Energy

Astronomers have discovered a star, shown in an artist's rendition, that appears to be orbiting an invisible black hole with about four times the mass of the sun.

Science

Black Holes: Where Reality Beats Fiction

5:52pm January 17, 2018

by Marcelo Gleiser

We know that at the heart of pretty much every galaxy, there is a giant black hole. There is a lot that we know about black holes — and a lot that we don't know, says astrophysicist Marcelo Gleiser.

Like Florida, Maryland Wants To Be Exempt From Offshore Drilling

8:49am January 17, 2018

by Jeff Brady

Now that the Trump administration has excluded Florida from its offshore drilling proposal, other places want the same. They're making their case as the public comment period gets underway.

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Tim Kruger: How Do We Slow Climate Change Before It's Too Late?

9:35am January 12, 2018

by NPR/TED Staff

To tackle climate change, geoengineer Tim Kruger is developing technology that could remove large quantities of CO2 from the atmosphere. But he says it takes unprecedented cooperation to make it work.

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An oil platform sits in the distance at Refugio State Beach in California in 2015. Now that the Trump administration has announced plans to allow new oil and gas drilling leases in more federal waters, a number of states are petitioning to be exempt from

National

After Florida Gets Offshore Drilling Exemption, Other States Ask For The Same

3:34pm January 10, 2018

by Camila Domonoske

The Trump administration has proposed radically expanding offshore oil drilling, but Florida's waters are "off the table." Leaders in California, New York, South Carolina and elsewhere noticed.

The Trump administration will cancel plans to allow oil drilling off the coasts of Florida at the request of Gov. Rick Scott, seen in Doral, Fla., last year.

Interior Secretary Zinke: Florida Offshore Oil Drilling Is 'Off The Table'

9:06pm January 09, 2018

by Richard Gonzales

Zinke cites a request from Gov. Rick Scott and his argument that the state relies on tourism. Critics note the state is rich in electoral votes and other states also rely on tourism.

Secretary of Energy Rick Perry testifies during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 12. Perry's proposed rule to benefit nuclear and coal power plants has been rejected by a federal regulatory commiss

Federal Regulator Rejects Energy Department's Bid To Prop Up Coal, Nuclear

1:44pm January 09, 2018

by Camila Domonoske

Energy Secretary Rick Perry proposed a rule that would essentially subsidize older fuel sources to compete with cheaper natural gas and renewables. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission cried foul.

National

Pennsylvania Coal Mine To Close

8:06am January 07, 2018

In southwestern Pennsylvania, another coal mine is closing. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks to county supervisor Blair Zimmerman about what this means for his community.

Winter Storm Stresses Energy Infrastructures Along The East Coast

6:31pm January 04, 2018

by Jeff Brady

A powerful winter storm is dropping up to a foot-and-a-half of snow in some parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Strong winds and cold temperatures are stressing the region's energy infrastructure.

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A natural gas platform off the coast of Fort Morgan, Ala., in 2007.

Trump Administration Opens Door To Dramatic Expansion Of Offshore Energy Leases

4:50pm January 04, 2018

by Merrit Kennedy

The proposal includes all but one of 26 "planning areas" in federal waters in the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic, comprising about 90 percent of the outer continental shelf.

National

Drillers Are Optimistic As U.S. Oil Production Booms

4:55pm January 03, 2018

by Jeff Brady

Oil prices have edged up over the last few years and now domestic drilling is booming. The U.S. is expected to break oil production records set in the 1970s.

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