U.S. Department of Energy

Exurban Commute

A Path for California to Get to Zero Carbon...And Below

A new study from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory evaluates strategies to achieve former Gov. Jerry Brown's goal of carbon neutrality by 2045. Unlike other reports that study emission reductions, it evaluates "negative emissions" strategies.

February 20, 2020 - Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Arizona

'Green' Houses Come Up Well Short in Phoenix

City inspectors and federal regulators will not be favorably portrayed in this story.

May 11, 2019 - Phoenix New Times

Rural Traffic

Replacing Diesel-Powered Trucks With Natural Gas, Hybrid, and Battery Power

The U.S. Department of Energy, in partnership with the California Energy Commission and the South Coast Air Quality Management District, awarded $18 million to nine companies and universities to advance natural gas technology for trucks.

March 26, 2019 - Climatewire

Electricity

Bridging the Divides in the U.S. Electricity Grid

The U.S. power system is split into three separate sections with very little overlap. A more seamless infrastructure could deliver benefit, but a new study, still unpublished, is the first to take on the question of how much benefit.

August 9, 2018 - NREL

Coal Ash

Keeping Old Coal Plants Operating Just Became a Matter of National Security

The president hopes to revitalize the nation's sagging coal industry by forcing utilities to purchase power from aging coal and nuclear power plants in the name of national defense. The news is already paying dividends for coal companies.

June 4, 2018 - Bloomberg Politics

Coal Power Plants to Retire Faster Under Trump

Coal plants will retire faster than analysts had figured under the Clean Power Plan, which the Trump administration is repealing, yet the Department of Energy proposes to make building new coal plants a centerpiece of its energy policy.

May 15, 2018 - Forbes

EPA Loses Court Ruling After Failing to Identify Smog Nonattainment Regions

As a result of a federal court ruling on March 12, the Environmental Protection Administration will be compelled to do what it should have done by October 1: Identify regions of the country where the air quality violates smog standards.

March 18, 2018 - CALmatters

Wind

Of 11 Offshore Wind Energy Farms in the World, Only One Is in the U.S.

Though the United States is lagging other parts of the world in offshore wind energy capacity, that trend could be set to change in the coming decade.

September 2, 2017 - Smart Cities Dive

Toyota Fuel Cell

Fuel Cell Vehicles Get Surprising Boost from Uncle Sam

The petroleum industry-friendly Trump Administration has awarded $15.8 million to 30 projects that are intended to substantially reduce oil consumption from passenger vehicles.

July 10, 2017 - AASHTO Journal

New Facility Captures Atmospheric Carbon and Stores it Underground

On April 7, the illinois Industrial Carbon Capture and Storage commenced operations, taking carbon that corn sequestered from the atmosphere and storing it safely almost a mile and a half underground in a sandstone formation.

April 17, 2017 - The Washington Post

Electricity

The Nation's Energy Portfolio, Visualized

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) released its annual energy flowchart.

April 17, 2017 - Vox

Honda Clarity

More Fuel Cell Vehicles for Lease in 2017

Fuel cell electric vehicles are gaining a following in California, but nowhere else in the U.S. for the simple reason that almost all hydrogen fueling stations are located in the Golden State. Sales, or leases, are expected to jump this year.

April 14, 2017 - The Associated Press

Renewable Energy

Meet the Organizations Bringing Equity to the Clean Energy Sector

A clean environment isn't the only benefit of clean energy. Clean energy jobs are also providing economic mobility for many of the 3 million people employed in the industry.

March 19, 2017 - Next City

Electric Cars

Electric Vehicle Fees: Where's the Controversy?

Some may find it silly to get worked up over an annual fee of about $100 to pay for road maintenance when electric vehicle purchasers receive a $7,500 federal tax credit, on top of generous state perks, but electric vehicle supporters object to them.

March 9, 2017 - Vox

Bullet

The Environmental Regulation Overturned by the New Interior Secretary on Day One

A dramatic entrance on horseback preceded one of Ryan Zinke's first actions as Secretary of the Department of Interior—rescinding guidance issued by the Fish & Wildlife Service to phase out the use of toxic, lead ammunition on federal lands.

March 5, 2017 - The Washington Post

Texas Governor Rick Perry

Trump Picks Energy Secretary Who Wanted to Eliminate Department

In an infamous 2011 Republican presidential primary debate, then-Texas Gov. Rick Perry stated he would abolish three federal agencies: Commerce, Education, and "Oops!" — he couldn't recall. That department, energy, he has now been selected to lead.

December 14, 2016 - Politico

Another Fossil-Fuel-Friendly Climate Skeptic Selected for Trump Cabinet

President-elect Donald Trump is reported to have selected Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Washington, for Secretary of the Department of Interior. Also, "Climate McCarthyism" emerges as a concern for federal employees.

December 12, 2016 - Reuters via Yahoo News

Wind Turbine

The Wind Industry Is Going Gangbusters

A new report from the U.S. Department of Energy shows a wind industry making large, positive strides in the country's energy market.

August 21, 2016 - Vox

An Update on President Obama's 'Better Building Initiative'

A press release and fact sheet about the accomplishments of the Obama Administration's "Better Building Initiative" includes three new national programs designed to improve the efficiency and resilience of the built environment.

May 12, 2016 - The White House

The Political Battle Over a Half-Built Nuclear Plant in South Carolina

Included among a budget proposal that likely won't go anywhere, the Obama Administration is recommending the end of a project that would create nuclear power by dismantling nuclear weapons.

February 10, 2016 - The New York Times

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

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