Common Ground for Unions and Environmentalists
“The choice between good jobs and a healthy planet is a false dichotomy,” writes a reader.
Hydropower conditions improve as West Coast drought eases
(Fri, 20 May 2016) The western United States, particularly California, has experienced drought over the past several years, but there are now signs of improvement. Since June 2013, most of California has been in a severe, extreme, or exceptional drought, the worst three drought designations as determined by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Can a 700 M.P.H. Train in a Tube Be for Real?
A company called Hyperloop proposes to build the world’s fastest train in California. But for now, there are more questions than answers.
Many natural gas-fired power plants under construction are near major shale plays
(Thu, 19 May 2016) Natural gas-fired power generation increased 19% in 2015, because of low natural gas prices, increased gas-fired generation capacity, and coal power plant retirements. EIA's May 2016 Short-Term Energy Outlook forecasts that this year, natural gas-fired generation will exceed coal generation in the United States on an annual basis.
Metro-North Restores Limited Service After Fire
The damage from a fire that broke out beneath the railroad tracks in East Harlem continues to disrupt service; an official said trains would run on a Saturday schedule until Friday.
Future power sector carbon dioxide emissions depend on status of Clean Power Plan
(Wed, 18 May 2016) Trends in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from electricity generation through 2040 depend significantly on whether or not the Clean Power Plan (CPP) rule issued last August by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is implemented. Analysis in EIA's <em>Annual Energy Outlook 2016</em> (AEO2016) examines what the CPP could mean for the fuels used to generate electricity, especially coal.
Angola Country Analysis Brief
(Wed, 18 May 2016) Angola is the second-largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa. The country experienced an oil production boom between 2002 and 2008 when production started at several deepwater fields.
Less Talk, More Action on Hudson Rail Tunnels, Before It’s Too Late
The tunnels that carry trains for Amtrak and New Jersey Transit have been decaying for years, and no one knows quite when they will be fixed.
EU wholesale power prices: facing structural collapse or cyclical recovery?
We explore a key question that emerged from Platts' recent European power conference: is Europe's wholesale
power price collapse structural, or could central plant closures prompt a post 2020 recovery?
EIA?s Annual Energy Outlook is a projection, not a prediction
(Tue, 17 May 2016) The U.S. Energy Information Administration provides a long-term outlook for energy supply, demand, and prices in its Annual Energy Outlook (AEO). This outlook is centered on the Reference case, which is not a prediction of what will happen, but rather a modeled projection of what might happen given certain assumptions and methodologies. Today, EIA released an annotated summary of the AEO2016 Reference Case?which includes the Clean Power Plan?and a side case without the Clean Power Plan.