How Efficient Are You?

The results are in on the state-by-state energy efficiency ranking, and some of Inside Energy’s focus states are at the bottom of the class. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy released its annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard last week, grading states for their policies and efforts toward energy efficiency.

EPA Lowers The Bar In Defining Biofuels

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s move to change the definition for what qualifies as a cellulosic biofuel has caused some controversy. According to Energy Global, the new rule essentially allows energy products that are 75 percent cellulosic to qualify as a 100 percent cellulosic biofuel.

From Wyoming To Washington: Congressional Candidates Debate Energy, Economy

Inside Energy’s Leigh Paterson was a guest journalist this week at the US Senate and US House debates, hosted by Wyoming PBS. Candidates answered questions on education, foreign policy, same-sex marriage, Obamacare, and of course, on energy: oil exports, Wyoming wind power development, climate change in the classroom, and the EPA.

Renewable Storage Is Key

As we talk about the future of renewable energy, there’s one aspect that should be at the forefront of the conversation: storage. We’ve already figured out how to capture wind and solar energy, but it’s equally important to figure out the best way to store this energy and use it when it’s needed.

Low-Carbon Equals Low-Pollution

It’s not exactly news that many scientists agree that switching to low-carbon technologies to produce energy would help reduce pollution. But as we consider these technologies, questions arise regarding the cost of building new plants, the materials necessary and whether they would cause other types of pollution. A study, released this week in the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences journal, set out to answer these questions and arrived at a simple conclusion: taking all these factors into consideration, low-carbon technologies are still the answer to a greener planet.