Energy

Pushing a New Drilling Tax, When Gas Prices Are Low

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has been traversing the state, pitching his proposal to tax the oil and gas industry. But some say the timing is wrong. With gas and oil at rock bottom prices, they say a new tax now could drive the industry elsewhere.

Falling Oil Prices Leave Petroleum Engineering Students in The Cold

A year ago, a petroleum engineering degree seemed like the ticket to a bright and well-paid future. But now that the oil price slide has turned to an oil price slump, the luster is wearing off.

Oil Train Derailment in West Virginia Ignites Safety Debate

A train hauling crude oil derailed and exploded in West Virginia this week, causing a fire that lasted for days. At least 125 residents were evacuated from their homes, one person was injured from smoke inhalation. The CSX train was hauling 3 million gallons of crude oil from the Bakkan shale in North Dakota.

Better Energy Storage Gives Renewables a Boost

When it comes to increasing clean energy, solar panels and wind turbines are just the start. Storage allows you to harness, and hold onto, renewable energy from the sun or wind until it’s most useful. New technology in storage makes renewables a viable alternative to gas and coal, where supplies are steady.

Teen Invents Pollution-busting Battery

What if a battery could do more than power your phone or flashlight—what if it could help clean the air, too? Ninth-grader Sahil Doshi has created a battery that does just that. And it won him the title of America’s Top Young Scientist at the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge in Minnesota last fall.

Grid Needs Upgrades for New Energy Sources

Gregory Reed says the electricity grid needs an upgrade. And he should know. He's Director of the Electric Power Initiative at the University of Pittsburgh, and leads the Grid Technologies Collaborative for the U.S. Dept. of Energy.

Pittsburgh Rally Part of Global Divestment Days

On Feb. 13 and 14, university students and community members all over the world came together to participate in "Global Divestment Days." In Pittsburgh, local environmental groups and students held a rally in Schenley Plaza in Oakland.

As Fracking Nears Schools, Parents Push Back

As gas drillers look for more places to drill, their wells edging closer to schools—in some cases less than 1000 feet. This doesn't sit well with many parents.

Teaching Climate Science in West Virginia

For most scientists, the debate over whether climate change is happening, and whether it’s caused by human burning of fossil fuels, is settled science. But in West Virginia, there’s a debate about what to teach school children about climate change.