Prime Minister Shinzo Abe proposes re-opening plants shuttered after disaster
electricity
Nuclear Fusion Just Got a Little Closer to Becoming a Reality
Atomic fusion could produce limitless energy—but scientists haven’t been able to harness it. But a novel experiment suggests it could be achievable
The Surprisingly Large Energy Footprint of the Digital Economy [UPDATE]
Our computers and smartphones might seem clean, but the digital economy uses a tenth of the world’s electricity — and that share will only increase, with serious consequences for the economy and the environment
10 Years After the Great Blackout, the Grid Is Stronger — but Vulnerable to Extreme Weather
More than 50 million people throughout the Northeast lost power in the great blackout of 2003. Could it happen again to the grid?
Amid Economic and Safety Concerns, Nuclear Advocates Pin Their Hopes on New Designs
Nuclear power may be good for the climate, but the industry faces major challenges as it looks to expand. Advanced reactor designs — if they can become a reality — could make the difference
Radioactive Green: Pandora’s Promise Rethinks Nuclear Power
Early in the new documentary Pandora’s Promise, which opens nationwide today, British environmental writer Mark Lynas travels to the Japanese town of Fukushima, now famous as the site of a 2011 nuclear meltdown. Lynas is a …
Hurricane Sandy Will Put a Rickety Power Grid to the Test
The U.S. power grid is a 20th century technology powering a 21st century country. Why Hurricane Sandy will stress it to the limit
How Climate Change and the Monsoons Affect India’s Blackouts
India’s blackouts have left nearly 700 million people without power. The unstable monsoons are adding to demand for electricity—and climate change could disrupt the summer rains even further.
Clean Air At Last: The EPA Cracks Down on Coal Pollution
During his career as a running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jerome Bettis made a habit of running over opponents—that’s why they called him “the Bus.” Now the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hoping that Bettis can …
Data Centers Use Less Power Than Expected, But Will Need More in the Future
It all seems virtual, but the Internet really does have a physical home in the thousands and thousands of computer data centers operated by IT companies around the world. And those data centers require electricity—potentially, lots of it, with a thirst that will likely only grow as our lives become more digital. In 2007, a report by …