Energy

Barges were stranded by low water levels along the Mississippi River in October, driving up shipping prices and threatening crop exports and fertilizer shipments. Scientists at the University of Memphis expect more dramatic swings in water levels on the river due to climate change.

Republicans plan more attacks on ESG. Investors still plan to focus on climate risk

1:20pm December 29, 2022

by Michael Copley

Investors still view climate change as a serious financial risk. But Republican attacks could have a chilling effect on the kinds of actions they're willing to take to deal with the problem.

National

The nation's electrical grids were tested over the last week. Did they pass?

7:25am December 29, 2022

The recent winter storm could have created another disaster: massive power outages. But luck and planning kept the electricity flowing — for the most part.

National

Transitioning away from coal leaves Navajo communities struggling

5:10am December 29, 2022

by Alice Fordham

Despite years of warnings about coal mines and power plants shutting down on the Navajo Reservation, promised funding to help an economic transition has failed to materialize.

National

4 power substations on Washington state's electrical grid were attacked on Christmas

7:23am December 28, 2022

by John Ryan

This brings the total of reported attacks on the Northwest power grid to 10 since November. Attacks on substations in the Pacific Northwest have heightened concerns about grid vulnerabilities.

Queue Listen Now

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during an expanded meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry Board at the National Defense Control Center in Moscow on Wednesday.

World News

Russia's economy is still working but sanctions are starting to have an effect

3:02pm December 27, 2022

by Jackie Northam

Despite unprecedented sanctions, Russia's economy is still functioning and it's still attacking Ukraine. That's led to questions about whether the sanctions are effective.

Queue Listen Now

Climate activists from the group Letzte Generation (Last Generation) hold up commuter traffic on a Monday morning in Berlin by supergluing themselves to the road. Police unstick their hands using cooking oil and a pastry brush while irate drivers look on, stuck for more than an hour.

World News

Climate activists are fuming as Germany turns to coal to replace Russian gas

5:00am December 26, 2022

by Esme Nicholson

Germany is firing up coal plants and importing liquefied natural gas to shore up energy supplies. Activists are carrying out increasingly disruptive protests, gluing themselves to roads and runways.

With reservoirs at low levels, the federal government cuts water deliveries

4:10pm December 23, 2022

by Alex Hager

The two largest reservoirs in the U.S., Lake Mead and Lake Powell, are at low levels and electricity generation is at risk. The federal government cut water deliveries and wants states to cut more.

Here's how life got pricier — and cheaper! — in 2022

How life got pricier (and, yes, cheaper!) this year — in 7 charts

6:52pm December 22, 2022

Boy, have we talked a lot about inflation. It affected every part of our lives (and the economy) in 2022. Here are some of its highest highs and lowest lows. (It wasn't all bad news!)

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is seen on March 17. Japan on Thursday adopted a new policy promoting greater use of nuclear energy to ensure a stable power supply amid global fuel shortages and reduce carbon emissions — a major reversal of its phaseout plan since the Fukushima crisis.

World News

After the Fukushima disaster, Japan swore to phase out nuclear power. But not anymore

3:29pm December 22, 2022

by The Associated Press

Japan adopted a plan to extend the lifespan of nuclear reactors, replace the old and even build new ones, a major shift in a country scarred by the Fukushima disaster.

Mail delivery vehicles are parked outside a post office in Boys Town, Neb., on Aug. 18, 2020. The Postal Service said Tuesday it will sharply increase the number of electric-powered delivery trucks in its fleet and will go all-electric for new purchases starting in 2026.

The Postal Service pledges to move to an all-electric delivery fleet

2:19pm December 20, 2022

by The Associated Press

USPS says it will sharply increase the number of electric-powered delivery trucks — and will go all-electric for new purchases starting in 2026.