Renewable-energy growth has accelerated in 2016, but this may go down as a milestone year for one renewable-energy source in particular. Together, all renewable-energy sources are expected to account for 8 percent of U.S. electricity-generation capacity in 2017, according to the Department of Energy, and solar energy is responsible for most of... More solar energy was added in 2016 than natural gas or wind
Renewable-energy growth has accelerated in 2016, but this may go down as a milestone year for one renewable-energy source in particular. Together, all renewable-energy sources are expected to account for 8 percent of U.S. electricity-generation capacity in 2017, according to the Department of Energy, and solar energy is responsible for most of... 
When it comes to regulations governing the auto industry, the Obama administration does not plan to go gentle into that good night. The outgoing administration has pushed through a number of new regulations, some related to fuel efficiency, before President-elect Donald Trump takes office next month. The move is likely a hedge against the incoming... 
It's well known by now that the European Union testing protocol for fuel economy is much less rigorous than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. Both protocols are based around laboratory testing rather than real-world evaluation, but EU figures have gained a reputation for being much more optimistic than what drivers can... 
Over the past few years, the cost of electricity generation from renewable-energy sources has decreased dramatically. So much so, that renewable energy may have just hit an important milestone, according to one study. In the U.S., wind and solar power are now cheaper sources of electricity than natural gas—even without subsidies. DON'T MISS... 
Ambitious emissions-reduction goals are important, because they allow policymakers to coordinate and focus efforts on a defined target. But the problem with setting lofty goals is that, eventually, they must be met. The German government is now finding out how difficult that can be. DON'T MISS: EU starts legal action against Germany, UK for... 
Exhaust emissions from gasoline and diesel cars get a lot of attention from policymakers attempting to combat climate change. But another very large source of carbon emissions has nothing to do with transportation. Emissions of methane have increased dramatically over the past few years, with livestock raised for human food as the largest source... 
Global efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions may be starting to pay off, suggests a recent study. Last month, scientists released an assessment that suggests global carbon emissions did not increase significantly in 2016. That makes this the third year in a row that carbon emissions have remained flat. DON'T MISS: Renewable energy growth... 
When it comes to green cars, California leads the nation—and has done so for decades. California residents buy more hybrids and electric cars than those of any other state, and it is also the only state with fueling infrastructure to support the sale of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. Consumer enthusiasm is underpinned by strict regulations... 
It's been 15 months since news broke that VW Group had used "defeat device" software in its diesel cars and SUVs that let them emit far more than permitted levels of nitrogen oxides in real-world use. Even now, however, the Volkswagen diesel scandal continues to grow new tentacles as investigators uncover additional apparent instances of... 
The Volkswagen diesel scandal has led to numerous lawsuits against the German automaker in multiple countries. But now regulatory agencies in European countries have become caught up in the legal fallout from VW's emissions cheating. The European Union began legal action Thursday against Germany, the U.K., and five other nations. DON'T MISS: Every... 
African nations have a very specific problem when it comes to dealing with emissions from diesel vehicles. Because of lax emissions standards, traders import fuel to these countries that is too dirty for sale elsewhere. But now a handful of African nations are taking a stand against this. DON'T MISS: Why Africa gets filthiest diesel fuel: little... 
A week ago, the EPA recommended that U.S. vehicle emission standards stay put for the years 2022 through 2025. According to the Technical Assessment Report the agency issued in July, automakers have so far quite successfully met standards in place since 2012 to cut emissions of the climate-change gas carbon dioxide. And, the report concluded, they... 
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ruled that existing emissions limits for passenger cars for 2022 through 2025 should remain in place. It's a decision that is already opposed by lobbyists representing the auto industry, and possibly by the incoming Trump Administration. Sure enough, one automaker says it has already begun talks... 
This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it would maintain current Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for 2022 to 2025. The decision was praised by environmental groups, but likely won't receive as warm a reception from the industry. CAFE standards are up for a midterm review, and auto-industry lobbyists spent... 
Two days ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a ruling that existing limits on tailpipe emissions of carbon dioxide for 2022 through 2025 should remain in place. The EPA's carbon limits correspond exactly to NHTSA standards for corporate average fuel economy, and the EPA decision was widely (if incorrectly) reported to be about... 
Even before the Volkswagen diesel scandal, diesel passenger cars were never popular in the U.S. But in other parts of the world—especially Europe—diesels have been the de facto choice of many buyers for decades. Increasing concern over air pollution and the VW scandal are beginning to change that, though. DON'T MISS: Paris weekday ban... 
Stricter global emissions standards may finally force the majority of established automakers to get serious about electric cars. But while automakers build more electric cars to meet emissions standards, the extra cost of developing these new models may eat into profits. That's the conclusion of a new report from global investment bank Morgan... 
As the Volkswagen diesel scandal lumbers onwards, German media outlets have often broken the latest news and revelations from deep inside VW Group. While the German auto giant had hoped at first to have the issue largely wrapped up by now, the scandal first publicly revealed in September 2015 shows no signs of abating. The updates to... 
The combination of Tesla and SolarCity is already promoting its potential synergies, albeit in a location far away from the mainland United States. The island of Ta'u in American Samoa is located more than 4,000 miles from the U.S. West Coast, and typically relies on imported diesel fuel to generate electricity. With no local sources of fossil...