Federal energy office illustrates the perils of fluctuating budgets and priorities

When presidential administrations turn over, funding levels and project priorities change. A look at one specific government office demonstrates how these shifts in direction waste time and money.

Christelle Khalaf, Associate Director, Government Finance Research Center, University of Illinois Chicago • conversation
June 24, 2025 ~11 min

How the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ positions US energy to be more costly for consumers and the climate

Some technologies could rapidly cut emissions, while others do little to fight climate change. The House bill favors the latter while nixing support for the former.

Daniel Cohan, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University • conversation
June 10, 2025 ~10 min


Environmental protection laws still apply even under Trump’s national energy emergency − here’s why

President Trump’s national energy emergency declaration does not qualify as an emergency that would exempt energy projects from environmental laws and regulations.

Albert C. Lin, Professor of Law, University of California, Davis • conversation
March 13, 2025 ~8 min

The US energy market has its troubles, though it may not be a ‘national emergency’

The US produces more oil today than any other country, and there is no clear emergency on the scale of the energy crises of the 1970s. But there are some causes for concern.

Seth Blumsack, Professor of Energy and Environmental Economics and International Affairs, Penn State • conversation
March 5, 2025 ~10 min

From watts to warheads: Secretary of energy oversees big science research and the US nuclear arsenal

The Energy Department has a dual mission with a heavy science focus and manages large, expensive programs, many of which are behind schedule and over budget.

Margaret E. Kosal, Associate Professor of International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology • conversation
Jan. 12, 2025 ~12 min

Native American voices are finally factoring into energy projects – a hydropower ruling is a victory for environmental justice on tribal lands

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission recently ruled that it won’t approve energy projects on Native lands without tribal consent. But many more applications are pending.

Denielle Perry, Associate Professor, School of Earth and Sustainability, Northern Arizona University • conversation
April 17, 2024 ~9 min

US ‘pause’ on future liquefied gas exports throws doubt on fossil fuel’s place in energy transition

The US Department of Energy will review its process for approving new LNG projects.

Michael Bradshaw, Professor of Global Energy, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick • conversation
Feb. 9, 2024 ~7 min

Biden’s ‘hard look’ at liquefied natural gas exports raises a critical question: How does natural gas fit with US climate goals?

The US, a minor liquefied natural gas supplier a decade ago, now is the world’s top source. That’s good for energy security, but bad for Earth’s climate. An energy scholar explains the trade-offs.

Emily Grubert, Associate Professor of Sustainable Energy Policy, University of Notre Dame • conversation
Feb. 7, 2024 ~8 min


As the US begins to build offshore wind farms, scientists say many questions remain about impacts on the oceans and marine life

A recent study focusing on how offshore wind farms in Massachusetts waters could affect endangered right whales does not call for slowing the projects, but says monitoring will be critical.

Josh Kohut, Professor of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University • conversation
Nov. 15, 2023 ~10 min

The war in Ukraine hasn't left Europe freezing in the dark, but it has caused energy crises in unexpected places

Russia tried to weaponize energy to keep European nations from opposing its war in Ukraine, but the real pain from Putin’s actions and Western sanctions has been felt far from Europe.

Amy Myers Jaffe, Director, Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab, and Research Professor, New York University • conversation
Feb. 17, 2023 ~10 min

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