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How the prickly pear cactus inspired a scientist seeking alternatives to fossil fuels

Aug 16, 2023
Engineers at the University of Texas at El Paso have discovered a low-cost, "biomimetic" way of generating hydrogen gas.
Materials engineer Navid Attarzadeh with a prickly pear cactus. The form of the plant inspired a new design for hydrogen gas generation.
Zoe Kurland/Marfa Public Radio

Why are China and India still burning so much coal?

Jul 31, 2023
A new report from the International Energy Agency shows global demand for coal reached a record level in 2022 — and it’s not likely to go down any time soon.
Countries like India and China rely on coal for two big reasons: It’s usually cheap and available, said Sanya Carley, a professor of energy policy at the University of Pennsylvania.
Money Sharma/AFP via Getty Images

New tax incentives ease home improvements to beat the heat

Jul 19, 2023
Expanded tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act help pay for weatherizing homes and installing heat pumps.
Heat pumps are among the energy-conserving tools that new tax credits will partially cover.
John Keeble/Getty Images

U.S. crude is playing a bigger role in pricing global oil

Jul 12, 2023
The addition of American crude oil to the Brent benchmark had an immediate impact on global oil prices.
Adding plentiful American crude to the Brent benchmark means the price is now influenced by a more stable source, said Eli Tesfaye of RJO Futures.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway ramps up investment in liquefied natural gas

Jul 11, 2023
The U.S. has become a leading exporter of LNG, which is often used to ease energy shortages around the world. That stokes price volatility.
A tanker on its way to deliver LNG to France. The U.S. has become a top exporter of the resource.
Clement Mahoudeau/AFP via Getty Images

The Saudis are buying up Russian diesel — and selling more of the stuff they produce themselves

May 30, 2023
The kingdom's actions are not a violation of sanctions.
Saudi Arabia is now buying roughly180,000 barrels of Russian diesel every day. Above, a refinery in Moscow.
Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP via Getty Images

Texas lawmakers want state-funded power plants to improve grid reliability

Apr 13, 2023
Blackouts and brownouts are becoming more common thanks to climate change. Grid managers say backup electricity options are essential — but at what cost?
Texas lawmakers are debating a bill that would fund new natural gas plants to act as a sort of fleet of emergency generators. Above, transmission towers near Houston.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

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Energy crunch eases in emerging markets, thanks to Europe’s warm winter

Apr 10, 2023
India, Thailand and other emerging markets struggled after some of the liquefied natural gas they'd expected was rerouted to Europe.
A flare tower at a natural gas facility in Indonesia. Countries like Indonesia and Bangladesh have been able to import more liquefied natural gas recently.
Azwar Ipank/AFP via Getty Images

Wyoming school is training students for a new energy future

Apr 4, 2023
A power plant in the offing will need trained workers to build and operate it. A local college has the first power-line program in the state.
A student practices using his harness and spiked shoes to climb a power pole. The Western Wyoming Community College program sets up graduates to get apprenticeships to eventually become journeyman electricians.
Caitlin Tan/Wyoming Public Media

Oil prices are plummeting as the banking crisis unfolds

Mar 21, 2023
Trouble in the banking sector is scrambling expectations of how much oil the global economy needs right now.
Oil pumpjacks stand in the Inglewood Oil Field on in Los Angeles, California.
Mario Tama/Getty Images