Got Corn? Ethanol Is No Longer King In Iowa Among Candidates
Candidates' waning interest in the corn fuel shows that Iowa's role in shaping policy debates may be declining.
Energy
How U.N. Climate Negotiations Are Like Splitting A Bar Tab
Nearly 200 countries have delegates in Bonn, Germany, this week, trying to figure out how to fight global warming. They're at a difficult point — what the nations have pledged so far isn't enough.
EPA Says Volkswagen Dodged Clean Air Rules With Emissions Software
The Environmental Protection Agency is accusing Volkswagen of intentionally dodging clean air rules on nearly half a million vehicles in the U.S. The EPA says Volkswagen installed software called a "defeat device" that only runs full pollution controls during official emissions testing. Under normal driving conditions, the vehicles emit nitrogen oxides at up to 40 times allowable levels, according to the EPA.
Faced With Spate Of Tremors, Oklahoma Looks To Shake Up Its Oil Regulations
Oklahoma set a state record last year with more than 5,000 earthquakes. This year, the state is poised to have even more. Now oil and gas regulators have taken notice and are working to curb them.
With Abandoned Gas Wells, States Are Left With The Cleanup Bill
The bust of the coal-bed methane industry has left Wyoming responsible for the exorbitant cost of plugging thousands of wells. The price tag for dealing with deep oil and gas wells may be even higher.
How Do You Find Plutonium? Go To Nuclear Inspector School
A nuclear agreement with Iran hinges on the work of nuclear inspectors. Here's a close-up look at how they train to do their job.
ISIS Makes Millions From The Sale Of Oil In War-Torn Syria And Iraq
NPR's Kelly McEvers talks to Erika Solomon of the Financial Times about why it's been so challenging to disrupt the Islamic State's oil production in territory it controls in northern Syria and Iraq.
Shell Shuts Down Offshore Arctic Drilling After Huge Investment
Shell spent 10 years and $7 billion preparing for an offshore drilling operation in the Arctic. But after a disappointing test well, the company says it's giving up, for now.
Shell To Suspend Oil Exploration In Alaskan Arctic
After spending $7 billion, Shell has decided to stop exploration off the coast of Alaska "for the foreseeable future."
Alaska's Economy Takes A Hit With Shell's Decision To Halt Drilling
Alaska's economy depends heavily on oil for jobs and tax revenues. Shell's decision to halt oil and gas exploration off the state's northern coast is a "huge disappointment," the governor says.