Energy and Climate Change


Regulatory Reforms Needed to Allow Cellulosic Bioenergy to Reach its True Potential

Faster development of the promising field of cellulosic biofuels -- the renewable energy produced from grasses and trees -- is being significantly hampered by a "deep and thorny regulatory thicket" that makes almost impossible the use of advanced gene modification methods, researchers say.

Prefurbia traffic flow

Part 2: Prefurbia Incorporates Flow

This is the second installment of a multi-part series on some of today's problems in land development and how innovative methods collectively known as "Prefurbia" can help overcome them.

GreenFire Energy Taps DOE for Geothermal Technology R&D

Through the Department of Energy's Geothermal Technologies Program, the company will apply $2 million toward its research on carbon dioxide-based geothermal power production.

Oceana: Modest Investment in Offshore Wind Could Easily Power Half of the East Coast States

An Oceana analysis shows that offshore wind potential is so high off the U.S. Atlantic coast that investments in offshore wind power in Atlantic waters could generate about 30 percent more electricity than economically recoverable offshore oil and gas in the same region combined.

Restoration Plan Would Have Spill Penalty Money Stay in Gulf

The report from U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus says the money will be used for recovery through a coordinated federal, state and local, long-term strategy

ICMA Survey: Local Governments Slow to Walk the Sustainability Walk

The International City/County Management Association found that while local governments recognized the need to create sustainability, they generally have not been able to act on that knowledge.

More Oxygen Needed to Finish Exxon Valdez Spill Cleanup, Study Says

Researchers in EPA's National Risk Management Research Laboratory in Ohio tested the ability of oil to biodegrade after 20 years and discovered that oxygen was the limiting factor.

Lightning may provide a new source of energy in the future

Science May be Able to Harness Nature's Electric Energy

New evidence from Brazil suggests water in the atmosphere picks up electrical charges, which could be collected much like the sun's energy.



Murphy Oil Settles CAA Violations at Louisiana, Wisconsin Refineries

The company will pay a $1.25 million civil penalty, upgrade pollution control technologies, and install covers on two wastewater tanks as a supplemental environmental project.

EPRI Heads DOE's Cyber Security Collaborative

Research laboratories will be assessing national standards, reviewing power systems, and testing protocols for grid security technologies.

New System Monitors How Clouds Affect Large-scale Solar Photovoltaic Power Plants

By observing cloud shape, size and movement, the system provides a way for utility companies to predict and prepare for fluctuations in power output due to changes in weather.

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Growing in Number

Nearly 1 million charging stations are expected to be installed across the United States; activity is already starting with collaborations and investment across the country.

Voltea technology

Voltea's 'Simple' Technology Helps to Ease Water Stress

The Anglo-Dutch company has based its technology on oppositely charged electrodes combined with anionic and cationic selective membranes.

Research Aims to Develop New Ceramic Materials for Renewable Energy Storage

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are leading a new $2 million study to help overcome a key bottleneck slowing the proliferation of large-scale wind and solar power generation.

Edison anniversary coin

Commentary: A Bright Idea that Burned Out

The Lamp Section of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association clearly wants to move forward on energy efficiency but is complaining that new legislation will make that more difficult.

BSI: Companies Can Cut Energy Costs Up to 30%

UK-based businesses have to meet a Sept. 30 deadline to register for the government’s Carbon Reduction Commitment.

Smart Home Technology Conserves Resources

With a smart home, systems can turn on your coffee maker in the morning, adjust the temperature of your heated pool, or control the time your landscape lighting goes on at night.

Magnetic Power Offers Energy-saving Alternative

The Office of Naval Research has designed a system that controls electrical flow for lighting, a highly efficient platform that may spark a new era of power savings.

University of Nevada Demonstrates Successful Sludge-to-power Research

The researchers' custom-built processing machine uses an innovative process with relatively low temperatures in a fluidized bed of sand and salts to economically produce biomass fuel from sludge.

Water-based Artificial Leaf Produces Electricity

Water-gel-based solar devices -- artificial leaves -- can act like solar cells to produce electricity.