Emissions reduction

Policy & regulation

California’s new clean-fuel plan makes old problems worse

CARB approved new rules last week that critics say reward polluting biofuels, shortchange EVs, and could cause gasoline prices to spike.

By Jeff St. John . 13 November 2024

gray, black, and white cars snaking along two sides of an urban freeway. — The 101 freeway in Los Angeles, California (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Podcast

Unpacking EPA’s newly proposed power emissions rule

The proposed rule would regulate emissions from existing power plants for the first time. If it passes legal hurdles, what will it mean for U.S. power plants?

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By Shayle Kann . 60 min . 18 May 2023
Utilities

The EPA has a controversial new plan to clean up power plants

Utilities and fossil fuel companies have touted carbon capture for years, but now they're unhappy that the EPA is telling them it's viable and ready for use.

By Joseph Winters . 12 May 2023
Carbon capture

Can we fight climate change by sinking carbon into the sea?

Two Israeli companies are betting that by trapping biomass deep underwater, they can keep gigatons of CO2 out of the atmosphere.

By Alison F. Takemura . 11 May 2023
Food and farms

The investment boom in ‘renewable natural gas’ is sparking debate

Oil and gas giants are spending billions to develop RNG projects from trash, food and manure. But experts say there’s a limited future for the waste-derived fuel.

By Maria Gallucci . 8 May 2023
Marine transport

This common chemical could help shipping giants start to decarbonize

“Green” methanol is gaining favor as a lower-carbon way to power cargo ships. But we’re going to need a lot more of it for the plan to work.

By Maria Gallucci . 21 April 2023
Food and farms

Cattle are a huge climate threat. Smarter ranching can help

Ranchers in Brazil are testing new and improved techniques that can lower the climate impact of beef production by using less land and curbing cattle's burps and farts.

By Michael Grunwald . 17 April 2023
Hydrogen

The great 'green hydrogen' battle

Tens of billions in federal tax credits could build a vital low-carbon hydrogen industry — or increase carbon emissions. We tackle the complexities in a series.

By Jeff St. John . 28 March 2023
Hydrogen

Test shows hydrogen blending slightly reduces gas power plant emissions

The hydrogen revolution isn’t here quite yet — but now we know what happens when a certain type of gas plant burns a small amount of hydrogen.

By Julian Spector . 24 March 2023
Marine transport

Amogy lands $139M to scale ammonia tech for zero-emissions cargo ships

The startup is working to launch an ammonia-powered vessel in New York as the global shipping industry searches for cleaner fuels.

By Maria Gallucci . 22 March 2023
Clean industry

An Arizona plant will pull CO2 from the air and trap it in concrete

The first-of-its-kind initiative by CarbonBuilt, Aircapture and Block-Lite aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from concrete production by 70 percent.

By Maria Gallucci . 22 March 2023