The Feds Are Trying to Get Plants to Mine Metal Through Their Roots

“Just like we do research with corn, wheat, soybean, getting these plants to be more efficient in taking up nutrients—nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium—well, there needs to be this research that goes into understanding the mechanisms of metal hyperaccumulation,” says McNear. “And then enhancing that, whether it be through gene editing or whatever.” ARPA-E is eying a … Read more

India’s clean energy boom slows as new solar projects get delayed. Experts say it can pick back up

BENGALURU, India — For years, renewable projects in India have been growing steadily, from small-town rooftop solar installations to large-scale projects across the desert and long stretches of wind turbines and solar panels on farmland all contributing to the country’s climate goal of transitioning to clean energy. But a mix of policy decisions, politics and … Read more

The US Has Big Plans for Wind Energy—but an Obscure 1920s Law Is Getting in the Way

The reason for the Jones Act’s longevity, says Colin Grabow, a research fellow at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, is that while it tends to benefit only a few people and businesses, the act goes unnoticed because there are many payers sharing the increased costs. The Jones Act is one in a string … Read more

Shares of Tesla suppliers, EV makers in Asia fall after Tesla results

A Tesla Inc. Model 3 long range electric vehicle charges at the Tesla Supercharger station in Kettleman City, California, U.S., on Wednesday, July 31, 2019. Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images Shares of electric vehicle makers and Tesla’s Asia suppliers tumbled on Thursday after the EV maker missed fourth quarter revenue and profit … Read more

Global Emissions Could Peak Sooner Than You Think

Every November, the Global Carbon Project publishes the year’s global CO2 emissions. It’s never good news. At a time when the world needs to be reducing emissions, the numbers continue to climb. However, while emissions have been moving in the wrong direction, many of the underpinning economic forces that drive them have been going the … Read more

Shares of China Evergrande EV unit plunge 23% after executive director is detained

A sign on the exterior of the China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group Ltd. research headquarters in Shanghai, China, on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Shares of the electric vehicle manufacturing arm of property developer China Evergrande plunged 23% on Monday after the unit revealed its vice chairman had been … Read more

Germany’s CO2 emissions are at their lowest in 7 decades, study shows

BERLIN — Carbon dioxide emissions in Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, dropped to their lowest level in seven decades as the use of coal declined unexpectedly sharply in 2023 and economic pressures weighed down production by energy-intensive industry, according to a study released Thursday. Germany aims to cut its emissions to net zero by 2045 and … Read more

Climate change has displaced millions in Pakistan, China and India

A girl sits on a cot as she crosses a flooded street in Pakistan on October 4, 2022. A record 32.6 million internal displacements were associated with disasters in 2022 — more than the 28.3 million with conflict and violence, according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. Fida Hussain | Afp | Getty Images As … Read more

The debate over nuclear’s role in the energy transition continues

Cooling towers at a nuclear power plant in Slovakia. Nuclear power is likely to be discussed in great detail at the COP28 climate change summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Janos Kummer | Getty Images News | Getty Images The role that nuclear power should play in creating a more sustainable future has long provoked … Read more

Rare earth discoveries mean coal mines could have a future

Coal plays a huge role in global electricity generation, but has a significant impact on the environment. Boy_anupong | Moment | Getty Images From Pennsylvania to the north of England, coal mines helped to power the Industrial Revolution, turbocharging the economic growth of countries around the world. Today, however, the production and use of coal … Read more