The Asahi Shimbun reported in March on the decision of four big Japanese electric utilities to decommission a total of five nuclear reactors that have been in operation for more than 40 years. Respective plans have been submitted to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). “This is the first application of the regulation… Keep reading →
New York and other cities across the U.S. and around the world are grappling with the imperative to cut greenhouse gas emissions and implement low-carbon energy and fuel systems. Whether the emission reduction goals are 30% by 2020, 50% by 2030, or 80% by 2050, leaders and climate experts agree: the time to act on climate… Keep reading →
What’s going on with coal in China? Already the world’s largest consumer of the stuff, China has been expected to continue on an upward trajectory in coal use. But last year the trend line turned down – and it appears to be continuing in that direction. The figures suggest the decline in China’s coal use… Keep reading →
The monthly global average concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere surpassed 400 parts per million in March for the first time since record keeping began. “This marks the fact that humans burning fossil fuels have caused global carbon dioxide concentrations to rise more than 120 parts per million since pre-industrial times,” added Tans. “Half of… Keep reading →
Biomethane is a drop in the ocean of fuel used in the U.S. shipping industry now, but its prospects improved a bit on Tuesday with the announcement of an agreement by UPS to buy “renewable natural gas” (RNG) from Clean Energy Fuels, the natural-gas-for-transport company co-founded by T. Boone Pickens. UPS said that beginning this month, tractors and delivery… Keep reading →
Nothing’s changed in the long run; California is still aiming to cut its greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050. But with one marker along the way – parity with 1990 emissions by 2020 – apparently in the bag, Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday set a bold new interim target: a reduction of… Keep reading →
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has just released its US Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report for the time period of 1990-2013. In this report the EPA tracks total annual US emissions and removals by source, economic sector, as well as greenhouse gas using national energy data, data on national agricultural activities, et alia in order… Keep reading →
Mark Lynas has spent the last decade or so researching and writing about global warming, and his work has been especially important in detailing the real dangers posed by rising temperatures. His 2007 book Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet won the Royal Society’s Science Book Prize. But Lynas has become a controversial figure among greens for his support… Keep reading →
An oil company CEO endorsing a global carbon tax? Forbes energy reporter Christopher Helman says he’s never heard the head of an American oil giant do it, although many – including ExxonMobil – factor a carbon price into their long-term planning. So he was surprised this week when recently installed Statoil CEO Eldar Saetre offered up just… Keep reading →
Renewables+1: Why the President Should Support All Carbon-Free Energy Production
By Stephen AntonyPresident Obama recently announced his support of nuclear power plants smaller than 300 megawatts in size (known as small modular reactors or “SMR”s), as a clean energy source by way of an executive order. This was a good start. However, it is my view that the President’s endorsement for nuclear energy didn’t go nearly far… Keep reading →