Energy/Environment Energy Voices
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Slow climate change or end energy poverty? Let's do both.
The goal of curbing global greenhouse gas emissions can sometimes appear at odds with efforts to expand electricity access to the 1.3 billion around the world without it. But it is feasible to make progress on both fronts, write Goolman and Nicholson, so long as policymakers aim high.
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US debates oil exports; Ukraine secures Russian gas; Solar gets cheap [Recharge]
A government report says US oil exports could actually benefit domestic consumers. Ukraine, Russia, and the EU avoid a humanitarian crisis by forging a deal to resupply Ukraine with Russian gas. Meanwhile, solar power prices keep on plunging. Catch up on the week in global energy with Recharge.
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Gas prices drop below $3 a gallon. That hasn’t happened in four years (+video)
Gas prices have fallen to the lowest levels since December 2010. Cheap prices at the pump are the result of a glut of oil in the global market, which has driven crude oil prices down significantly over the last several months.
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Is the US oil boom in trouble?
Oil prices continue to drop, energy companies are taking on large amounts of debt, and some call into question rosy projections about a long-term US shale boom. Should we be concerned about the future of American oil and gas?
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Ukraine gas talks stall again. What that means for winter in Europe. (+video)
Ukraine gas talks resumed in Brussels Wednesday, with early reports indicating a deal again could not be reached to resume Russian gas flows to Ukraine. As temperatures drop, officials are increasingly concerned about a lack of the vital winter heating fuel.
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The case against US oil abundance
The swift decline in oil prices has the media buzzing about an oil supply glut, Cobb writes. But can oil – which now trades at eight times its price during 1998's glut – be said to be experiencing an oil glut now?
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Hyundai, Kia fine: It's more than just $100 million
Automakers Hyundai and Kia underestimated the mileage for more than 1 million of its vehicles, landing their parent company a $100 million fine. But the Hyundai Motor Group will also have to give up greenhouse gas credits valued at more than $200 million.
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Greens spent millions on midterm elections and lost. Or did they?
Environmental groups dropped tens of millions to influence the midterm elections. And while they didn't keep the Senate blue, green groups hope they've made inroads with the GOP, and have elevated the profile of climate change and clean energy in American politics.
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Oil price tumbles on Saudi price cut. Big Oil feels a pinch. (+video)
Oil prices keep dropping and oil companies in the US and abroad are beginning to adjust their plans for a bear market. A fall in oil prices is a relief for US drivers, but it is very bad news for domestic producers that rely on high prices to keep oil flowing.
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Elections 2014: Would a GOP win open up Arctic drilling?
If Republicans win the US Senate in Tuesday's midterm elections, it's likely the party will move to open up Arctic drilling for oil. The controversial issue has come back in this year's midterm elections in Alaska.
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Despite campaign rhetoric, coal country readies for low-carbon future
From Georgia to Wyoming, regulators in coal-dependent states are cutting emissions to meet EPA's Clean Power Plan. The plan calls for emissions cuts of 30 percent, although states have considerable flexibility to reach that goal.
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Is Obama lowering gas prices to win votes?
In short: No, President Obama is not manipulating gas prices, Rapier writes. And yet, speculation of executive tinkering with gas markets always comes into play when elections roll around. Here's the real reason gas prices tend to fall during election seasons.
Photos of the Day 11/06
A Brazilian Army soldier participates in athletic competition during military Sports Games 2014 in Brasilia. According to the Planalto Military Commander, Major General Racine Bezerra Lima Filho, the Sports Games 2014 are the preparations for the Games of the Army to be held in Brasilia in 2015.
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Ukraine gas talks stall again. What that means for winter in Europe. (+video)
Ukraine gas talks resumed in Brussels Wednesday, with early reports indicating a deal again could not be reached to resume Russian gas flows to Ukraine. As temperatures drop, officials are increasingly concerned about a lack of the vital winter heating fuel.
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Oil prices have hit their floor. Here's why. (+video)
Oil prices are dropping on high supply and low demand, and everyone is wondering how much lower can oil prices drop. The answer, writes Tillier, is not much lower.
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How Vermont's largest city went 100 percent renewable electricity
The city of Burlington now gets 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, Guevara-Stone writes. It's part of Vermont's goal to produce 90 percent of its energy from renewable resources by 2050, including electricity, heating, and transportation.
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Will falling gas prices kill the electric car?
Gas prices are rapidly dropping due to the slump in crude oil prices and that is bad news for electric cars. The emerging technology has come a long way in recent years, but a prolonged state of low gas prices could further slow the spread of electric cars.
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Oil prices continue slide; EU strikes a climate deal; US emissions tick up [Recharge]
Oil prices are continuing their slide on big US crude inventories and Goldman Sachs forecasting oil prices at $75 a barrel. EU leaders have agreed to new climate targets, while in the US, last year's bitter winter pushed up energy emissions. Catch up on the latest in global energy with the Monitor's Recharge.
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Brazil election: What it means for an aspiring energy superpower
Brazilians head to the polls Sunday for a runoff election to decide their next president. Regardless of who wins the vote, Brazil's new leader must immediately address the factors limiting the nation’s energy potential, writes Alexis Arthur of the Institute of the Americas.
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Midterm elections: Why environmental groups are backing Republicans
Hoping to make climate change a bipartisan issue, environmental groups are endorsing Republicans and moderate Democrats in the midterm elections. The strategy is a pragmatic shift for green groups, who have more money and clout in this election than ever before.
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Ukraine gas talks fail again. Why that's a big deal.
The coming of winter ratchets up tension surrounding Ukraine gas talks, which fell short of a deal again this week. Still, hopes remain high that a deal will be reached to pay off Ukraine's gas debts and reopen the flow of Russian supplies.
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Oil prices: Will the slide hurt the US shale boom?
Oil prices continue to fall, putting pressure on US drillers who need oil prices to remain relatively high to make production profitable. Low oil prices are already reducing the number of active drilling rigs in the US.
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Crude oil prices fall again. Buckle up for gas prices below $3. (+video)
Crude oil prices just keep falling, and gas prices are following suit. Many analysts think the downward trend in oil prices will continue, driving the average price at the pump in the US below $3.00 a gallon.
