Both conservatives and liberals want a green energy future, but for different reasons
How should the United States power its economy in 2050? A recent survey finds surprising agreement from Americans of all political stripes.
May 5, 2020 • ~9 min
Tags: climate-change energy public-opinion fossil-fuels regulation oil coal renewable-energy us-energy-policy natural-gas energy-prices energy-subsidies
Dirty carbon reveals a sophisticated side
Coal could someday be used to make a variety of useful devices, researchers suggest.
Tags: electronics carbon coal research invention school-of-engineering nanoscience-and-nanotechnology materials-science-and-engineering dmse
COVID-19 will slow the global shift to renewable energy, but can't stop it
The US is gradually shifting to lower-carbon energy sources, but the COVID-19 pandemic, an oil price crash and a likely recession are big speed bumps.
March 31, 2020 • ~8 min
Tags: covid-19 china solar-power fossil-fuels supply-chains coronavirus-2020 recession coal renewable-energy wind-energy oil-prices energy-transition electricity-generation
Air pollution kills thousands of Americans every year – here's a low-cost strategy to reduce the toll
A new study takes an innovative approach to reducing fine particle air pollution and spotlights key sources: factories that burn coal and oil, petrochemical plants and burning wood for home heating.
Feb. 21, 2020 • ~9 min
Tags: air-pollution regulation oil coal wood particulates us-environmental-protection-agency air-pollution-and-health
Air pollution from power plants is killing people
Air pollution from electricity generation led to 16,000 early deaths in the US in 2014, research finds. And there are disparities in impact by race and location.
Tags: pollution death electricity fossil-fuels united-states coal featured earth-and-environment health-and-medicine race-and-ethnicity
Carbon capture might not be such a great idea
Carbon capture technologies could actually produce more carbon dioxide than they suck up. Focusing on renewables is a better solution, researchers say.
Tags: sustainability climate-change electricity carbon-dioxide coal renewable-energy earth-and-environment
Lead isotopes reveal coal fly ash contamination
A new tool can spot contamination from coal fly ash. "Our hope is that this new tracer...will help us provide greater protection to communities at risk."
Tags: pollution soil lead isotopes coal earth-and-environment
Shift away from coal saves billions of gallons of water
Moving from coal to natural gas could help save a lot of water, but moving to renewables would use just a fraction of the water we use today for power.
Tags: sustainability water coal renewable-energy natural-gas earth-and-environment
Coal ash rule would risk putting carcinogen in water
Changing the 2015 Coal Ash Rule risks contaminating water across the country with arsenic, selenium, hexavalent chromium, preliminary findings show.
Tags: cancer pollution water coal earth-and-environment health-and-medicine
Air pollution causes birth defects and fetal death in rats
A new study shows the dire effects of air pollution during pregnancy.
Tags: pregnancy pollution birth-defects coal earth-and-environment health-and-medicine
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