Economy & Business

Decarbonizing Energy Systems With Clean Firm Power

Solar and wind power are critical for combating climate change, but some energy experts warn they won’t be enough. Their vision for an emissions-free grid depends on technologies ranging from long-duration batteries to nuclear reactors. Journalist Nicolás Rivero on clean firm power’s potential, the challenges ahead and how Big Tech is driving the pursuit of always-on zero-carbon electricity.

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Trump Admin Used Bad Logic To Justify Killing Auto Emission Rules: Study

"The Trump administration relied on flawed logic to justify scrapping vehicle emissions standards this year, making errors in how it accounted for fuel savings, the price of technology and mileage, according to a new study by a group of economists.

Correcting those errors would negate the economic benefits that the administration said would come from eliminating greenhouse gas emission standards for cars and trucks, according to the paper published Thursday in the journal Science.

Source: AP, 09/03/2026

New Trump Rules Would Limit State Power to Block Pipelines, Energy Projects

"[T]he EPA is moving forward with revisions to a separate set of Clean Water Act regulations that would limit state and tribal authority over waterways—especially when it comes to weighing in on major energy projects like oil and gas pipelines, export terminals and hydropower dams."

Source: Inside Climate News, 09/03/2026

Trump’s Tactics to Lower Beef Prices and Appease Ranchers Fall Short

"The Trump administration has rolled out several programs intended to pacify consumers frustrated with high beef prices and ranchers angered by beef imports."

Source: New York Times, 09/03/2026

Trump’s EPA on a Mission to Ease Air Rules by 2028: Explained

"The EPA still has unfinished business on a handful of major air rules, which environmentalists fear will endanger Americans’ health and worsen the climate crisis."
 

Source: Bloomberg Environment, 09/01/2026

US-Venezuela Oil Deal Won't Lower Your Gas Prices. What You Need To Know

"The Trump administration announced an agreement with the Venezuelan government on Friday to develop a vast amount of Venezuela's oil reserves.

The U.S. government says it is entering into a joint venture with a private Venezuelan company, according to an official who spoke to NPR on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the deal. The Trump administration says the U.S. would get 55% of the oil from the joint venture. That's equivalent to about 65 billion barrels of oil that's under the ground.

Source: NPR, 09/01/2026

‘Trade Secrets’ Keep Journalists, Public in the Dark

So-called confidential business information is a major obstacle to the dissemination of knowledge about environmental threats for the public, cautions WatchDog Opinion. Part of the problem is how federal agencies treat requests for confidentiality, and so is the way environmental laws handle the issue. A look at the worst offenders, and a call for journalists to break through the veil of secrecy.

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