Fossil fuels

Booming power demand is slowing climate progress for US utilities

Sierra Club analysis finds that U.S. utilities are planning a huge expansion of fossil-gas plants — a shift that’s incompatible with climate goals.

By Jeff St. John . 9 October 2024

Turbines from the Mount Storm Wind Farm behind Dominion's Mount Storm coal power plant in West Virginia. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Fossil fuels

Chart: Here’s why everyone is freaking out over gas stoves

The performative outrage over a nonexistent ban on gas stoves is overblown. The clear proof of the harmful health impacts of fossil gas isn't.

By Maria Virginia Olano . 13 January 2023
Fossil fuels

Why are gas stove bans in the news? Here's the sordid tale

A study found that gas stoves cause asthma. A federal official suggested the government might take action. The right wing freaked out. And more!

By John McCracken . 12 January 2023
Podcast

Whiplash on natural gas

Natural-gas prices have fluctuated wildly, causing knock-on effects across climatetech. We unpack what's behind the price swings — and what might happen next.

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By Shayle Kann . 42 min . 12 January 2023
Fossil fuels

Can clean-energy advocates stop new gas plants in North Carolina?

Duke Energy wants new gas plants and limits on new solar. Regulators are going along for now. But opponents say federal incentives make clean energy the best choice.

By Jeff St. John . 12 January 2023
Climate crisis

US carbon emissions rose in 2022. Can clean energy get them on track?

Historic investments in renewable energy will help the U.S. get closer to halving emissions by 2030, but there's a lot more work to do, a new report warns.

By Jeff St. John . 10 January 2023
Opinion

To get rid of coal power, we need smarter coal finance

Cutting off coal funding too soon could make climate change even worse. Finance institutions now have better strategies to choose from to bridge the gap.

By Alex Murray, Shravan Bhat . 6 January 2023
Clean energy

Top 10 most popular energy charts of 2022

From lithium prices to Russian oil to top EV countries, here's the data that our readers found most fascinating.

By Maria Virginia Olano . 30 December 2022
Fossil fuels

As LNG exports soar, a Florida community fights a proposed terminal

A historically Black neighborhood in Port St. Joe, Florida wants to revitalize its streets — and a potential LNG export terminal does not fit the plan.

By Maria Gallucci . 21 December 2022
Clean energy

With new tax credits, clean energy beats gas plants almost every time

A new analysis shows that clean energy portfolios receiving federal IRA incentives will be cheaper than virtually all new gas plants proposed from now through 2035.

By Julian Spector . 20 December 2022
Clean energy

Chart: What's the top source of electricity in your state?

Twelve states now generate the largest share of their power from zero-carbon sources — wind, hydro or nuclear. The rest still rely most heavily on fossil fuels.

By Maria Virginia Olano . 16 December 2022