Energy News
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Pictures: Cars That Fired Our Love-Hate Relationship With Fuel
May 24, 2012
Today’s global demand for more efficient cars follows two centuries of shifting attitudes toward fuel-guzzling vehicles, from Model T to Rambler, from Hummer to Prius.
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Amid Economic Concerns, Carbon Capture Faces a Hazy Future
May 22, 2012
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects around the world are hitting a wall due to high costs and a lack of climate policy.
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Tiles May Help Shrink Carbon Footprint by Harnessing Pedestrian Power
May 18, 2012
In areas with high foot traffic, installations of special flooring may prove that the answer to meeting energy demand lies right beneath our feet.
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Global Nuclear Retreat? Armenia, Others Aim to Keep Plants Alive
May 8, 2012
Armenia extends the life of its Soviet-style nuclear plant, despite seismic concerns. It’s one of a slew of decisions nations face on old reactors.
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British Columbia Rethinks Its Pioneering Carbon Tax
May 3, 2012
With none of its neighbors following British Columbia’s lead in taxing to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the Canadian province reviews the economic impact.
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Supercomputing Power Could Pave the Way to Energy-Efficient Engines
April 30, 2012
Scientists believe that Titan, a massive upgrade in supercomputing power that the U.S. government is set to deploy this year, will help crack the code on energy-efficient engines.
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Pictures: Ten New Studies Show Gulf Spill Impact
April 20, 2012
Bottlenose dolphins off Louisiana’s coast are severely ill, while deep-sea corals show signs of tissue damage—just two findings in a slew of studies two years after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
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Pictures: Nature Yields New Ideas for Energy and Efficiency
April 19, 2012
Drawing inspiration from schools of fish, termite mounds, and the photosynthesis of leaves, new technologies seek to produce cleaner, more efficient energy through biomimicry.
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Delhi Offers Cleaner Auto Rickshaws, but Residents Choose Cars
April 12, 2012
In India’s clogged cities, some view auto rickshaws—motorized three-wheelers—as a solution to pollution and congestion. But these “tuk tuks” struggle to compete with the allure of car ownership.
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Growing Food Demand Strains Energy, Water Supplies
April 6, 2012
In western India and around the world, agricultural growth is being stoked by unsustainable irrigation practices that sap aquifers and require huge amounts of energy.
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With Gas Prices High, U.S. Refinery Closures Hit Workers and Drivers
April 4, 2012
The economic pain of U.S. East Coast refinery closures may spread beyond job losses. Already high gas prices could climb still higher as summer approaches.
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Pictures: China's Rare-Earth Minerals Monopoly
April 3, 2012
China’s rare-earth mining has given it dominance in the market for materials that go into everything from smart phones to electric cars, but the industry has exacted a toll on the country’s landscape and people.
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While Rare-Earth Trade Dispute Heats Up, Scientists Seek Alternatives
March 30, 2012
While nations clash with China to ease its monopoly over the rare-earth minerals critical to energy technology, scientists hunt for other options.
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BP Oil Spill’s Sticky Remnants Wash Up Sporadically On Gulf Beaches
March 22, 2012
Tar balls from the worst oil spill in U.S. history continue to soil the Gulf Coast two years later, although at irregular intervals. Scientists say the tiny fragments hold clues for future understanding.
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Pictures: In Hungary, Burning Money for Fuel—Literally
March 21, 2012
Hungary is the only country to recycle its worn cash for fuel, recycling forints worth $1 billion (U.S.) each year into briquettes distributed to the poor.
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Natural Gas a Weak Weapon Against Climate Change, New Study Asserts
March 14, 2012
A new study argues that replacing all the world's coal power plants with natural gas would do little to slow global warming this century.
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Solar Energy Brings Food, Water, and Light to West Africa
March 14, 2012
For two arid villages in Benin, starvation seemed a greater problem than the lack of electricity. Solar drip irrigation tackled both issues at once.
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One Year After Fukushima, Japan Faces Shortages of Energy, Trust
March 8, 2012
By summer, no nuclear plants will be operating in Japan, where mistrust reverberates one year after the world’s second-worst nuclear accident, at Fukushima Daiichi.
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Pictures: Immense, Elusive Energy in the Forces of Nature
March 8, 2012
Japan’s Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, displayed the fearsome power in nature. Only a small fraction of Earth’s forces have been captured to fuel civilization.
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Pictures: A New Hub for Solar Tech Blooms in Japan
March 7, 2012
As Japan faces a nuclear-free future, at least in the short term, a new facility aims to develop solar technology that will create both energy and earnings at home.
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Nigeria's Rocky Effort to Wean Itself From Subsidized Fuel
March 7, 2012
Nigeria faces an uphill battle in removing fuel subsidies that kept gasoline cheap, but critically hampered the country's development.
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Estimates Clash for How Much Natural Gas in the United States
March 1, 2012
As U.S. policymakers contemplate a new era as the “Saudi Arabia of natural gas,” a new government analysis slashes estimates for unproved shale gas reserves.
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Pictures: Spanish Solar Energy
February 28, 2012
Spain’s solar energy boom of the past decade has waned, but the Iberian peninsula nurtured innovative technologies that may pave the way for future large-scale renewable energy.
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Concern Over Rare Rhino Rouses Clean Energy Drive in Malaysia
February 23, 2012
After a fight against a coal-fired power plant that threatened one of the last sanctuaries of the Sumatran rhino, a struggle for cleaner energy continues in east Malaysia.
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Uganda's Power Drive Stills Rapids at the Headwaters of the Nile
February 21, 2012
Uganda, where 90 percent of the people lack electricity, taps deeper into waterpower, by eliminating cascading rapids on the Victoria Nile.
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Pictures: A Rare Look Inside China's Energy Machine
February 14, 2012
A photographer gains an inside look at China’s massive power complex, and at efforts by the world’s largest energy consumer to spur cleaner future growth.
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Amid U.S.-China Energy Tension, "Clean Coal" Spurs Teamwork
February 13, 2012
China’s next president visits the White House amid tension on energy. But U.S.-China collaboration is emerging on projects to clean up coal.
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U.S. Oil Fields Stage "Great Revival," But No Easing Gas Prices
February 10, 2012
The shale boom centered in North Dakota lifts U.S. oil production, but the unexpected resurgence won’t lessen petroleum’s cost.
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Bubble Curtains: Can They Dampen Offshore Energy Sound for Whales?
February 7, 2012
Oil and wind power companies are testing a novel technology—air bubbles—to shield marine mammals from the sound of their offshore operations.
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Iran’s Undisputed Weapon: Power to Block the Strait of Hormuz
February 6, 2012
Although Iran’s ability to throw the global economy into chaos has long been recognized, there’s no ready alternative for moving oil out of the Strait of Hormuz.
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Green Moves: Medellin Cable Cars, San Francisco Parking Reform
January 25, 2012
Two cities renowned for hilly terrain and cable cars share in international prize for sustainable transport.
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Scavenging for Charcoal Fuel in the Rubbish of Manila
January 25, 2012
The plight of charcoal scavengers in the Philippines capital underscores why the United Nations declared 2012 the International Year of Sustainable Energy For All.
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Second Try: LanzaTech Grabs Failed Biofuel Refinery in Georgia Pine
January 19, 2012
A new chapter begins in the effort to brew advanced biofuel in the “Million Pines City” of Soperton, Georgia, with a startup's purchase of a failed U.S. government-backed biorefinery.
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Pictures: Animals That Blocked Keystone XL Pipeline Path
January 19, 2012
The U.S. government's rejection of the Keystone XL project is a reprieve for the many species that reside along the proposed route, in Nebraska's Sandhills region.
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Shale Gas: A Boon That Could Stunt Alternatives, Study Says
January 17, 2012
Abundant shale gas could muscle dirty coal out of the U.S. energy picture, but the new resource could also inhibit even cleaner technologies, new economic modeling suggests.
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Pictures: Most Hopeful Energy Developments of 2011
December 28, 2011
While 2011 was a year of nuclear disaster and grim prognostications regarding emissions and energy demand, several bright spots stood out as well, from strides in building efficiency to new green spaces.
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The Year’s Most Overlooked Energy Stories
December 27, 2011
As the disaster at Fukushima Daiichi took center stage, it was easy to miss many other important developments in the world of energy in 2011.
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Pictures: Satellite Views of Canada’s Oil Sands Over Time
December 22, 2011
The evolution of Canada’s oil sands industry over three decades is visible from space, as newly released NASA satellite images show its growing mark by the Athabasca River.
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Pictures: Cars Capture Solar Energy in Chilean Desert
December 20, 2011
The need for a wide, flat surface to harvest sunlight gives an otherworldly look to solar cars racing the Atacama Desert of Chile.
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Planting Wind Energy on Farms May Help Crops, Say Researchers
December 19, 2011
Wind energy may do more than improve farm income. When sited in agricultural fields, turbines’ churning of air may help crops to grow, new research indicates.
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Power Quest: Brazil Works to Wipe "Blackout" From the Lexicon
December 13, 2011
Facing domestic dismay over electricity service and new global attention as a world sporting event host, Brazil seeks energy solutions for a diverse nation.
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Pictures: A River People Awaits an Amazon Dam
December 13, 2011
The Kayapo people, whose lives and culture are intertwined with the Xingu River, face change as a massive dam project moves forward in Brazil’s Amazon.
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Pictures: Eight Ski Resorts That Give Green Energy a Lift
December 6, 2011
Ski resorts around the world, keenly aware of the climate change threat, are seeking greener ways to power their slopes.
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Beam It Down: A Drive to Launch Space-Based Solar
December 5, 2011
The first demonstration of long-awaited space-based solar power technology could come in the next decade, experts say. Likely early use: Disaster relief energy.
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Pictures: Top Energy Stories of 2011
December 1, 2011
It was a year of shattered faith in nuclear power, and in the West, eroding support for renewables. But the East's relentless growth shaped the world of energy in 2011.
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Chilean Wind Farm Faces Turbulence Over Whales
November 29, 2011
A wind farm project on the Chilean island of Chiloé raises concerns over risk to the endangered great blue whale.
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Pictures: Amazing Transportation Inventions
November 23, 2011
Jet packs, magnetic levitation, magic buses: Some amazing transportation ideas are truly fiction, while others could propel us in smart new ways.
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With U.S. Natural Gas Booming, a Move to Send It Overseas
November 17, 2011
Companies are making the first moves to parlay abundant U.S. natural gas into a global business, but many worry that U.S. consumers will be hurt.
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Pictures: Twelve Car-Free City Zones
November 15, 2011
Cities around the world find that car-free zones can cut pollution, while restoring human bustle and leisurely gait as the prime locomotion of downtown.
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Great Energy Challenge Grantees
November 14, 2011
Learn more about the energy-saving projects being funded as part of National Geographic's Great Energy Challenge program.
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With Record Heating Oil Prices Expected, Homes Dash to Gas
November 14, 2011
Natural gas abundance in the U.S. Northeast means it’s now far cheaper than oil for home heating. Residents are making the switch, but will prices stay low?
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Pictures: The Nuclear Cleanup Struggle at Fukushima
November 11, 2011
Radioactive decay, contaminated water, soil, and hot spots pose challenges for Japan eight months after the world's second-worst nuclear accident, at Fukushima.
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IEA Outlook: Time Running Out on Climate Change
November 9, 2011
The International Energy Agency’s new world outlook has a grim prognosis; the world has only five years to make changes needed to address climate change.
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Pictures: Animal Winners, Losers in Arctic Oil Fields
November 9, 2011
Some predators thrive, while their ground-nesting prey pay the price, in the Arctic landscape that has been reshaped by Alaska's Prudhoe Bay oil development.
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Permanent Daylight Saving Time? Might Boost Tourism, Efficiency
November 4, 2011
As much of the U.S. and Europe falls back an hour, supporters of permanent daylight saving tout energy saving—and more tourism.
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Nigeria’s Solar Projects Yield Both Failure and Success
November 2, 2011
Solar power offers hope to villages that lack electricity, but Nigeria’s experience shows that it won’t work without adequate investment and care.
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KPMG Captures Heat for Data Center Cooling
October 28, 2011
An innovative combined heat and power system at KPMG’s international headquarters in New Jersey could be a model for cutting data center energy waste.
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Two Rivers: The Chance to Export Power Divides Southeast Asia
October 25, 2011
To feed escalating energy demand in China and Thailand, neighboring Southeast Asian nations weigh massive hydroelectric projects that would alter vital rivers.
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Seeking a Pacific Northwest Gateway for U.S. Coal
October 20, 2011
A leading green energy community is now at the center of a push to move U.S. coal to energy-hungry Asian markets.
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Better Road Building Paves Way for Energy Savings
October 17, 2011
Greener road construction not only saves energy, it can improve the fuel economy of the cars and trucks that roll on paved surfaces worldwide.
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Illinois Team Wins Oil Spill Cleanup X CHALLENGE
October 11, 2011
With a more than threefold improvement in oil spill cleanup technology, Team Elastec of Carmi, Illinois, captures the $1 million top prize in the Wendy Schmidt Oil Cleanup X CHALLENGE.
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Pictures: X PRIZE Contest Seeks a Better Oil Spill Cleanup Solution
October 6, 2011
Ten teams deployed new skimmer designs in the $1.4 million Wendy Schmidt Oil Cleanup X CHALLENGE. Will the contest yield better protection for shores and seas?
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Storage, Biofuel Lead $156 Million in Energy Research Grants
September 30, 2011
Seeking to push high-risk energy research, the U.S. government gives a boost to heat storage, rare earth metal, and biofuel technology projects.
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Shale Oil Boom Takes Hold on the Plains
September 28, 2011
Thanks to shale beneath the grasslands, the U.S. oil industry aims to boost production with the same "fracking" technique that has unlocked so much natural gas.
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Pictures: Solar Decathlon Students Race to Renew Home Energy
September 27, 2011
Twenty college teams are competing in the U.S. government’s fifth Solar Decathlon contest to design and build affordable, appealing, and livable homes that run on energy from the sun.
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Smarter Trucking Saves Fuel Over the Long Haul
September 23, 2011
As truck fleets and policy makers aim to curb big rig fuel consumption, the secret weapon is driver behavior.
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Pictures: The NFL Makes a Play for Renewable Energy
September 15, 2011
New green energy installations are unveiled at two NFL stadiums this month, but the effort also highlights the renewable industry’s difficulties.
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Smart Meters Take Bite Out of Electricity Theft
September 13, 2011
Electricity theft is not only dangerous, but it weakens power delivery systems around the world. Combating the problem takes technology and determination.
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Trading Oil for Natural Gas in the Truck Lane
September 2, 2011
Some U.S. companies are finding that the cost of switching to vehicles that run on alternative fuels is worth it over the long haul.
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Pictures: The Energy Drain of Recreational Drugs
August 29, 2011
Marijuana, cocaine and other controlled substances have a potent effect--not just on the human brain, but on the world's natural resources.
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Innu Nation Deal Trades Reparation for River Power
August 24, 2011
A deal to build new hydroelectric plants in Labrador includes redress for a native tribe that lost its land to a dam 40 years ago.
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Is Canadian Oil Bound for China Via Pipeline to Texas?
August 19, 2011
In a global economy, sending more Canadian oil to Texas could be a modern silk route, a "Tar Sands Road" to China, economist says.
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A Quest to Clean Up Canada's Oil Sands Carbon
August 18, 2011
The first large-scale effort to capture carbon dioxide emissions in the Canadian oil sands is moving closer to reality, but costs are high.
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Seeking a Safer Future for Electricity's Coal Ash Waste
August 15, 2011
New ideas are emerging for recycling fly ash. The question is how to encourage them, while protecting people and ecosystems from the hazards of one of society's largest waste streams.
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Out of Thin Air: The Quest to Capture Carbon Dioxide
August 11, 2011
A new report casts doubt on the viability of carbon dioxide "air capture," but entrepreneurial scientists are moving forward with technology to scrub the atmosphere.
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Carbon Recycling: Mining the Air for Fuel
August 11, 2011
We recycle bottles, cans, and newspapers—why not carbon dioxide? Start-up companies and researchers are working on technology to put carbon right back into gas tanks.
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Philips Wins L Prize, but the Race Is Still on for a Better Bulb
August 3, 2011
Philips captures the U.S. government's $10 million L Prize for its LED replacement for the 60-watt bulb, but efficient lighting must still win consumers' hearts.
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Pictures: In Search of Green Air-Conditioning
August 3, 2011
Air-conditioning has transformed summer living, but at tremendous energy cost. Ideas for greener cooling focus on making better use of the forces of nature.
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As Sun Storms Ramp Up, Electric Grid Braces for Impact
August 3, 2011
With the sun nearing the high point in its 11-year activity cycle, grid operators are seeking to protect a vulnerable power-delivery system.
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India Maps Out a Nuclear Power Future, Amid Opposition
July 22, 2011
India’s government sees nuclear power as essential for meeting its growing energy needs, but public mistrust runs deep.
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Pictures—Ten Oldest U.S. Nuclear Plants: Post-Japan Risks
July 20, 2011
As U.S. authorities weigh a safety overhaul, here’s a look at the risks unearthed at post-Fukushima inspections of the ten oldest U.S. nuclear reactors.
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War Game Exposes Grim Reality: Few Oil Crisis Options
July 14, 2011
Former U.S. government officials struggle to game out solutions in a mock oil crisis with its roots in today’s headlines.
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To Curb Driving, Cities Cut Down on Car Parking
July 13, 2011
Despite downtown business fears, some urban centers embrace “mini-parks.”
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Energy-Short Japan Eyes Renewable Future, Savings Now
July 7, 2011
The tsunami's damage and political fallout leave Japan striving to save power this summer as it charts a new energy course.
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How Gulf Spill Estimates Got It So Wrong
June 23, 2011
How much oil spilled into the Gulf last year? An engineer explains how he caused estimates to rise sharply practically overnight. Video.
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A Rain Forest Advocate Taps the Energy of the Sugar Palm
June 23, 2011
Scientist Willie Smits says it's possible to provide opportunity for villages and protect tropical forests while producing biofuel—if you use the right tree.
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Google Creates $280 Million Fund to Finance Solar Energy
June 14, 2011
Search giant Google creates the largest fund ever to finance solar energy in the United States, hoping to break down the cost barrier to cleaner electricity.
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Pictures: At Five Years Old, BTC Pipeline Moves Oil, Culture
June 10, 2011
Landlocked Azerbaijan forged a powerful connection to the West five years ago when its oil began flowing to Turkey through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline.
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Bike-Share Schemes Shift Into High Gear
June 7, 2011
Although they sometimes face an uphill climb to break even, bike-sharing programs glide into cities around the world.
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Is Motor Oil a Renewable Resource? Re-refiners Say Yes
June 2, 2011
Green motor oil technologies can save energy—either by recycling engine lubricants or supercharging them to improve fuel efficiency.
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Driving the Limit: Wealthy Nations Maxed Out on Travel?
May 25, 2011
In the world’s wealthiest nations, there are signs that oil consumption for travel may have hit a brick wall.
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As Jet Fuel Prices Soar, a Green Option Nears the Runway
May 20, 2011
The most eagerly anticipated biofuel for commercial flight could be certified this summer, offering hope for aviation to cut its petroleum dependence.
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Climate Scientist Fears His "Wedges" Made It Seem Too Easy
May 17, 2011
The co-creator of the widely cited "wedges" approach to a climate change solution now thinks he made the job seem too easy.
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As Vehicle Efficiency Evolves, So Do Fuel Taxes
May 12, 2011
The shift toward better fuel economy is causing governments around the world to reconsider long-standing systems for taxing road travel.
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Methane on Tap: Study Links Pollution to Gas Drilling
May 9, 2011
Natural gas can migrate into drinking water as far as one kilometer from a drilling site, researchers find.
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While Energy Policy Falters, Plastic Bag Laws Multiply
May 3, 2011
Although the industry debates environmental and energy benefits, bans and taxes to reduce plastic bag use have swept the world.
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While BP Eyes Return to the Gulf, Safeguards Debated
April 29, 2011
The U.S. government is issuing new deepwater drilling permits, ending a moratorium imposed after the spill in the Gulf of Mexico, even as it acknowledges the need for more changes to safety standards.
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Pictures: Cool Cars Designed by Students to Sip Fuel
April 29, 2011
Using everything from solar panels to plastic, students cobbled together some amazing, odd, super-high-mileage vehicles for the Shell Eco-marathon Americas in Houston. The grand-prize entry achieved 2,565 mpg.
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Pictures: "Liquidators" Endured Chernobyl, 25 Years Ago
April 26, 2011
Robots couldn’t handle the intense radiation at Chernobyl, so the dangerous nuclear cleanup job fell to the "liquidators"—a corps of soldiers, firefighters, miners, and volunteers.
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Pictures: Animals Inherit Mixed Legacy at Chernobyl
April 25, 2011
A quarter-century after the nuclear explosion at Chernobyl, the surrounding evacuated area has seen a resurgence of wildlife, but some species have weathered the disaster significantly better than others.
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Pictures: Building the Perfect Solar Car
April 22, 2011
On their journey to building a prize-winning solar prototype vehicle, a team of Drexel University students gained practical engineering experience, and had fun.
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China's Electric Car Drive: Impressive, But Not Enough
April 20, 2011
China's electric vehicle program is the world's most ambitious, but a new World Bank report raises questions on sustainability.
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BP Well to Stay Sealed After Gulf Spill, Experts Predict
April 20, 2011
Although the same cannot be said of all abandoned oil wells in the Gulf, experts believe BP’s Macondo well is sealed for good
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Drexel Students Take On the Solar Car Challenge
April 19, 2011
Drexel University students knew that solar energy would increase the costs and risks of their bid for a fuel-efficient car design prize. They decided to go for it.
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Why Did Huge Oil Plumes Form After the Gulf Spill?
April 19, 2011
Scientists may have figured out how huge plumes of Gulf oil spread underwater instead of rising to the surface as slicks.
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A Year After the Spill, "Unusual" Rise in Health Problems
April 19, 2011
Health issues that continue to plague Gulf Coast communities may be connected to the Gulf oil spill, experts say.
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Migrating Birds Escaped Worst of Gulf Oil Spill
April 19, 2011
Though predictions of mass bird die-offs in the Gulf never materialized, crude is still oozing into some bird habitats, experts say.
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Pictures: Four New Offshore Drilling Frontiers
April 19, 2011
With new technology, oil companies have exteneded the reach of their operations off the coastline and into deepwater. See four of the offshore frontiers that may be supplying tomorrow’s oil.
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The Next Prospects: Four Offshore Drilling Frontiers
April 19, 2011
The BP spill did nothing to halt the growth of oil demand or the drive for new resources. Here are four offshore frontiers where oil rigs are heading next.
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Odd Animal Deaths, Deformities Linked to Gulf Oil Spill?
April 19, 2011
Strangely deformed fish and a rise in deaths of marine animals may be related to the Gulf oil spill, scientists say.
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Gulf Oil Spill Mystery: Is Oil on the Seafloor?
April 19, 2011
A year after the Gulf oil spill, experts are finding conflicting data on whether crude coats the bottom.
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Gulf Oil Spill Surprises: 6 Things Experts Got Wrong
April 19, 2011
The Gulf oil spill delivered plenty of surprises—here's a look at some of the predictions experts got wrong.
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Gulf Oil Spill Anniversary: Hard-Hit Beaches Mostly Oil-Free
April 19, 2011
Florida and Alabama beaches hardest hit by the Gulf oil spill are largely clean a year later—though the oil's not all gone, scientists say.
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Gulf Spill Photos: 9 Animal Victims—Plus 2 Survivors
April 19, 2011
From the pancake batfish to the manatee—see what what's happening to animals in the Gulf a year later.
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Gulf Oil Spill Pictures: Oiled Beaches Time Line
April 19, 2011
See the evolution of Florida and Alabama beaches blackened by the Gulf oil spill, from the first oiling to a spring-break-ready shore.
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Gulf Oil Spill Anniversary: Resilience Amid Unknowns
April 19, 2011
On the first anniversary, experts note signs of recovery—but say it's too early to know the true damage.
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Pictures: Racing to the Finish at Shell Eco-Marathon
April 18, 2011
At the Shell Eco-marathon Americas in Houston, teamwork and imagination combine to create super high-mileage vehicles.
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Breaking 2,500 mpg, Canadian Team Wins High-Efficiency Race
April 18, 2011
Québec’s Université Laval and Louisiana Tech University take the top prizes in the Shell Eco-marathon.
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Is Armenia's Nuclear Plant the World's Most Dangerous?
April 12, 2011
Japan's earthquake-triggered crisis has focused attention on the seismic risk to Armenia's aging Soviet-style nuclear plant.
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Pictures: High School 'ShopGirls' Design for the Prize
April 7, 2011
An all-girls team of high school students from Granite Falls, Washington is building a car to compete in the Shell Eco-marathon.
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All-Girls Team Seeks Record in High-Mileage Marathon
April 6, 2011
Aiming to break stereotypes and records, the first all-girls team in the Shell Eco-Marathon seeks a repeat victory that will set a new U.S. mark in fuel efficiency.
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Pictures: Oil-Reliant Islands Seek Green Energy Restart
April 5, 2011
The world’s islands rely heavily on pricey, polluting diesel oil for electricity. But now some are turning to native resources of sun, water, breeze, and hot underground rock for energy.
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Pictures: Earthquake Hazard in Nuclear Power's Top Ten Nations
March 29, 2011
Among the ten nations that produce the most nuclear power, Japan is not alone in facing an earthquake hazard.
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Pictures - A Rare Look Inside Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
March 23, 2011
Photographs from inside the Fukushima Daiichi power plant show workers as they struggle, amid peril, to stabilize the damaged reactors.
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Would a New Nuclear Plant Fare Better Than Fukushima?
March 23, 2011
Only four of the 65 nuclear plants under construction worldwide are designs with integrated “passive safety” systems that could stave off overheating when power is lost.
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Photos: Preserving Beauty, Providing Hydropower in Scotland
March 21, 2011
Scotland harnessed power from water in the Highlands 60 years ago, amid conflicts that echo with relevance for a world still struggling to find clean and safe energy.
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Japan Reactor Crisis: Satellite Pictures Reveal Damage
March 18, 2011
New and old satellite pictures reveal just how much damage Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has sustained.
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Is Japan Reactor Crew Exposed to Fatal Radiation?
March 17, 2011
What kind of radiation are workers at Japan's stricken nuclear power plant—and everyday people—facing? What exactly is radiation sickness?
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How Is Japan's Nuclear Disaster Different?
March 16, 2011
Learn how the ongoing crisis at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant compares to previous disasters at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island.
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Oiled Gulf Beaches During & After: Zoomable Maps
March 16, 2011
Use our zoomable maps to see which Gulf of Mexico beaches were oiled during the spill—and how they're faring now.
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Japan Battles to Avert Nuclear Power Plant Disaster
March 14, 2011
Amid the fight to prevent a catastrophic meltdown, competing lessons are drawn from Japan’s past experience with earthquakes exceeding nuclear plant design.
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Range Anxiety: Fact or Fiction?
March 10, 2011
Critics say that fear of being stranded with a dead battery, or "range anxiety," will discourage people from adopting electric cars. Others say the issue is overblown.
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Crude Reality: Gas Prices Rocket Because They Can
March 10, 2011
Turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East has registered quickly at the gas pumps. In a jittery oil market, who's calling the shots?
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Pictures -- Oil States: Are They Stable? Why It Matters
March 9, 2011
Whether due to monarchic rule, corruption, or economic stagnation, market anxiety is high due to perceived peril in the eight nations of the Middle East and North Africa that supply one-third of the world's oil.
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New Brunswick Seeks Natural Gas, and a Safer Way
February 24, 2011
The province of New Brunswick on Canada’s East Coast is a frontier for shale gas development, and for a new approach to industry oversight.
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Upgrading the Electric Grid With Flywheels and Air
February 23, 2011
To better integrate intermittent renewable power into the electric grid, a major expansion of energy storage projects using flywheels and compressed air is under way in the United States.
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Protecting Health and the Planet With Clean Cookstoves
February 15, 2011
A small Ghana business is part of a wave of efforts to address the staggering global toll of death and disease from cooking smoke.
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On Thomas Edison Bulb Anniversary, Lighting Breakthrough
February 11, 2011
On the anniversary of Thomas Edison's invention of the light bulb, companies in October announced a reading-quality LED to fit existing lamps.
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Pictures: Nine Surprisingly Gassy Cities
February 9, 2011
Forget Beijing and Mexico City: Denver and Rotterdam are among the world's top polluters in terms of per-person CO2 emissions, a new study says.
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Pictures: Kickoff Time for Green Stadiums
February 4, 2011
As Green Bay and Pittsburgh face off Sunday in Super Bowl XLV in the NFL's newest and largest stadium, a drive for greener design and cleaner energy is under way at arenas worldwide.
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Oil Markets Churn Over Egypt’s Potential as Gateway for Revolt
February 1, 2011
World oil prices reached their highest levels since 2008 amid concern over Egypt--not over its role as a commodity route, but as a potential vector for political instability.
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With a Deep Dig Into Its Past, Perugia Built an Energy-Saving Future
January 26, 2011
Perugia, Italy turned its challenging geography to its advantage to show how even a small city can reap benefits of investment in smart transport and pedestrian-friendly streets.
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Guangzhou, China, Wins Sustainable Transport Prize
January 24, 2011
Guangzhou, China, wins an international sustainable transport prize for a system that integrates bicycle, bus, and rail transport, and makes the large city “more livable.”
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Tough Road to Getting LED Lights on the Streets
January 20, 2011
LED streetlights can save energy, but not all power systems are set up to reward cities for choosing a more efficient nighttime glow.
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Going "All The Way" With Renewable Energy?
January 17, 2011
A massive build-out, rare earth minerals, and willpower needed for a 100 percent renewable future, two U.S. researchers say.
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The Next Oil Spill: Five Needed Mandates to Head it Off
January 11, 2011
In an era of more dangerous drilling, major new safety investment needed, concludes U.S. commission appointed to investigate the Gulf oil spill.
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In China’s Icy North, Outfitting Buildings to Save Energy
January 7, 2011
In Harbin, China—known as “Ice City” —a government drive aims to curb the energy wasted keeping drafty homes and buildings warm.
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National Geographic 360º Energy Diet: Call for Participants
January 7, 2011
National Geographic 360º Energy Diet: Call for Participants
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On China's Roads (and Rails), a Move Toward Greener Transit
January 5, 2011
The market for cars in China is booming, posing severe traffic problems for a country once nicknamed the "bicycle kingdom."
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National Snow and Ice Data Center Gets a Cool Makeover
December 29, 2010
Its servers process information that's key to charting climate change, but the center had a climate problem of its own to solve.
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Can Geothermal Energy Pick Up Real Steam?
December 28, 2010
Developers say we have a new chance to mine heat from Earth’s white-hot core -- but as investment lags and environmental questions remain, they fear we'll miss the window of opportunity.
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Green Design Spree Aims to Trim U.S. Government's Big Energy Bill
December 23, 2010
The U.S. government, the nation's biggest energy user, aims to use $4.5 billion in stimulus funds to make federal buildings into "a proving ground for what works" in clean, efficient power.
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Fat's Chance as a Renewable Diesel Fuel
December 22, 2010
One of the world's largest meat companies, Tyson Foods, aims to make renewable diesel fuel out of an abundant waste product: Animal fat.
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New Oil—and a Huge Challenge—for Ghana
December 15, 2010
The massive Jubilee field begins producing oil this week, but with revenue from the site come concerns about the risk of corruption and environmental compromise.
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Pictures: Seven Supergreen U.S. Government Buildings
December 14, 2010
A subterranean labyrinth in the Rockies, breathing curtain walls by San Francisco Bay, and a Manhattan sky park highlight the U.S. government's drive to cut down its prodigious use of energy.
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Photos: Bolivia Seeks Electric Car Future in Salt Flats
December 10, 2010
Bolivia moves to begin production from its lithium reserves, the largest in the world, but it needs help in its effort to share in the global electric car boom.
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New Chemistry, Less Energy Could Yield Greener Cement
December 10, 2010
Making cement is one of the world’s most carbon-intensive endeavors, but German researchers think they’ve mixed a better building solution.
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Ten NatGeo News Stories You Might Have Missed in 2010
December 6, 2010
See our editors' picks of the best stories of 2010 that flew under the radar, including space-time "wrinkles" and squid plastic surgery.
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Amazon Opportunity: Brazil Doesn't Count on Carbon Market
December 3, 2010
Climate negotiators in Cancun aim to build a framework for curbing deforestation’s global warming impact, but forest-rich Brazil doesn’t want to be the world’s carbon sink.
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U.S. Weighs Disclosure Rules for Natural Gas Drillers
December 1, 2010
The Obama administration wants companies to reveal chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing on public lands.
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Climate Change Talks Hinge on “Green Growth,” says De Boer
November 26, 2010
As global climate negotiations open in Cancun, Mexico, former United Nations climate chief Yvo de Boer focuses on the role of business.
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Fighting Poverty Can Save Energy, Nicaraguan Project Shows
November 25, 2010
Modernizing electricity services in two rural Nicaraguan villages yielded major energy savings, showing how addressing poverty and climate change can go hand-in-hand, a new study says.
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Brazil Ethanol Looks to Sweeten More Gas Tanks
November 18, 2010
Brazil is poised to increase its production of sugarcane ethanol, helped by foreign investment and policy flux in the United States and Europe.
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Cheap Renewable Power Key to BMW’s Electric Megacity
November 18, 2010
Lightweight, high-strength carbon fiber has long been seen as the secret—but an expensive one—for more efficient cars; BMW details a strategy for slashing the cost.
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Photos: Rev Up Your Motors, Electric Cars Zip Into View
November 10, 2010
The Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf, both launching into production, lead an array of electric cars into a market that analysts see as eager for an alternative to oil-fueled transport.
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Has the World Already Passed “Peak Oil”?
November 9, 2010
Higher oil prices in store as conventional crude production appears to have peaked, says the International Energy Agency.
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Shining Light on the Cost of Solar Energy
November 5, 2010
Solar electricity is pricey, but policy may be as important as technology in hastening its path to parity with other fuel sources.
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A U.S. Cap-and-Trade Experiment To End
November 3, 2010
With no prospect of a U.S. climate bill in sight, the Chicago Climate Exchange will shut down an experimental carbon trading program. But California election results keep alive hopes for regional cap and trade.
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Faces of the Gas Rush
October 22, 2010
From farmer to supply shop owner, from scientist to job seeker, each Pennsylvanian has a separate view of the natural gas boom that has hit the state.
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A Dream Dashed by the Rush on Gas
October 22, 2010
The shale gas industry maintains that its safeguards protect drinking water and land. But there have been accidents, and mistrust has been sown as the industrial process has moved into rural communities.
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A State Booms with New Energy
October 22, 2010
Hopes are high that jobs will flow as fast as the natural gas in the energy boom that has hit Pennsylvania, although locals are finding the new work is not necessarily on the drilling rig.
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Parks, Forests Eyed for the Fuel Beneath
October 22, 2010
Officials realize they may not be able to protect the “Pennsylvania Wilds” and other state and national public lands from the new gas rush.
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Forcing Gas Out of Rock With Water
October 22, 2010
By combining and super-charging old oil industry technologies, the energy industry unlocked the natural gas locked in shale rock
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A Drive for New Jobs Through Energy
October 22, 2010
The shale gas industry promises new jobs to a state badly in need of an economic boost, but the work so far isn't where you might expect it.
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Natural Gas Stirs Hope and Fear in Pennsylvania
October 22, 2010
Pennsylvania sits atop one of the largest reservoirs of natural gas in the world, a resource that could boost jobs and shake up the national energy equation. But can this important resource be extracted sustainably?
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The Science of Shale Gas
October 22, 2010
By combining and super-charging old oil field technologies, U.S. energy industry innovators unlocked the natural gas found in deep shale rock—paving the way for a rush on the huge Marcellus shale formation that underlies Pennsylvania.
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Breaking Fuel From the Rock
October 22, 2010
A 3-D interactive graphic that takes the user step-by-step underground through the process of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling that has unlocked natural gas from solid rock.
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In the Farmland, an Energy Rush
October 22, 2010
Pennsylvania sits atop one of the largest reservoirs of natural gas in the world, a resource that could boost jobs and shake up the national energy equation. But can this important resource be extracted sustainably?
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Shale Gas Drilling: A Changed Environment
October 22, 2010
Shale Gas Drilling: A Changed Environment
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On Edison Bulb’s Anniversary, a Lighting Breakthrough
October 21, 2010
GE announces an advance in LED cooling technology, but its rivals race ahead to market an LED replacement bulb suitable for home living rooms.
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Banking on Connections to Spur Offshore Wind
October 13, 2010
Google and a team of fellow investors and energy firms aim to bring an offshore wind power revolution to the East Coast of the United States.
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Beating the White House to the Solar Punch
October 7, 2010
The island nation of the Maldives races ahead of the U.S. to capture the solar energy limelight.
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Photos: Canadian Rain Forest Edges Oil Pipeline Path
October 7, 2010
In the home of the elusive "spirit bear," nine Coastal First Nations people await a decision on a pipeline to carry Canadian oil to sea for export to Asia.
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Replacing Oil Addiction With Metals Dependence?
October 1, 2010
China’s pivotal role as world supplier of rare-earth metals raises alarm that the new energy economy will mean the same old foreign dependence.
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Renewable Energy: Ontario’s New Gold Rush
September 30, 2010
Ontario is better known for majestic falls and forests than for its sun, but a one-year-old government incentive program has made the province a solar energy hotbed.
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The Solvable Problem of Energy Poverty
September 21, 2010
Providing universal world access to electricity and modern cooking technology is affordable, and can be done without worsening climate change, a United Nations report says
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Light is the Bright IDEA for Transport
September 20, 2010
Bright Automotive aims to engineer a fuel-saving electric commercial vehicle large to appeal to the U.S. market.
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Hope for Stemming Wind Energy’s Toll on Bats
September 15, 2010
Wind energy projects pose a threat to migratory bats, but simple steps show promise for protecting them.
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Warming Solution: Just Stop Cold?
September 9, 2010
The burden on the planet from today's cars and buildings is bearable, say researchers who warn that future added emissions are the real problem.
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Mining the Truth on Coal Supplies
September 8, 2010
A view that the world’s leading electricity fuel—and worst contributor to climate change—is running out
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Can Nuclear Waste Spark an Energy Solution?
September 1, 2010
Can Nuclear Waste Spark an Energy Solution?
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For Hurricane Katrina Victims, A Solar Restart
August 26, 2010
For Hurricane Katrina Victims, A Solar Restart
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Tapping into the Electric Power of Heat
August 23, 2010
Converting waste heat into electricity cuts power costs around the world. A new U.S. firm seeks to give the idea a high-tech boost.
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Missing the Chance for Big Energy Savings
August 18, 2010
Consumers favor “low-effort” actions on energy, rather than investments that could have greater impact, a new survey shows.
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A Fuel That Doesn’t Go to Waste
August 17, 2010
In the ultimate "closed loop" energy project, a garbage truck fleet near San Francisco runs on the methane produced by decomposing landfill trash.
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Lighting a Fire Under Clean Coal
August 13, 2010
A big demo project, storage research and task force recommendations seek to advance U.S. clean coal technology, but financing remains a barrier.
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Seeking to Cool Air Conditioning Costs
August 12, 2010
Century-old refrigeration technology is nearing its limits in energy efficiency, but advances in radiant and evaporative cooling hold promise.
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How Prospects Cooled for U.S. Global Warming Bill
July 30, 2010
How Prospects Cooled for U.S. Global Warming Bill
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Critical Alaska Habitat Spared From Oil and Natural Gas Development
July 28, 2010
The Obama administration’s first lease sale in the 87-year-old petroleum reserve on the North Slope leaves sanctuary for caribou and geese.
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Ethanol Future Looking for More Fuel
July 21, 2010
The government lowers ambitions for advanced cellulosic ethanol, but the industry says weak policy is holding back needed investment.
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Putting a (Smiley) Face on Energy Savings
July 15, 2010
While utilities race to install smart meters, some urge a simpler approach for motivating consumers to use less electricity.
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Hurricane Alex Pushes "Worst Oil" Ashore; Cleanup Slowed
June 30, 2010
Hurricane Alex pushed "the worst oil we've seen yet" onto Louisiana beaches and shut down Gulf-spill cleanup operations.
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Hurricanes May Be Good for Gulf Oil Spill, Experts Say
June 30, 2010
Although Alex's effects will likely be minimal, strong winds and waves from future storms may help disperse the oil slicks, experts say.
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At Gulf Oil Spill Forum, A Call for Energy Solutions
June 29, 2010
At Gulf Oil Spill Forum, A Call For Energy Solutions
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Afghanistan’s Lithium Wealth Could Remain Elusive
June 16, 2010
Afghanistan may be the Saudi Arabia of lithium—a key energy storage medium—but prosperity will not flow easily.
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Ecuador Puts a Price Tag on Untapped Oil
June 11, 2010
Ecuador plans to forgo drilling for oil in one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems, in exchange for money from the developed world.
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Gulf Oil Spill Pictures: Birds, Fish, Crabs Coated
June 8, 2010
The fallout from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill is increasingly visible, with masses of oil-laden birds and other animals now on Louisiana shores.
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Trucks Could Be Next Electric Power Frontier
June 6, 2010
With fuel costs a driving factor, analysts see surge of hybrid electric trucks on the road in the coming years.
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Inventor Turned Up Energy Savings by Dimming the Lights
June 5, 2010
Joel Spira was aiming for mood lighting when he invented the solid-state light dimmer switch. More than 50 years later, his company, Lutron, is recognized as an energy efficiency pioneer.
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Coal Firms to Strip-Mine Historic Battlefield?
June 3, 2010
In 1921, 20 miners died fighting for labor rights on West Virginia's Blair Mountain. Now coal firms want to literally open the mountain for business.
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Gulf Oil Spill Worst in U.S. History; Drilling Postponed
May 27, 2010
Amid cautious optimism that a "top kill" effort to cap the leaking well causing the Gulf oil spill is working, President Obama banned new offshore drilling Thursday until further notice.
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Oil Spill Poses Risk to Gulf Power Plants
May 27, 2010
Electricity facilities on the Gulf coast rely heavily on water and are taking steps to protect the plants should the oil come their way.
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Coast Pipelines Face Damage as Gulf Oil Eats Marshes?
May 25, 2010
As deep-sea oil from the Deepwater Horizon leak kills off Gulf Coast wetlands, it could disastrously expose buried coastal pipelines and other energy infrastructure.
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To Keep Power On, Pakistan Tries Lights Out
May 21, 2010
Pakistan calls on shops to close early and other lifestyle changes in an effort to stave off chronic power outages.
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New Nuclear Energy Grapples With Costs
May 20, 2010
The operator of the nation’s largest nuclear power fleet sees dim prospects for new reactors in the United States, but others are forging ahead with hope that global warming concerns will spur development.
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Pictures: Heavy Oil Seeping Into Louisiana Marshes
May 19, 2010
Thick pools of oil are now seeping into Louisiana's marshes, which are vital to the Gulf ecosystem and the U.S. seafood industry.
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Gulf Oil Is in the Loop Current, Experts Say
May 18, 2010
Oil from the Gulf of Mexico spill is being dragged into an eddy of the Loop Current that hugs Florida's coasts, satellite images show.
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Gulf Oil Spill Pictures: Oil, Tarballs Hit Beaches
May 14, 2010
The Gulf of Mexico oil spill is likely behind the sticky tarballs and dead dolphins washing up on U.S. beaches, experts say.
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Gulf Oil Leaks Could Gush for Years
May 13, 2010
If efforts fail to cap the seafloor leaks, the continuous seep of oil could poison the Gulf's coastal habitats for decades, experts say.
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Berlin Rallies for a Tricky Oil Alternative
May 12, 2010
A coalition of energy and auto companies push for a hydrogen fuel transportation network in Germany, but it’s a tough idea to move down the road.
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A Fuel-Saving Car Engine in the Blink of an IRIS
May 12, 2010
Amid an auto industry upheaval, two Colorado brothers promote a radical new design to replace the notoriously inefficient internal combustion engine.
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3 Future Oil-Spill Fighters: Sponges, Superbugs, and Herders
May 11, 2010
Sponges that sop up oil, "superbugs" that devour crude, and high-efficiency chemical herders are among emerging tech for battling spills.
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Nature Fighting Back Against Gulf Oil Spill
May 7, 2010
Evaporation, dilution, and oil-hungry bacteria are already combatting the Gulf slick, experts say.
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Gulf Oil Spill Pictures: Ten Animals at Risk
May 6, 2010
The Gulf of Mexico oil spill is poised to do widespread damage to coastal wildlife, from pelicans on the shore to dolphins at sea.
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Colorado Seeks a Renewable Energy Peak
May 5, 2010
Colorado this spring adopted one of the most ambitious renewable energy goals in the country, bolstered by a unique mix of geography and politics that might be difficult to replicate.
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Hurricane Could Push Spilled Gulf Oil Into New Orleans
May 5, 2010
With predictions for a feisty 2010 hurricane season, experts fear that a major storm could carry oil from the Gulf spill into downtown.
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Photos: Huge Containment "Domes" for Gulf Oil Spill
May 4, 2010
Designed to be dropped onto the Gulf of Mexico's seafloor oil leaks, three building-size oil-containment chambers are nearing completion.
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Gulf Oil Spill a "Dead Zone in the Making"?
May 4, 2010
As the world watches for oil-covered birds, experts warn that the Gulf of Mexico spill could pose greater risks to life deep in the ocean.
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Satellite Pictures: Gulf Oil Spill's Evolution
May 4, 2010
See the growth and evolution of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, as viewed from space.
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Gulf Oil Spill Could Reach East Coast Beaches
May 4, 2010
A powerful Gulf of Mexico current could whip millions of gallons of oil around Florida's tip and up the U.S. East Coast, experts warn.
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Saving Fuel on the Farm by Making Hay
May 3, 2010
Farms can slash their fossil fuel use and still turn a profit, all with the help of more complex crop rotation. But will they have incentive to change?
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Gulf Oil Spill Fight Turns to Chemicals
April 30, 2010
Responders are deploying huge amounts of oil dispersant to limit onshore damage from the Gulf of Mexico, but the chemicals don’t make oil disappear.
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Oil Spill Hits Gulf Coast Habitats
April 30, 2010
The Gulf of Mexico oil spill's first landfall is Louisiana's “bird’s foot” delta and barrier marshes, the habitat of the long-struggling brown pelican and other ecologically sensitive species.
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First U.S. Offshore Wind Power Project Approved
April 28, 2010
The long-disputed Cape Wind farm in Massachusetts’ Nantucket Sound is approved, but obstacles remain to harnessing the vast coastal renewable power of the United States.
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Oil Slick May Be Burned to Help Stop U.S. Rig Spill
April 27, 2010
U.S. officials are considering a controlled burn to reduce the amount of oil in the Gulf of Mexico following last week's rig accident.
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Oil Spill From Sunken Rig Site May Be Serious
April 25, 2010
An urgent effort is underway to stop the flow of oil from the site of the accident that destroyed the BP-leased rig, the Deepwater Horizon, before it reaches shore in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Oil Spill Fears Subside at Rig-Explosion Site
April 23, 2010
Oil has stopped flowing at the site of yesterday's rig sinking, but the incident may fuel opposition to a key U.S. climate bill.
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Rig Explosion Shows Risks in Key Oil Frontier
April 22, 2010
The blast on the premier rig, the Deepwater Horizon, is a reminder of hazards as the oil industry searches ever deeper for new resources.
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First Green Supersonic Jet to Launch on Earth Day
April 20, 2010
A Navy Super Hornet fighter jet is set to take a supersonic flight on Earth Day on a mix of half biofuel, showcasing the Pentagon's efforts to reduce the military's reliance on oil.
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Mine Tragedy Amid Push to Produce More
April 15, 2010
Upper Big Branch Mine was one of the sites where Massey Energy was ramping up production to meet overseas demand for metallurgical coal.
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Google Searches For Key To Energy Savings
April 9, 2010
Google finds that helping homeowners save electricity is harder than helping people search the Internet.
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Offshore Energy Clash Over Undersea Sound
April 7, 2010
The Obama administration would open the Atlantic Coast to offshore drilling, but only after a debate on the impact the new seismic testing could have on marine life.
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Frozen Fish Help Reel in Germany's Wind Power
April 2, 2010
Renewable energy leader Germany sometimes has more wind power than it can handle, but a fishing community on the North Sea is exploring a creative solution for storing all that energy.
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Solar Brings Light to Haiti
March 31, 2010
With a crucial meeting today at the United Nations on the rebuilding of Haiti, renewable energy advocates are urging donors to consider the role solar power can play in a nation that has had one of the lowest rates of access to electricity in the world.
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Texas Pioneers Energy Storage in Giant Battery
March 25, 2010
Texas Pioneers Energy Storage in Giant Battery
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Turning River Current Into Electricity
March 22, 2010
Beneath the surface of the Mississippi River is a torrent of energy that developers aim to turn into electricity.
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To Capture Lost Power, Super Solution Sought
March 19, 2010
The steel lattice towers that help carry electricity from one place to another are not a pretty sight, but there’s also an invisible problem--the power lost due to electrical resistance. Superconducting technology may be solution.
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Plenty of Gas, But No Simple Solution for U.S. Energy Challenge
March 16, 2010
Innovation has sparked a boom in production of this low-carbon fuel. Taking advantage of its benefits is another matter.
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Bloom Box Launch Is "Big Hype"--Invention Nothing New?
February 24, 2010
How Bloom Energy's mini, green power plant works—and why its press conference today had some experts seeing red, or just plain underwhelmed.
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Bloom Box: Secret App May Be Key to Tiny Energy Plant
February 24, 2010
Set to be unveiled today, Bloom Energy's top-secret Bloom Box fuel cell system could bring cheap, green energy to U.S. homes. Experts explain how it would work—or not.
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Fusion Power a Step Closer After Giant Laser Blast
January 28, 2010
Using the most powerful laser system ever built, a solid gold cylinder, and a BB-size fuel pellet, scientists have brought us one step closer to nuclear fusion power, a new study says.
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Green "Volcano" to Power U.K. Town
January 27, 2010
A "big, bold" biomass power station, slated for construction by the end of the year, will create green electricity and heat for more than 100,000 homes, organizers say.
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Green Energy "Oasis" to Bloom in the Desert?
January 22, 2010
A research center slated to be built in 2010 as part of the Sahara Forest Project will serve as a proving ground for new technologies designed to bring green living to the desert, project managers say.
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