Climate
U.S. Cities’ Actions Fall Short of Lofty Climate Goals
Only 45 of the 100 largest municipalities have set clear targets for reducing emissions, but most are falling behind on them
Stories by Peter Behr
Policy & Ethics
California Investigates Blackouts as New Fires Flare
Even with large-scale intentional power outages, utility equipment may have ignited recent blazes
Sustainability
Rising Seas Pose Growing Flood Threat
A bipartisan group is attempting to raise awareness of sea level rise risks
Sustainability
U.S. Unveils Strengthened Clean Power Plan to Combat Climate Change
Changes to the final rule may assuage many industry and state concerns but the coal industry vows to fight
Health
Chaos among Officials Bedeviled Japan During 2011 Tsunami Disaster
The government failed to provide accurate warnings after the March 11 event that damaged the Fukushima reactors. Public mistrust remains high
Sustainability
Retiring Old Coal Plants: Bust or Blessing for Local Communities?
Shutting down old coal plants is good for greenhouse gas and other pollution, but may prove difficult for local economies
Sustainability
New Earthquake Computer Model Will Help Regulators Assess U.S. Reactor Risks
Research suggests the risks posed to the nation's nuclear reactors may have been underestimated and therefore could be worse than the power plants were designed to withstand
Sustainability
Blue Ribbon Commission Calls for New Home for Nuclear Waste
The panel recommends that a new federal corporation manage spent nuclear fuel and employ a "consent-based" approach to finding it a geologic home
Sustainability
NRC Revisits Old Question: How Safe are U.S. Nuclear Reactors?
In the wake of the multiple meltdowns at Fukushima, government regulators ponder what is needed to improve safety in the U.S.
Sustainability
U.S. Nuclear Plants Not Fully Equipped to Handle Extreme Events
After studying the Fukushima disaster, a Nuclear Regulatory Commission task force recommends a dozen changes to U.S. reactors
Sustainability
Google Study Projects Future Economic Gains from Clean Energy
Breakthroughs in clean energy technology could spur new jobs and economic growth
Sustainability
Alternative U.S. Nuclear Reactor Design Seeks Country Willing to Build Prototype
The so-called "wave reactor" needs a pilot project to evaluate whether its components could stand radioactive bombardment
Sustainability
U.S. Nuclear Regulations Inadequate to Cope with Incident Like Fukushima
The crisis at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has revealed gaps in U.S. nuclear safety procedures
Space
Solar Flare This Week Illuminated Power Grid's Vulnerability
The solar wind burst is expected to deliver only a 'glancing blow' to Earth's magnetic field, but such currents can trip key transmission lines and damage transformers irreversibly
Sustainability
International Panel Calls for Tougher "Stress Tests" of Nuclear Power Safety Systems
In the wake of the meltdown at Fukushima Daiichi, the IAEA urged a critical review of nuclear safety systems
Sustainability
Debate Continues on Smart Grid Benefits versus Massive Costs
Deployment to consumers' homes could cost between $338 billion and $476 billion over the next 20 years, but will deliver $1.3 trillion to $2 trillion in benefits over that period
Sustainability
New Reactor Design Faces Further Scrutiny in U.S.
The AP1000, which is leading the charge for any nuclear renaissance in the U.S., has made some mistakes in its application for certification
Sustainability
Many U.S. Nuclear Plants Ill-Prepared to Handle Simultaneous Threats
The U.S. government finds that many U.S. nuclear plants would fail to face multiple challenges at the same time as happened at Fukushima Daiichi
Sustainability
Fukushima Meltdown May Mean Tighter Rules for Spent Nuclear Fuel in U.S.
M.I.T. experts suggest in a new report that the U.S. needs a comprehensive policy for dealing with used nuclear fuel
Tech
Smart Grid Exposes Utilities to Smart Computer Hackers
Greater challenges lie ahead as smart grid technologies proliferate in the nation's transmission network and utility control centers and eventually reach business and residential electricity customers...
