A team of scientists developed the first global map of chronic oil slicks in the world’s oceans, and found that more than 90% come from humans – significantly more than previously reported.
Fossil Fuels Stories June 16
Fossil Fuels Stories March 30
Wind and solar, the fastest-growing sources of electricity, reached a record 10% of global electricity in 50 countries in 2021, according to a report released today by independent energy think tank Ember. Overall, clean sources generated 38% of the world’s electricity in 2021, beating coal, at 36%.
Fossil Fuels Stories February 15
The solar industry in Illinois is reaping the rewards of the state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act that passed five months ago.
Fossil Fuels Stories February 7
Electricity from solar is cheaper than sourcing it from coal-fired power plants, according to a new article published in the journal Energy and Environmental Materials.
Fossil Fuels Stories December 20, 2021
Coal investor US Senator Joe Manchin III (D-WV) opposes his own political party’s clean energy program. And since not a single Republican will support the infrastructure bill that contains the program, Manchin has disproportionate power to sink the US plan to decarbonize in order to slow global warming and meet the Paris Agreement target of net-zero by 2050. Why does he oppose it? The Charleston Gazette-Mail spelled it out yesterday.
Fossil Fuels Stories December 17, 2021
Coal production is forecast to reach an all-time high in 2022, and then after a couple of years, plateau as demand flattens, according to the latest annual market report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), released today.
Fossil Fuels Stories November 24, 2021
Between 2022 and 2025, 27.3 gigawatts (GW) of new natural gas-fired capacity is scheduled to come online in the US, boosting its existing capacity of 489.1 GW as of August 2021, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Here’s where it’s headed.
Fossil Fuels Stories November 18, 2021
The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) held a lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico yesterday for oil and gas drilling rights. Why did the Biden administration hold an auction for fossil fuel drilling, on the heels of COP26, where countries agreed to “phase down” fossil fuels?
Fossil Fuels Stories November 8, 2021
Atlanta-based Southern Co., the US’s third-largest utility, will terminate around 55% of its coal fleet by 2030. Southern Co. is working toward achieving net zero by 2050.
Fossil Fuels Stories October 19, 2021
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) is projecting that there will be 22% more coal-fired electricity generation in the US in 2021 than in 2020 due to higher natural gas prices – but the coal spike won’t last.
Fossil Fuels Stories September 29, 2021
Analysis of Google search data revealed that online searches for electric cars in the UK exploded 1,600% on September 24 – the day that gas shortages became a widespread problem across the country.
Fossil Fuels Stories September 9, 2021
In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):
- 6.1 GW of global offshore wind was installed in 2020, down slightly from a record 6.24 GW in 2019.
- More than half of the world’s fossil fuels have to stay buried to slow global warming.
- UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
Fossil Fuels Stories August 26, 2021
In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):
- The world’s largest floating offshore wind farm, the Kincardine Offshore Wind, is now installed.
- The IMF is undermining global climate goals by advising countries to invest in fossil fuels.
- UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
Fossil Fuels Stories August 13, 2021
In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):
- A Florida solar boot camp provides guaranteed jobs for young adults.
- The Swiss government says it can reach net zero by 2050 – with fossil fuels.
- UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
Fossil Fuels Stories August 9, 2021
The world’s largest-ever report about climate change was published today by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations group of nearly 200 leading climate scientists that looked at more than 14,000 scientific papers. It’s pretty grim – but far from hopeless. There are things we all can and must all do. As US Senator Ed Markey says, “We can’t agonize – we must organize.”
Fossil Fuels Stories August 6, 2021
In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):
- From 2019 to 2020, petroleum consumption decreased in every energy-consuming sector.
- 25 fossil fuel giants used Facebook ads to fight President Joe Biden’s clean energy plan.
- UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
Fossil Fuels Stories August 5, 2021
In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):
- Baltimore-based US Wind announces a new offshore wind farm and other major developments.
- Costa Rica is considering a permanent ban on fossil fuel exploration and extraction.
- UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
Fossil Fuels Stories August 2, 2021
In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):
- The Tennessee Valley Authority implodes its oldest coal-fired power plant.
- The UK’s Ministry of Justice installs £1.1 million of roof-mounted solar on courts and prisons.
- UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
Fossil Fuels Stories July 27, 2021
In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):
- In 2020, due to the pandemic, US energy emissions fell to the lowest level since 1983.
- Belfast, Maine, sees 7 megawatts of community solar launch for Central Maine Power customers.
- UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
Fossil Fuels Stories July 7, 2021
In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):
- The final floating turbine is connected at the Kincardine floating offshore wind farm in Scotland.
- 2021’s most and least energy-expensive states, according to a new WalletHub study.
- UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
Fossil Fuels Stories July 6, 2021
In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):
- Dubuque may adopt a pilot program to help low- to moderate-income households install solar.
- In 2020, US fossil fuel consumption was at its lowest level since 1991.
- UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
After an (American) holiday weekend largely dedicated to setting things on fire, we think it’s relevant to note something that caught on fire this weekend that absolutely shouldn’t have: namely, the sea.
Over the weekend, not only did a fire break out in the Gulf of Mexico but also in the Caspian Sea. Both incidents were, predictably, associated with fossil fuels.
Fossil Fuels Stories July 5, 2021
In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):
- Battery electric cars now account for 11% of the UK market – tied with diesel.
- The US consumed more electricity powered by renewables than by coal in 2020, reports the EIA.
- UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
Fossil Fuels Stories June 23, 2021
Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) just signed into law SB 1128/HB 919, “Preemption Over Restriction of Utility Services,” which was pushed through the legislature. It prevents local governments from deciding which energy path they want to take. In other words, Florida towns and cities are now unable to switch to 100% clean energy because they can’t ban fossil fuels.
Fossil Fuels Stories June 18, 2021
Maine has become the first US state to pass statewide legislation to divest from fossil fuels. LD 99, “An Act To Require the State To Divest Itself of Assets Invested in the Fossil Fuel Industry,” was signed late Wednesday by Governor Janet Mills (D-ME). A divestment plan is now required by 2026.
Fossil Fuels Stories June 15, 2021
Texas has been hit by a heatwave, and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has asked residents to reduce electricity use until Friday because demand is up, but power supply is down. ERCOT stated yesterday, “Generator owners have reported approximately 11,000 MW [megawatts] of generation is on forced outage for repairs; of that, approximately 8,000 MW is thermal, and the rest is intermittent resources.” “Thermal” power in Texas largely refers to natural gas-fired power plants, which make up around 50% of annual energy production in Texas.
Fossil Fuels Stories June 2, 2021
In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):
- The US Department of the Interior suspends oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
- Danish wind giant Ørsted bumps up its clean energy target to reach 50 GW of installed capacity by 2030.
- UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
Fossil Fuels Stories May 18, 2021
Environmental groups: JPMorgan Chase emissions targets are ‘fig leaf for fossil expansion’
At today’s JPMorgan Chase annual general meeting (AGM), CEO Jamie Dimon faced questions from a number of climate justice activists on Enbridge’s Line 3 tar sands oil pipeline and Indigenous sovereignty, the East Africa Crude Oil pipeline (which many banks have refused to finance), the Adani Carmichael coal mine in Australia (which no insurer will cover), deforestation, and the bank’s oil, gas, and coal policies.
According to the Rainforest Action Network, Dimon either dismissed those questions, punted, or demonstrated an apparent misunderstanding of his bank’s policies.
In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):
- The International Energy Agency’s new report details the global transition to clean energy by 2050.
- The Bahamas installs a hurricane-resistant solar hybrid microgrid on Highbourne Cay.
- UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
Fossil Fuels Stories May 6, 2021
The costs of most existing coal-fired power plants in the US are now more expensive than the total costs of wind and solar as a result of their plunging costs, according to a new study.
Fossil Fuels Stories April 22, 2021
The BlackRock US Carbon Transition Readiness exchange-traded fund (ETF) (LCTU) launched last week. It broke records on its first trading day with $1.25 billion invested. But there’s a big problem with this ETF: It’s jam-packed with Big Oil companies.
In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):
- The US-hosted Leaders Summit on Climate kicks off today. Keep an eye on these three countries.
- Los Angeles City Council unanimously approves a Global Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.
- UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.
Fossil Fuels Stories April 20, 2021
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released its annual “Global Energy Review” report, and while there is some good news about the adoption of renewables, there is also some rather alarming news about an anticipated emissions surge in 2021.
Fossil Fuels Stories March 23, 2021
Pennsylvania’s state government will source 50% of its electricity from seven new solar energy arrays. It will go into operation on January 1, 2023.
Fossil Fuels Stories March 17, 2021
Duke Energy Florida has announced that it will build two more new solar farms in the Sunshine State. This time, they’ll be in Citrus and Hardee counties.
The utility reported in February that it is investing an estimated $1 billion to construct or acquire a total of 700 MW of solar farms from 2018 through 2022 in Florida and will more than quadruple the amount of in-service solar on the system over the next four years.
Fossil Fuels Stories February 15, 2021
India’s coal power has continued to decline since reaching a peak in 2018, according to an analysis by independent climate and energy think tank Ember. India’s coal-fired electricity generation fell 5% in 2020 due to significantly reduced annual electricity demand as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown. It is the second consecutive year that coal power has fallen, with coal generation down 8% in 2020 compared to 2018.
Fossil Fuels Stories February 1, 2021
Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) wants to fight Biden’s clean energy plan, despite being the No. 1 state in the US for wind power. Texas is also a rising star of solar power, not to mention the home of Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas. Yet, Abbott has issued an executive order to “protect” Texas’ energy industry from federal overreach, or in other words, President Joe Biden’s endorsement of clean energy. Or to put it another way, what Texas is already doing.
Fossil Fuels Stories December 21, 2020
The Rockefeller Foundation, a 107-year-old philanthropy founded by oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller Sr., has a $5 billion endowment. And that foundation is divesting from the oil that created its wealth — and it’s the largest US philanthropic foundation to do so.
Fossil Fuels Stories November 23, 2020
The UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) approved a ban on Friday of ships’ use and carriage of heavy fuel oil (HFO) in Arctic waters after July 1, 2024. However, since it includes exemptions and waivers — loopholes — a complete HFO ban would only come into effect in mid-2029.
Fossil Fuels Stories November 17, 2020
Donald Trump’s administration is bulldozing through a last-minute gas and oil drilling-rights auction in Alaska’s 19-million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge before President-elect Joe Biden takes office. Biden vowed to block oil exploration in the largest national wildlife refuge in the country.
Fossil Fuels Stories October 26, 2020
Bob Murray, the board chairman of Murray Energy, the largest privately owned — and bankrupt — US coal operator, died on Sunday at age 80. He had announced his retirement less than a week before.
Fossil Fuels Stories October 19, 2020
Chevron Corp (CVX.N) and Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N), the two largest US energy firms, have increased their share of campaign donations to Democrats in 2020, according to the latest filings.
Fossil Fuels Stories October 8, 2020
Residential geothermal company Dandelion Energy yesterday announced that it’s hired a new vice president of drillings whose name is Jeremy Smith. What’s unique about Smith? The exec comes from a fossil-fuel background.
Fossil Fuels Stories September 14, 2020
BP stated in a forecast published today that oil may have reached its peak due to the pandemic and that renewables will take the place of fossil fuels.
Fossil Fuels Stories August 6, 2020
US court rules Dakota Access Pipeline can stay open for now
The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled yesterday that the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) does not have to be shut and drained, as per a lower court order on July 6. It’s able to keep operating for now. The three-judge panel said they did not have the “findings necessary” to shut it down.
Fossil Fuels Stories July 15, 2020
On January 9, Donald Trump announced there would be an overhaul of the US’ landmark environmental law, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Today, he finalized a rollback of the NEPA.
This drastically limits the ability of citizens and communities to learn about and give input on major infrastructure projects that could threaten public health and the environment.
Fossil Fuels Stories July 6, 2020
Dominion Energy Inc. and Duke Energy Corp. are canceling the $8 billion, 600-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The natural gas pipeline was to run 600 miles from West Virginia, through Virginia, to eastern North Carolina.
Duke Energy Corp has a net zero by 2050 goal in accordance with the Paris Accords. However, the reason for killing the pipeline is not environmental; it’s because of anticipated legal delays driving up costs.
Fossil Fuels Stories July 3, 2020
The CDC Group, the British government’s development finance institution, will end most fossil-fuel financing abroad. It says it will invest only in companies that align with the Paris Agreement to achieve net zero by 2050.
