Energy/Environment

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Popocatepetl volcano covers Mexico City in volcanic ash

Popocatepetl volcano spewed a 2-mile-high cloud of ash over Mexico City over several days of eruptions. Volcanic dust from the Popocatepetl volcano has coated cars in Mexico City and thicker accumulations coated crops, homes, and sidewalks in towns closer to the volcano.
Manitou Springs mudslide closes road in Coloroado

Manitou Springs mudslide: A four-mile stretch of US 24 in Colorado was closed Wednesday afternoon after a thunderstorm sent rocks, mud, debris, and running water rushing down part of a canyon. No injuries have been immediately reported from the Manitou Springs mudslide.
Climate change threatens nation's energy, DOE report warns

Climate change and extreme weather are disrupting the ways we generate, distribute, and consume energy, according to a report released Thursday by the US Department of Energy. It's part of a growing acknowledgement among officials for a need to adapt to the planet's changing climate.
Fracking in Pennsylvania: What goes on behind the scenes?

Fracking has revolutionized the US energy landscape, but the technique is controversial. One energy blogger takes a tour of a fracking site for himself, to see what all the fuss is about.
Greenpeace Shard climbers: Activists protest Arctic drilling

Greenpeace Shard climbers: Environmental activists in London attempted to climb Western Europe's tallest building Thursday, in protest of drilling for oil in the Arctic. The Greenpeace Shard climbers were about halfway up the skyscraper by midmorning.
NTSB warned of rail car used in Quebec train fire

US and Canadian regulators have been warning for years that the type of rail car involved in the fatal derailment and explosion in Quebec is far more prone to rupturing in accidents than other models available.
Tropical Storm Chantal threatens Dominican Republic, Haiti

Tropical Storm Chantal barreled towards the Dominican Republic and Haiti Wednesday. Officials warned of possible landslides and heavy flooding from Tropical Storm Chantal.
Nuclear energy: climate change solution? Former opponents say yes. (Sponsor content)

'Pandora's Promise' movie documents how five antinuclear activists struggle between their beliefs and the potential for nuclear power to help curb climate change.
Quebec train fire: Will train derailment bolster case for oil pipelines?

Oil deliveries by rail have increased along with North American crude oil production. In a tit-for-tat season of pipeline and rail incidents, including the recent Quebec train fire, it's becoming clear there are no clear-cut winners for crude oil transit.
Tropical Storm Chantal heading to Lesser Antilles

Tropical Storm Chantal was centered about 55 miles northwest of St. Lucia around Tuesday morning, the US National Hurricane Center in Miami said.
Pudu deer is world's smallest (and cutest?) deer

Pudu deer, the world's smallest species of deer, has been born in New York, according to wildlife officials. The newborn pudu deer is part of an endangered species native to Chile and Argentina.
Tropical storm Chantal: Caribbean prepares as storm nears (+video)

Tropical storm Chantal makes its way towards the small islands of the Lesser Antilles late Monday afternoon. Forecasters say tropical storm Chantal could be near hurricane strength on Wednesday before it reaches Hispaniola, the island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Fracking ban halts first shale gas project in Spain

A ban on fracking in a northern region of Spain has crimped Repsol SA's plans to begin drilling for shale gas in the north of Spain. Repsol had planned to begin seismic studies, with a view to drilling, in July, but the Cantabrian fracking ban, which prevents all hydraulic fracturing activities within the region’s borders, has put a hold on plans.
Tropical storm Chantal heads for Caribbean (+video)

Tropical storm Chantal moves toward the Lesser Antilles, after forming in the Atlantic. Tropical storm Chantal had maximum sustained winds early Monday of near 45 m.p.h. with some strengthening expected over the next two days.
The Keystone XL pipeline is irrelevant

The Keystone XL pipeline will make no measurable contribution one way or another to global climate change, Rapier writes. The arguments against it convey a false impression of the most important drivers of global carbon emissions.
Quebec train fire: Search continues in oil train derailment

Quebec train fire caused at least five fatalities and has left about 40 people missing. The Quebec train fire is like to add to a debate over a proposed oil running across the US that Canada says it badly needs.
Train derailment spills oil in Quebec. Will it affect Maine?

Train derailment in eastern Quebec caused multiple explosions and spilled oil into the Chaudiere River. Since the river flows north, the oil train derailment is not expected to impact Maine's air or water.
Mexico volcano eruption disrupts air travel (+video)

Mexico volcano eruption caused flights in and out of Mexico City's airport to be cancelled Friday. The Mexico volcano eruption spewed a mile-high plume of ash that drifted over large parts of Mexico City, making it dangerous for air travel.
Oil prices up on Egypt crisis, US jobs (+video)

Oil prices jumped nearly $2 Friday on continued protests in Egypt and a healthy US jobs report. It's the highest oil prices have been since last May.
The world's thinnest solar cell, just a nanometer thick

Researchers at MIT have developed a technique for creating solar cells that are only two molecules thick. The resulting solar cell can only offer a conversion efficiency of 1 - 2 percent, but by placing multiple cells one on top of the other the overall generation capacity can be far greater than conventional cells.