Publication Items

Does Climate’s Future Depend on Better Batteries? [1]

The path of our planetary climate may depend largely on our transition away from energy sources that cause global warming. And that, in turn, may rely on one thing: improved batteries. The new Backgrounder explores the future of energy storage — how batteries work, the progress the technology has made and the brutal battery competition ahead between the United States and China.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Economy & Business [5]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Politics [7]
Science [8]
Technology [9]
Transportation [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
International [12]
Asia [13]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Does Climate’s Future Depend on Better Batteries? [1]
Infrastructure Week All Year — But Will That Infrastructure Be Green? [15]

A much-anticipated infrastructure bill in Congress could help address the United States’ poorly rated roads, pipes and powerlines. But could the massive measure also do the heavy lifting for much-needed climate policy? The latest Backgrounder takes a deep dive into the context around climate-friendly infrastructure legislation, and looks ahead on what’s expected and how to report it.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [16]
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Politics [7]
Government [17]
Infrastructure [18]
Journalism & Media [19]
Laws & Regulations [20]
Planning & Growth [21]
Policy [22]
Pollution [23]
Technology [9]
Transportation [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Infrastructure Week All Year — But Will That Infrastructure Be Green? [15]
Biden Rollbacks of Trump Energy-Efficiency Cuts Generate Local Stories [24]

From cardigans to orange tans, the history of presidential politics around energy efficiency has been an odd one. But the story of so-called nega-watts is actually a compelling one. And with new efficiency rules being eyed by the Biden administration, it’s also time for reporters to explore the local angle to energy savings. Our latest TipSheet explains how.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [25]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Politics [7]
Government [17]
Journalism & Media [19]
Laws & Regulations [20]
Policy [22]
Science [8]
Technology [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Biden Rollbacks of Trump Energy-Efficiency Cuts Generate Local Stories [24]
Grid Data Can Guide Reporting on Power Disasters [26]

The power and water fiasco that followed a deep freeze in Texas was a predictable debacle and, thus, a warning signal to journalists covering disasters and climate-driven weather extremes. To help, the latest Reporter’s Toolbox provides a rundown of data sources about power grids, from local, regional and national entities, and recommends you start tracking the numbers and be prepared.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [27]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Disasters [28]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Government [17]
Infrastructure [18]
Journalism & Media [19]
Laws & Regulations [20]
Planning & Growth [21]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [29]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [30]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Grid Data Can Guide Reporting on Power Disasters [26]
Could Hackers Poison Your Local Drinking Water? [31]

A computer hacker nearly succeeded recently in rendering a local Florida facility a source of poisonous drinking water. And the risk of other such hacks is real, even as the vulnerabilities are hidden behind stringent U.S. secrecy laws. The latest TipSheet explores dangers to our drinking water supply — which go well beyond future hacking.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [25]
Topics on the Beat:
Consumer [4]
Disasters [28]
Government [17]
Health [32]
Infrastructure [18]
Journalism & Media [19]
Laws & Regulations [20]
People & Population [33]
Pollution [23]
Technology [9]
Water & Oceans [34]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [35]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [36]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Could Hackers Poison Your Local Drinking Water? [31]
Seeding Climate Stories in the Backyard Garden [37]

Spring may be weeks away, but gardeners are already browsing the seed catalogs, and that makes it a good time for environmental journalists to apprise them of how climate change will affect their backyard patches. Reporter’s Toolbox talks “hardiness zones” and explains why one of the usual repositories of government information may fall short. That plus, story sources to, well, cultivate.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [27]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [38]
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Environmental Politics [7]
Food [39]
Journalism & Media [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Seeding Climate Stories in the Backyard Garden [37]
Super-Heated Year Ahead on Energy & Environment News [40]

The Biden administration has moved rapidly to reset energy and environment policies dramatically shifted by the Trump White House. But how quickly can such a reversal occur, what are the priorities and what are the critical pathways for change? To help sort out the latest news and track larger trends, SEJournal offers this overview and analysis, part of our extensive “2021 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment [41].”

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [42]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [38]
Air [43]
Biodiversity [44]
Chemicals [45]
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Disasters [28]
Economy & Business [5]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Politics [7]
Government [17]
Health [32]
Journalism & Media [19]
Laws & Regulations [20]
Planning & Growth [21]
Policy [22]
Pollution [23]
Science [8]
Transportation [10]
Waste [46]
Water & Oceans [34]
Wildlife [47]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
International [12]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Super-Heated Year Ahead on Energy & Environment News [40]
Is Wireless Technology an Environmental Health Risk? [48]

As COVID-19 lockdowns push more people online and 5G technology continues its rapid expansion, should the question of whether electromagnetic radiation causes health and environmental injury be raised anew? Yes, argues an award-winning freelancer who herself suffers from electromagnetic hypersensitivity, and who musters suggestive scientific and medical research to make the case. Plus, sidebars on 5G and on taking personal precautions.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [42]
Topics on the Beat:
Consumer [4]
Environmental Health [49]
Environmental Politics [7]
Environmental Studies [50]
Health [32]
Journalism & Media [19]
Laws & Regulations [20]
Science [8]
Technology [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
International [12]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Is Wireless Technology an Environmental Health Risk? [48]
Renewables To Flourish Further in 2021 [51]

Energy markets may mean more than government action in the ongoing effort to cut global warming emissions. But industry spin makes it tough to sort out the facts. The latest TipSheet, part of our expanding “2021 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment [52]” special report, has context on tech advances, shifting demand and the impact of subsidies. That, plus six top developments to watch.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [25]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [16]
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Economy & Business [5]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Politics [7]
Government [17]
Journalism & Media [19]
Laws & Regulations [20]
Natural Resources [53]
Policy [22]
Pollution [23]
Technology [9]
Transportation [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Renewables To Flourish Further in 2021 [51]
Crisis Threatens the Country’s Most Vulnerable Region [54]

As global warming worsens, effects like extreme heat, drought, wildfires, coastal flooding and inland flooding will have an outsized impact in the Southern United States. The latest entry in our ongoing “Covering Your Climate: The South [55]” special report looks at those effects. Plus, read an introductory overview and watch for additional entries on climate mitigation and adaptation in the South.

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [56]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [38]
Air [43]
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Disasters [28]
Economy & Business [5]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Health [49]
Environmental Politics [7]
Health [32]
Journalism & Media [19]
Natural Resources [53]
People & Population [33]
Planning & Growth [21]
Policy [22]
Pollution [23]
Water & Oceans [34]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [57]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [36]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [30]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Crisis Threatens the Country’s Most Vulnerable Region [54]

Pages