Energy & Environment
The latest updates on energy and environment news, analysis and opinion covering energy policy and its impact on resources and climate.
China’s control over rare earth metals threatens U.S. security, industry expert says
China’s strategic investment in processing instead of mining rare earth metals has led to its nearly total domination of worldwide rare earth metal production, giving it leverage over the U.S., an industry expert said in the latest episode of the “Threat Status” podcast.
DHS says 475 people were detained during an immigration raid at Hyundai EV plant in Georgia
Some 475 people were detained during an immigration raid at a sprawling Georgia site where South Korean auto company Hyundai manufactures electric vehicles, according to a Homeland Security official.
California energy regulators pause efforts to penalize oil companies for high profits
California energy regulators Friday put the brakes on plans requiring oil companies to pay a penalty if their profits climb too high, a temporary win for the fossil fuel industry two years after the governor declared the state had “finally beat big oil.”
Floods displace nearly 250,000 people and affect 1.2 million in eastern Pakistan
Rescuers in boats raced to reach stranded families in Pakistan’s populous eastern Punjab province Thursday, after three major rivers burst their banks because of heavy rain and the release of water from overflowing dams in neighboring India.
Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries have some regions in Russia running on empty
Gas stations have run dry in some regions of Russia after Ukrainian drones struck refineries and other oil infrastructure in recent weeks, with motorists waiting in long lines and officials resorting to rationing or cutting off sales altogether.
Some FEMA staffers put on administrative leave after signing dissent letter
Some employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency who signed a public letter of dissent earlier this week were put on administrative leave Tuesday evening, according to documents reviewed by The Associated Press.
Offshore wind opponents, once thrilled by Trump, now feeling left behind
A coalition of offshore wind opponents in New Jersey and New York was thrilled when President Trump signed an executive order in January to block new wind projects. But their happiness soon turned to bitter anger.
Tropical Storm Juliette forms in the Pacific as Fernand churns over open waters in the Atlantic
Tropical Storm Juliette formed Monday in the Pacific Ocean hundreds of miles from Mexico’s Baja California peninsula as Tropical Storm Fernand churned in the Atlantic Ocean.
Hurricane Erin stirs up strong winds and floods part of a N.C. highway as it slowly moves out to sea
Hurricane Erin battered North Carolina’s Outer Banks with strong winds and waves that flooded part of the main highway and surged under beachfront homes as the monster storm slowly began to move away from the East Coast on Thursday.
Beach destinations in Maryland, Delaware shut down for swimming as Hurricane Erin approaches
Hurricane Erin is on its way to deliver a glancing blow to the mid-Atlantic seaboard, and multiple beach towns in Delaware and Maryland have shut down swimming in preparation for the storm.
Oregon firefighters trying to save ancient, 325-foot fir tree from blaze
A 325-foot fir tree thought to be 450-500 years old started burning in Oregon over the weekend and was still on fire Tuesday. Firefighters are trying to save it.
National Park rangers face possible prosecution after flying transgender flag at Yosemite
The battle over trans rights is unfolding against the backdrop of one of the most renowned rock climbing destinations in the country.
What to know about powerful Hurricane Erin as it heads past the U.S. East Coast
Hurricane Erin is creating potentially deadly water conditions all along the U.S. East Coast days before the largest waves are expected, with high winds and waves anticipated in North Carolina by Wednesday night.
Hurricane Erin’s massive waves threaten to isolate North Carolina’s Outer Banks
There’s a popular T-shirt on Hatteras Island on the North Carolina Outer Banks that says: “One road on. One road off (sometimes)” — poking fun at the constant battle between Mother Nature and a thin ribbon of pavement connecting the narrow barrier island to the rest of the world.
Search continues for 150 people missing in Pakistan’s northwest following devastating floods
Rescuers were continuing to search on Monday for more than 150 people still missing in northwestern Pakistan after days of torrential rain caused flash floods that have killed more than 270 people.
‘We’ve paid our dues’: Appalachians look to new solar projects to replace old king coal
Just outside this Appalachian town atop an artificially flattened mountain lies a former surface mine that once produced 3 million tons of coal a year.
