Fossil fuels

Politics

How Trump’s second term could derail the clean energy transition

The Inflation Reduction Act might not be completely repealed, but plenty of other climate policies could be undone — and fossil fuels could be unleashed.

By Jeff St. John . 6 November 2024

torn Trump signs on the ground — (Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images)

Fossil fuels

Berkeley’s gas ban is all but dead. What does that mean for other cities?

A court ruled again that the city can’t enforce its pioneering gas ban. But experts say cities can pursue other paths to keep fossil gas out of new buildings.

By Akielly Hu . 8 January 2024
Fossil fuels

Chart: Coal-fired electricity may have peaked in 2023

The global energy mix is rapidly shifting away from the dirtiest fossil fuel and toward renewables, but the change is not everywhere — or fast enough.

By Maria Virginia Olano . 5 January 2024
Fossil fuels

Chart: The US hits new highs for oil and gas production

It's the hottest year on record, and the U.N. just set a global goal to phase out fossil fuels — but the U.S. is drilling for more oil and gas than ever before.

By Maria Virginia Olano . 22 December 2023
Fossil fuels

Seattle and other cities mull creative workarounds to ditch gas

After a court ruling struck down bans on fossil gas, lawmakers are devising new and innovative ways to electrify buildings.

By Akielly Hu . 20 December 2023
Electrification

Americans like home electrification — but also still love their gas stoves

Less than one-third of Americans want a fully electric home. That number jumps to 60 percent if they can keep cooking with gas.

By Tik Root . 11 December 2023
Climatetech finance

Chart: How much are oil and gas firms spending on clean energy? Not much

Fossil fuel companies accounted for just 1% of global climatetech funding last year — while continuing to invest lavishly in their planet-warming products.

By Maria Virginia Olano . 1 December 2023
Liquefied natural gas

The LNG export boom just hit a snag in Texas

A federal court has revoked a key permit for Sempra Energy, which plans to build an LNG facility in Port Arthur that could pollute Black and Latino communities.

By Lylla Younes . 21 November 2023
Climatetech finance

Chart: Clean energy attracting nearly twice as much investment as fossils

But for the world to meet its climate goals, the money needs to stop flowing to fossil fuels — and flow even faster into clean energy.

By Dan McCarthy . 10 November 2023
Just transition

The West is making mistakes as it helps developing nations get off coal

As emerging economies look to switch from coal to clean energy, some globally funded initiatives leave workers and communities behind.

By Saqib Rahim . 9 November 2023
Solar

How one solar company is succeeding in coal country

Solar advocates in southwestern Virginia say being local, proving the technology works and building a coalition to support it have been key.

By Hannah Wilson-Black . 2 November 2023