
- Exxon Mobil passes Apple to again become world's largest company
Apple first overtook Exxon Mobil as the world’s largest publically traded company in August 2011, Peixe writes, but after several difficult weeks, Apple will hand the mantle back to Exxon Mobil.
- Boeing 787 batteries clear first test. Focus shifts to monitoring system.
Boeing 787 batteries seemingly passed first inspections this week as US and Japanese officials came up with few answers in their cursory examinations of the Boeing 787's battery fires. The company's outsourcing strategy and a weak permitting process may have contributed to the Boeing 787's glitches.
- Boeing 787 batteries clear first test. Focus shifts to monitoring system.
Boeing 787 batteries seemingly passed first inspections this week as US and Japanese officials came up with few answers in their cursory examinations of the Boeing 787's battery fires. The company's outsourcing strategy and a weak permitting process may have contributed to the Boeing 787's glitches.
- Northern winter not as cold as expected? It could be urban 'waste heat'
Waste heat has a smaller impact on global climate than does CO2, but heat from highly urbanized northern regions appears to explain observed deviations from climate forecasts, a study says.
- Dow Chemical withdraws from natural gas export project
Dow Chemical publicly disavowed a $6.5 billion project for a natural gas export terminal that it partly owns, Alic writes. Dow is opposed to this project because its senior management believes high volumes of LNG exports will lead to higher prices at home.
- Why the premium for Brent oil won't last
Some 1.1 million barrels per day of pipeline capacity will alleviate the glut of West Texas Intermediate and allow it to supply higher-priced markets.
- Energy literacy: visualizing the impacts of unlimited growth
Humans have already amply demonstrated the resource limitations of unbridled economic growth by not anticipating and then not addressing the myriad critical environmental and resource problems we face today, Cobb writes.
- 2 barges damaged in bridge crash, oil spill
2 barges in bridge crash cause oil spill that closes Mississippi River for 16 miles. Investigators not sure whether 1 or 2 barges hit the bridge; only one appears to be leaking oil.
- New York's heat may be warming Siberia
Heat from northern cities from New York to Tokyo could warm winters in Canada and Siberia, according to a new study, but cool the fall in the western US and Eastern Europe.
- Chevron explores Morocco oil, undeterred by Algeria crisis
Chevron has signed agreements with Morocco officials that give the US company rights to explore for oil in three offshore sites, Alic writes. Chevron and other oil majors are hardly shaken by recent events in the North African Sahel, she adds, including the Algeria hostage crisis.