Category Archives: energy

Sierra Club Michigan Opposes CAFE Cuts

In January under the Obama administration, the EPA finalized its proposed decision on fuel efficiency standards, originally set in 2012. The decision kept the fuel economy goals at their current level through year 2025. This decision came after a technical assessment report, a 30-day comment period, a proposed decision, and a second 30-day comment period. The Sierra Club and allies submitted more than 400,000 comments in support of the standards. Critics claim that the review was conducted too hastily. Continue reading

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Toyota Takes Artificial Intelligence Hunting for New Materials

New materials research – it’s claimed – will merge advanced computational materials modeling, new sources of experimental data, machine learning and artificial intelligence to reduce the time for new materials development from a period that has historically been measured in decades. Continue reading

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Toyota, Shell to Bid on California Hydrogen Refueling Network

Shell with Toyota will be considered for the installation of hydrogen refueling equipment into seven retail stations in Northern California and a $16,362,500 taxpayer subsidies to develop those stations. Continue reading

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Ford, U-M Reach Deal to Embed FMC Engineers in Ann Arbor

U-M is one of only a handful of universities to offer master’s and doctoral degrees in robotics, with the Ph.D. program now in its third year. More than 35 faculty members work in the field. Continue reading

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General Motors to use 100% Renewable Power by 2050

General Motors said today it plans to generate or source all electricity with renewable power for its 350 operations in 59 countries with wind, sun and/or landfill gas by 2050. Continue reading

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Southern California Edison on Emerging Plug and Play Grid

The goal of an as yet undetermined number of people is to get off the grid entirely, of course. Continue reading

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Pork Alert! Dump Ethanol Say Voters in National Poll

Likely 2016 voters have serious concerns about ethanol’s unintended consequences as a fuel, including damage to engines, land conversion and food prices, according to a new national poll. Continue reading

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Taxpayer Rip-off as Bureau of Land Management Discounts Royalty Rates on Our Property at 50% of Actual Market Value

The BLM oil and gas management program is one of the most important mineral leasing programs in the Federal government. The total value of production is over $33 billion, which generates more than $3 billion in royalty revenue annually from oil and gas leasing activities on public lands, most of which is shared with state and local governments, and nearly $1 billion in royalty revenue from activities on tribal lands, all of which goes to tribes or individuals. Continue reading

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Oil Strike Escalates Nationwide in US. Biggest since 1980

The United Steelworkers (USW) oil strike over demands for improved safety provisions has escalated as it entered its second week. Workers at BP refineries in Ohio and Indiana have joined the oil strike that began on 1 February at nine other refineries. From California to Kentucky, this is the first nationwide strike in the industry for 35 years. Continue reading

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Gas Prices Continue Dropping

U.S. motorists are paying an average price at the gasoline pump today of $2.10 per gallon) that is more than 40% lower than the 2014 peak of $3.70 reached on April 28. Continue reading

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EPA Proposal Strengthens Response to Oil Spills

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to amend requirements under the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan to improve the nation’s ability to respond to oil spills. This proposal addresses issues raised by the public, responders, government, and industry officials during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill of BP. Continue reading

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Chesapeake Energy to Pay Millions for Wetlands Destruction

No criminal charges against executives were pursued, however. So the environmental rhetoric of the Obama Administration is put aside in the latest corporate friendly deal under Eric Holder, his politically appointed Attorney General. Continue reading

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Automotive Waste Heat Recovery Closer to Production

Not surprisingly, given increasingly stringent fuel economy and CO2 regulations, much advanced research is being done to see how this wasted exhaust heat can be used. Two areas show promise – generating electricity from the heat, and/or using the exhaust heat for a vehicle’s heating and ventilation system. Continue reading

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U.S. Chamber of Commerce Attacks EPA, Again, over Powerplant Emission Rules

In today’s what’s not news department, the Energy Institute President Karen Harbert of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce today called on EPA to ensure that any new powerplant emission rules are cost-effective, attainable, and don’t harm the American economy. Continue reading

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UMD Researchers Get $1 Million for EV Battery Research

Lithium-ion batteries are problematic in electric vehicles due to short driving range, high cost, and low safety and reliability. Continue reading

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