Big energy hugely underestimates electric cars, renewable power

2016 BMW i3Mass adoption of electric cars and renewable energy could significantly decrease global consumption of fossil fuels. But does the established energy industry view these new developments as a threat? In a recent report, ExxonMobil said coal could continue to provide the majority of the world's electricity-generation capacity in 2040, and that...

Which oil companies invest in renewables, electric-car services?

Shell fuel station in EuropeIf electric cars are adopted by mass-market buyers in years to come, that will lead over time to notably lower oil consumption. So what are oil companies doing to prepare for that possible outcome? Some continue to doubt whether electric cars will constitute a serious threat to their business in the coming decades—but others are branching...

Exxon says coal will endure; other analyses beg to differ

Coal, by Flicker user oatsy40 (Used Under CC License)Renewable energy sources may eventually render fossil fuels irrelevant in energy generation, but when will the switch between the two energy sources occur? It's a question that fosters much debate among policymakers, environmental advocates, and financial analysts. For its part, ExxonMobil believes fossil fuels—notably including...

First carbon-capture power plants come on line this year

Coal, by Flicker user oatsy40 (Used Under CC License)For electric utilities eager to hang onto their existing coal-fired power plants, carbon-capture technology must offer an exciting chance at salvation. As the name says, carbon capture retains and stores the emissions produced by coal power plants in particular, in theory mitigating some of their environmental impact. Power plants equipped with...

New bill in coal-producing Wyoming would ban renewable energy for utilities

Grand Teton, WyomingWhile renewable-energy use has grown substantially over the last few years, the regulatory environment remains volatile. Some states have worked hard to stimulate renewable energy, supporting infrastructure projects and offering incentives to consumers who install home solar arrays. But others have tried to restrict renewable energy, often at the...

Clean energy to grow, coal to fade, regardless of Trump EPA plans

wind farmPresident-elect Donald Trump's choice of Oklahoma attorney general Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicates that his administration will pursue radically different energy policies from its predecessor's. Pruitt is a climate-science denier, and has sued the agency he is being asked to lead multiple times. He has...

UK moves ahead on lower-carbon power to end coal use by 2025

Coal, by Flicker user oatsy40 (Used Under CC License)The United Kingdom is increasing its use of low-carbon energy sources as it moves to phase out coal-fired power plants altogether by 2025. Renewable-energy sources such as wind and solar, combined with nuclear power and generating plants fired with renewable wood pellets, are displacing fossil fuels in the country's electricity-generation mix...

Germany may miss 2020 emission targets, government report shows

2017 Volkswagen e-GolfAmbitious 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...

No, coal isn’t coming back: the reasons in 5 charts

Coal's share of U.S. electricity generation, 1949-2015 [U.S. Energy Information Administration data]The coal industry is on the decline, but the reason for that decline has become a subject of political debate. Supporters of fossil fuels blame the energy policies of the outgoing Obama Administration, claiming the emphasis on renewable energy and lowering carbon emissions puts coal at a disadvantage. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to...