Energy

National

Pandemic Shutdown Is Speeding Up The Collapse Of Coal

3:11pm April 23, 2020

by Reid Frazier

Coal use has plummeted in part because it's more expensive than natural gas or renewable energy. Mines are shutting down, and some power plants may run out of places to stockpile coal.

Producers have kept pumping oil, even if they're not making money, partly because wells — once shut down — can be difficult to get back up and running. Here, a pump jack operates at Willow Springs Park in Long Beach, Calif.

Why The World Is Still Pumping So Much Oil Even As Demand Drops Away

5:48pm April 22, 2020

by Camila Domonoske

The pandemic means the world is using far less oil. But pumps are still going, creating a huge oversupply. Companies are often willing to operate pumps at a loss — for a little while.

The BP Oil Disaster, 10 Years Later

5:12pm April 20, 2020

by Debbie Elliott

It's been 10 years since the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history: the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Here's how the Gulf Coast is recovering.

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After the Deepwater Horizon accident a capping stack like this one had to be built to stop the flow of oil. Now, five of them are on standby in Corpus Christi, Texas, and could be deployed in about a week.

10 Years After Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Industry Says It's Better Prepared

10:56am April 20, 2020

by Jeff Brady

The offshore drilling industry now has equipment on standby to respond to a similar emergency. But critics says stronger regulation is still needed to prevent another massive oil spill.

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National

Amid Historic Oil Bust, Texas Debates The Once Unthinkable: Keep It In The Ground

7:05pm April 14, 2020

by Mose Buchele

Texas regulators have not capped production since 1973, but some smaller producers want such a move to try and stave off bankruptcy. Oil demand and prices have crashed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

An Austrian army member stands in front of OPEC's headquarters in Vienna on Thursday.

World News

As Demand For Oil Dries Up, OPEC And Allies Agree To Historic Cuts In Output

8:08pm April 12, 2020

by Camila Domonoske

Marathon video chats led to a record-setting 9.7 million barrels per day in cuts. But analysts say that's not a big enough drop to balance oil markets, given the total collapse in demand for crude.

Trump To Monitor OPEC Meeting As Low Oil Prices Hurt U.S. Firms

6:53am April 09, 2020

by Jackie Northam

OPEC holds an emergency meeting Thursday. President Trump is no fan of the oil cartel, but needs to deal with it to reverse low prices threatening the survival of U.S. shale oil companies.

Drivers are paying less than $1.99 at more than two-thirds of the gas stations in the country, according to AAA.

Economy

Average Gas Prices Are Below $2. A Few Stations Are Even Selling For Under $1

8:07pm March 31, 2020

by Camila Domonoske

AAA says the national average is $1.997 per gallon and it's expected to drop further in the coming weeks. In a few places it's less than half that, but most Americans aren't driving much these days.

Environment

Trump Administration Finalizes Fuel Economy Standards Rollback, A Key Policy Goal

4:22pm March 31, 2020

by Nathan Rott

The Trump administration is replacing Obama-era fuel economy standards with weaker ones that will allow for more air pollution. Groups are already lining up to challenge the new rule.

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A wall of plastic trash at Garten Services in Salem, Ore., is headed to the landfill. The vast majority of plastic can't be or won't be recycled.

Plastic Wars: Industry Spent Millions Selling Recycling — To Sell More Plastic

4:22pm March 31, 2020

by Laura Sullivan

An investigation from NPR and the PBS show Frontline found oil and gas companies had serious doubts that plastic recycling was viable, but promoted it to keep profits high and plastic bans at bay.

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