Personalizing Solar Power
[12 min 29 sec]
Energy
California Requires TVs To Be More Energy Efficient
()Power-hungry TVs will be banned from store shelves in California after state regulators adopted a first-in-the nation mandate to lower electricity demand. On a unanimous vote, the California Energy Commission on Wednesday required all new televisions up to 58 inches to be more energy efficient beginning in 2011.
Top Executives Launch Electric Car Coalition
The group wants Congress to offer tax credits and loan guarantees to bolster electric cars.
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Special Series
Exploring Shale: The Quest For Natural Gas
Gas advocates say the results of new drilling techniques could significantly alter the future U.S. energy picture. But environmental concerns over possible groundwater contamination still linger.
All Tech Considered
Recharging Portable Electronics One Step At A Time()
November 9, 2009 WCPNThe next time your batteries need a recharge, try taking a walk. A tiny Cleveland startup is trying to capture the renewable energy of your footsteps — no outlet required. Its device is called the Personal Energy Generator, or PEG, and it's about the size of a flashlight.
Environment
NASA Launches Mission To Track Polar Ice By Plane()
October 30, 2009 Climate scientists are about to lose a satellite that helped show how global warming affects the Earth's polar ice caps. A replacement won't be in orbit until at least 2015, so NASA will use a DC-8 aircraft instead to track whether the process of melting and subsequent sea-level rise is accelerating.
Obama Announces Massive Power Grid Upgrade()
October 27, 2009 The president unveiled a $3.4 billion plan to transform the nation's electrical infrastructure to a "smart grid." The White House says the upgrade would save energy and promote renewable energy sources.
Asia
China Spends Billions In A Global Spree For Oil()
October 27, 2009 The global recession appears to have accelerated a shift in China's growing role in world energy markets. China has taken advantage of low prices to snap up energy resources around the planet and ensure future economic growth. So far this year, China has purchased an estimated $15 billion in oil and gas supplies worldwide, already double last year's figure.
Research News
Scientists: Biofuel Laws May Harm Environment()
October 23, 2009 Researchers writing in the current issue of Science believe they have found an error in existing biofuel laws that could actually make climate change worse. They say these rules inadvertently encourage deforestation, which in turn contributes to global warming.
