Energy

Withholding Energy as a Weapon
As Russia intensifies its offensive in Ukraine, energy security has become a matter of urgency for Poland and Bulgaria after Russia announced they will suspend the flow of natural gas through its pipelines to these two NATO and EU members.

Sustainable and Affordable Housing Is No Longer a Pipe Dream
Fresh interest in green building among investors, new incentives, and stricter building codes are making it more possible to include green building practices in affordable housing production.

How Renewable Projects Are Threatening a Crucial Carbon Sink
The sprawling Mojave Desert plays a key role in carbon sequestration, storing around 10 percent of California’s carbon. But the fragile ecosystem is threatened by large-scale renewable energy projects.

Atlanta Introduces Electric Buses
In a nod to Earth Day, MARTA added three electric buses to its transit fleet this week, with plans to expand the electric fleet to 12 buses.

Where Redlining and Oil and Gas Drilling Intersect
Research shows neighborhoods historically redlined by the federal government have twice as many oil and gas extraction projects as “desirable” neighborhoods.

EV Incentives Can Cause Higher Emissions, Study Finds
Without incentivizing the actual use—rather than just the purchase—of electric vehicles, current EV tax credits could actually drive higher carbon emissions.

Hooked on Russian Gas
The EU relies on Russia for 45% of its natural gas imports and 27% of its crude oil imports. Germany's dependency is a major reason why it won't ban these imports despite Russia's war in Ukraine. Two natural gas pipelines explain part of the problem.

Glen Canyon Dam Could Stop Producing Hydropower
Lake Powell levels could dip below the dam’s capacity to generate electricity, cutting off one of the Southwest’s most important power sources.

How Repairing and Modernizing Aging Homes Can Contribute to Housing Affordability
Weatherization and efficiency upgrades can reduce energy costs and keep older homes habitable, but many low-income households are excluded from federal funding.

California Issues Electrification Plan
To comply with the federal goal of eliminating new gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035, California plans to increase zero-emissions vehicle sales to 35 percent by 2026.

Resilience Planning for Suburban Growth
Whether or not the suburban shift accelerated by the pandemic continues, policymakers can implement climate resilience strategies and guide sustainable growth in both cities and exurbs.

Proposed Offshore Wind Project Could Be the West Coast’s Largest
If approved, the plan to build a 2,000-megawatt facility off the coast of Washington State would be a milestone for floating offshore wind production in the United States.

The Net Zero Building Boom Is Ready to Scale
While the cultural and infrastructural changes necessary to eliminate carbon emissions from the transportation sector still seem far-fetched, scaling up a net zero building boom is “eminently possible.”

European Union Takes Initial Step to Ban Russian Energy Imports
After a second day of talks in Brussels, ambassadors to the European Union agreed to ban coal imports from Russia as evidence of widescale atrocities committed by Russian troops in Ukraine surfaced after their withdrawal from the outskirts of Kyiv.

Local Opposition Threatens to Cripple Solar Expansion
A bevy of real and unfounded claims against solar farms is feeding a growing opposition movement in rural areas.

Waging War on High Gas Prices
America is not at war, but that didn't stop President Joe Biden from calling the largest release of oil from the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve that he authorized on March 31 to lower oil prices, a 'wartime bridge.'

How Small Cities Can Lead in Electrification
Smaller transit systems may be effectively positioned to take the lead in electrifying their fleets and bringing electric vehicles to a wider range of communities.

U.S. to Help European Union Achieve Energy Security
President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in Brussels the formation of a joint task force to help the European Union reduce dependence on Russian energy in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Renewable Energy as a Political Issue
Texas leads the country in wind energy production, but it, and other conservative states, continue to resist efforts to promote the switch to renewables.

Outdated Electric Grid Could Hamper Texas Transition to Renewables
Although Texas easily has the potential to phase out coal with the renewable energy projects in the works around the state, its aging transmission lines and outdated infrastructure could delay the transition.
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