Energy

National

Regulators warn much of U.S. power grid is vulnerable to major winter storms

4:38pm December 13, 2023

by Mose Buchele

Experts warn that the power grid across much of the nation, especially in parts of the Southwest, are vulnerable to major winter storms like the one in Texas in 2021 that killed more than 250 people.

Utility workers north of Lyman, Ukraine, work on restringing electrical poles in an effort to brace the country's energy system against another winter of expected Russian attacks.

World News

Ukraine is trying to keep its lights on this winter. Russia aims to turn them off

11:40am December 13, 2023

Utility workers have raced to repair Ukraine's damaged energy grid. Russia has resumed targeted attacks on Ukraine's energy system — and parts of it may be more vulnerable than ever, experts warn.

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Demonstrators hold a sign reading "end fossil fuels" at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Climate activists struggle to be heard at this year's U.N. climate talks

5:00am December 12, 2023

Protests are a common part of global climate meetings, but activists say they're facing restrictions at this year's U.N. climate meeting hosted in the UAE

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Haze obscures the Dubai skyline including Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. The United Arab Emirates is choking under "alarmingly high" air pollution levels fed by its fossil fuel industry, Human Rights Watch warned on December 4. The oil-rich country hosts the UN's COP28 climate talks in Dubai.

What it means for an oil producing country, the UAE, to host U.N. climate talks

10:55am December 09, 2023

by Aya Batrawy

The United Arab Emirates is a major oil producing nation, and that's drawing attention to the role oil and gas has at this year's COP28 climate negotiations.

World News

War in the Middle East usually makes oil prices spike. Why isn't that happening now?

4:47pm December 07, 2023

During the Yom Kippur war, embargoes drove oil prices up. But oil prices have actually gone down since the Oct. 7 attack. In a time of upheaval in the Middle East, we explore why prices are falling.

More than 2,400 fossil fuel representatives and lobbyists have been accredited for the U.N. climate talks in Dubai — a record. Meanwhile, negotiators are wrestling with calls to end all new oil, gas and coal projects to curb climate change.

World News

A record number of fossil fuel representatives are at this year's COP28 climate talks

10:57am December 07, 2023

by Julia Simon

With a record number of oil, gas and coal representatives at this year's COP28 climate talks, climate scientists worry industry influence could water down language on fossil fuels.

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The young industry of wind energy has hit economic headwinds in the U.S.

5:59pm December 06, 2023

At UN climate talks, the global community is looking at tripling the amount of renewables coming online. In the U.S., that's meant a push into offshore wind — but it's been met with fits and starts.

Sultan al-Jaber is the president of this year's climate talks and the head of the UAE's state-run oil company. Oil companies have a big platform at the climate conference, and experts say their language is important because it can make it into policy.

World News

Oil firms are out in force at the climate talks. Here's how to decode their language

11:36am December 05, 2023

The oil industry has a huge voice in this year's climate talks. But what are oil companies actually saying? And why does it matter? We break down their pledges and statements into plain English.

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A section of aluminium coils from one of Helion's fusion machines. The company hopes its next-generation Polaris system will produce more electricity than it consumes.

Companies say they're closing in on nuclear fusion as an energy source. Will it work?

2:33pm December 04, 2023

by Geoff Brumfiel

For decades, government scientists have toiled away trying to make nuclear fusion work. Will commercial companies sprint to the finish?

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Major flooding has hit Kenya in November. The disasters are likely intensified by climate change, and are causing ongoing health issues across the region. World leaders are discussing the health impacts of climate change at the COP28 climate meeting in Dubai this month.

Health is on the agenda at UN climate negotiations. Here's why that's a big deal

4:30am December 03, 2023

by Alejandra Borunda

Advocates say human-driven climate change is hurting people's health worldwide–but taking action like reducing reliance on fossil fuels lowers risks immediately.

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