Climate Energy

Mythbusters: debunking the claim that fuel economy standards ‘kill people’

Opponents of fuel-efficiency standards say the push toward smaller cars increases traffic fatalities, but it could be big cars that pose a danger.

Animated film from 1957 predicts explosion in energy use

The only thing about this 1950s educational cartoon that’s more remarkable than its stylishness is how badly it botches its core prediction. It projects that between 1957 and 1975, electricity use in the U.S. would increase four-fold. But America's electricity consumption didn't quadruple from 1950 levels until 1989. Cartoons, we trusted you! How could you get it so wrong?

Rick Perry wants to frack Iowa

At an Iowa campaign stop, Rick Perry told voters that he's not aware of any instances when fracking contaminated groundwater.

Mountaintop-removal mining is unpopular even in coal country

A strong majority of Appalachians oppose mountaintop-removal coal mining -- 57 percent -- according to a new poll conducted in the region.

Hundreds of miles of new pipelines to carry Pennsylvania gas

How big is natural gas in Pennsylvania? This big, according to the Associated Press:

More than half of the interstate natural-gas pipeline projects proposed to federal energy regulators since the beginning of 2010 involve Pennsylvania — at a cost estimated at more than $2 billion.

After North Sea oil spill, Shell plans to continue Arctic drilling

The Interior Department acknowledges the effects of climate change in the region but approves more drilling for fossil fuels there.

It's time to shed more light on solar's potential

As journalists cover record spikes in electricity demand, why are they ignoring solar photovoltaics?

Solving wind power's variability with more wind power

Any single wind turbine's output varies as winds go from gusty to calm. But we can outsmart nature by adding more wind sites.

Air support: Join the fight for stronger air pollution safeguards

This week, activists took to the sidewalks in front of the EPA to demand stronger air pollution safeguards. Learn how you can help clean up our air and protect public health.

Neil deGrasse Tyson blasts Congress for not supporting science

Hayden Planetarium director and former slice of astrophysicist beefcake Neil deGrasse Tyson has some choice words for Congress about its priorities. He's talking about space exploration, which is his particular deal, but the same arguments apply to cleantech and renewable energy innovation.