Utility power plants are many things—sprawling, expensive, often polluting—but one thing they are not is beautiful. Power plants are the engines of modern society, but we’d rather they stay out of the way.
The Ivanpah …
Energy
How to Use Behavioral Science to Encourage Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency isn’t just about technology. As Alex Laskey of Opower explains in this video, it’s also about psychology
The Unintended Consequences of Exporting Natural Gas
A move to increase U.S. exports of natural gas could pay off for the economy, but it could also lead to more pollution and higher carbon emissions
The IEA Says Peak Oil Is Dead. That’s Bad News for Climate Policy
A new report suggests that fresh sources of oil in North America will loosen the global oil market. Will we stay addicted to oil—and will it keep us from fighting climate change?
Energy Independence and Other Myths: A Q&A With Michael Levi, Author of The Power Surge
An energy revolution is changing America — for good and for ill. Michael Levi, author of the new book “The Power Surge,” talks about the economic and environmental debate over energy
Leaks, Rats and Radioactivity: Fukushima’s Nuclear Cleanup Is Faltering
The Fukushima meltdown hasn’t been the public-health disaster that many critics feared, but TEPCO has struggled with the cleanup. The latest news that groundwater is becoming contaminated by the stricken reactors is one more …
Solar Powered Plane Soars Across the U.S.
In the 117 years since the first solar cell was developed and the 110 years since the first powered flight, you’d have thought we would have combined the two technologies by now. When you’re trying to get from place to place …
Inside Win: A Non-Profit Site Wins a Pulitzer for Its Environmental Reporting
A scrappy indie website from Brooklyn wins a Pulitzer for its dogged reporting on a forgotten oil spill.
Smart Power: Why More Bytes Will Mean Fewer—and Cleaner—Electrons
The hottest new thing in clean tech isn’t solar panels or wind turbines—it’s computers. Big data analytics and smart meters are allowing utilities to use more renewable power while reducing energy waste.
SXSW: Using Big Data to Shrink Energy Waste
Austin has emerged as a hub for clean tech—and the Pecan Street Project is a pioneer in using big data to study how we use (and abuse) energy.