Energy

A drilling rig at work near a residential neighborhood in Erie, Colo. An overhaul of oil and gas regulations will give localities more control over where drilling can happen.

Colorado's Oil And Gas Regulators Must Now Consider Public Health And Safety

11:48am April 16, 2019

by Grace Hood

Colorado is overhauling how it regulates its booming oil and gas industry. The state must now consider public health and safety, and localities will have more control over where drilling happens.

Queue Listen Now

Alaska's Ice Roads Are Melting Early This Year, With Devastating Consequences

9:50am April 12, 2019

by Krysti Shallenberger

In Bethel, Alaska, record warm temperatures mean a frozen river that serves as an ice road is melting early. That's been deadly for some, and is leaving others unable to travel.

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A sign at the proposed interim nuclear storage site lies on its side and is riddled with bullet holes.

New Mexico Is Divided Over The 'Perfect Site' To Store Nation's Nuclear Waste

3:31pm April 11, 2019

by Nathan Rott

A private company wants to store high-level nuclear waste in a rural corner of New Mexico. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering the proposal, but local support may be a challenge.

President Trump hands out pens after signing an executive order aimed at making it easier for companies to pursue oil and gas pipeline projects. The president addressed an audience at the International Union of Operating Engineers International Training a

Environment

Trump Signs Executive Orders In Push To Make It Easier To Build Oil And Gas Pipelines

10:42am April 11, 2019

by Cat Schuknecht

President Trump issues two executive orders that could make it harder for states to block companies from building oil and gas pipeline projects.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice delivers his State of the State speech on Jan. 9 in Charleston, W.Va. Mining companies belonging to the Justice family owe millions in safety violations.

Governor And His Family Owe Millions In Mining Violations, Despite Promises To Pay

6:11pm April 10, 2019

The companies belonging to the family of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice owe millions for mine safety violations. Justice promised to pay the bill when he was running for governor in 2016, but hasn't.

The ferries Malaspina and LeConte are docked near Juneau at sunrise. Both ships are part of Alaska's state ferry system, which could face steep budget cuts Oct. 1, under a proposal by Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

In Alaska Shrinking Oil Revenues May Mean Severe Cutbacks To State Ferry System

5:48pm April 10, 2019

by Nat Herz

For decades, Alaska has collected enough revenue from the oil industry to run government and pay each resident a cash dividend. Now, with oil revenue dwindling, there isn't enough money for both.

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement are using Ian MacDonald's data to estimate the amount of oil being spilled at the Taylor Energy site.

This Oil Spill Has Been Leaking Into The Gulf For 14 Years

12:07pm April 10, 2019

by Tegan Wendland

In the Gulf of Mexico, an oil spill triggered by a powerful hurricane has been leaking for more than 14 years with no solution in sight. The federal government is stepping in to try and contain it.

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14-Year Oil Spill In The Gulf Of Mexico Could Go On For Decades

7:33am April 08, 2019

by Tegan Wendland

The U.S. Coast Guard is trying to clean up an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that's been going on since 2004 when a hurricane toppled a rig owned by Taylor Energy, a New Orleans-based firm.

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After decades of dependency on coal for jobs, the Navajo Nation is turning to renewables. Two utility-scale solar farms have been built in recent years and another one is in the works.

National

On The Navajo Reservation, Turning From Coal To Renewables

5:47pm April 07, 2019

by Laurel Morales

The Navajo tribe voted late last month not to purchase the Navajo Generating station, the largest coal-fired power plant in the west. Now renewable energy has become a top priority for the tribe.

Environment

Shell Withdraws From Oil Lobby Group

8:05am April 07, 2019

Royal Dutch Shell is withdrawing from an oil lobbying group because of disagreements about environmental policy. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with Amy Harder of Axios about the move.