Energy

A PG&E contractor works on utility poles along Highway 128 near Geyserville, Calif., on October 31, 2019. The utility is shutting off power for hundreds of thousands in an effort to not spark wildfires.

360,000 Customers Lose Power In California Amid Fire-Safety Shutoffs

3:46pm October 25, 2020

by Kat Lonsdorf

Pacific Gas and Electric Company announced a public safety power shutoff over the weekend as some of the strongest winds and driest conditions of this year's fire season sweep through the region.

Breaking Down Joe Biden's Plan To Make The U.S. Carbon Neutral

7:52am October 25, 2020

by Jeff Brady

Joe Biden wants to make America carbon neutral by 2050 and says there will still be room for some fossil fuels. We look at how realistic this is and what activists make of it.

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How Trump And Biden Differ On Energy Policy

5:27pm October 24, 2020

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Dino Grandoni, an energy and environmental policy reporter with The Washington Post, about the debate over the future of U.S. energy.

Wind turbines near Dwight, Ill. and a pump jack in Cotulla, Texas. The presidential candidates have opposing views on the future of U.S. energy.

There's A Lot At Stake For The Climate In The 2020 Election

2:06pm October 22, 2020

Despite the cascade of other crises this year, climate change has emerged as a key election issue. The two major-party presidential candidates' positions on it could not be more different.

Left: Luminalt employee Pam Quan installs solar panels on the roof of a home in San Francisco in 2018. Right: An oilfield worker fills his truck with water before heading to a drilling site in the Permian Basin oil field in Andrews, Texas, in 2016.

Economy

Oil Jobs Are Big Risk, Big Pay. Green Energy Offers Stability And Passion

2:21pm October 21, 2020

by Camila Domonoske

Workers in the energy sector face two paths: The oil industry offers big salaries but more volatility, while clean energy pays less but provides more stability and a sense of mission.

Climate Change Is A Top Campaign Issue — At Least For Democrats

9:56pm October 20, 2020

Former Vice President Biden says tackling climate change is all about creating jobs. We examine his ambitious plans to make the U.S. economy carbon neutral and challenges he would face as president.

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What Would A 2nd Trump Term Mean For The Environment?

7:11am October 19, 2020

President Trump touts his success at boosting fossil fuels and rolling back climate rules. But he's faced setbacks in court and pushback from states and industry.

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A Thailand-based oil and gas company had offered to pay for a new school in Shadyside, Ohio. But with its local project now on hold, superintendent John Haswell says all he can do is "wait and wait."

Appalachian Town Must 'Wait And Wait' As Pandemic Puts Plastics Plant On Hold

1:27pm October 17, 2020

by Reid Frazier

For a decade, growing American gas production has fueled a petrochemical boom. There are big plans for more plants in Appalachia, but the pandemic — and an oversupply of plastics — may crush them.

National

What's The Future Of The Petrochemical Industry In The U.S.?

4:08pm October 15, 2020

For a decade, growing American gas production has fueled a boom in petrochemical plants. There are big plans for more of them in Appalachia, but some wonder if the pandemic will crush them.

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What Is The Future Of The Oil Industry?

4:02pm October 14, 2020

by Camila Domonoske

It's a pivotal moment for the oil industry. With a pandemic-induced demand crash, the uncertainty about the long-term prospects for gas is growing. Forecasts chart divergent paths for the future.

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