ENN

ENN

Analyst: 65,000 megawatts of coal likely retired by 2017

We've seen a handful of headlines from around the Midwest lately about utilities retiring coal-fired power plants rather than pay for upgrades to comply with new EPA pollution regulations. These stories aren't likely to go away anytime soon, according to at least one energy analyst.

17 June 2011
ENN

Dropping sunspots! Lunar eclipses! Oh, my!

Today's big news is all about the great big sky. Not that it's falling, but for some alarmists and reactionaries, it might as well be. That's because the big science news on Wednesday was that there's a serious halt to sunspot activity, which might potentially impact the world's climate and climate-change initiatives, including renewable energy projects.

By Molly Priesmeyer . 16 June 2011
ENN

Ethanol subsidies: A uniter among Midwest rivals?

Senate Democrats and Republicans agree on little these days, save for the fact that the sun rises and sets. (Although where it rises and sets still might be up for debate.) However, a group of Midwest senators agree on one thing: Subsidies for ethanol should be extended.

By Molly Priesmeyer . 15 June 2011
ENN

Prototype delivers cooling and electricity from exhaust

One of the leading problems in energy use around the world today? Emissions that contribute to climate change? Nope. The waste of half or more of the energy produced by cars, factories and power plants.

By Jeff Kart . 14 June 2011
ENN

For the ethanol industry, a delicate political balance

While the ethanol industry is moving toward a position that seems to accept an inevitable end to direct tax credits, its leaders continue to make the case for strong government support in other forms.

By Ken Paulman . 14 June 2011
ENN

Signed, fracked over in the Midwest

It's not easy being sand these days--or a riverbed or prairie land or a forest. That's because new oil-sand processing and natural-gas fracking facilities are popping up like weeds in Canada and the Midwest, resulting in destruction of the land and serious environmental concerns.

By Molly Priesmeyer . 13 June 2011
ENN

Oil sands on The Daily Show

The oil sands isn't a common topic in American media, so it came as a bit of a surprise to me that The Daily Show sent Wyatt Cenac to Alberta to do a segment on Canadian oil production.

By Ken Paulman . 10 June 2011
ENN

A brief changing of the guard

A team of actual competent writers will be taking over the Highwire blog while your humble host is on vacation.

By Ken Paulman . 10 June 2011
ENN

Does harvesting corn residue hurt soil health?

How is soil health affected by harvesting corn stover (leftover cobs, leaves, husks, and stalks) instead of leaving it on the field? The answer, it seems, depends on how much you harvest.

By Andy Pearson . 9 June 2011
ENN

Those blasted bulbs

If you're at all like me, you've been searching for a smartphone app that will delight small children and enrage Tea Partiers all at the same time.

By Ken Paulman . 8 June 2011