Selected Reporting
Energy, Mining, Climate Change
“Drought threatens coal plant operations — and electricity — across the West" NPR's Climate Desk The Western drought and shrinking Colorado River basin threaten operations at the region's coal plants. With a looming risk of blackouts, it's unclear who is overseeing this threat on the ground. READ
“How drought threatens electricity producing, coal-fired power plants" NPR's Morning Edition The drought is forcing western states to rethink how much water they use — including dozens of coal-fired power plants that provide electricity to millions. LISTEN
“War in Ukraine is driving demand for Africa's natural gas. That's controversial" NPR's All Things Considered Fossil fuel companies are using this moment to push for new gas projects all over the world. Much of the lobbying centers on almost a dozen countries in sub-Saharan Africa. READ AND LISTEN
“Despite U.S. sanctions, oil traders help Russian oil reach global markets" NPR's Morning Edition Russia is still making billions on oil exports since invading Ukraine. That crude is still flowing abroad thanks in part to a controversial group of oil traders. READ AND LISTEN
“Misinformation is derailing renewable energy projects across the United States" NPR's Morning Edition False and misleading information about wind and solar is fueling opposition to projects across rural America. READ AND LISTEN
“Biden's climate agenda is stalled in Congress. In Hawaii, one key part is going ahead" NPR's Weekend Edition Hawaii is overhauling its utility regulation to speed up the energy transition. READ AND LISTEN
“A Clean Energy Future: How Hawaii Is Sparking The Push" NPR's Short Wave Hawaii is fighting climate change by encouraging the state's power company to make clean electricity. LISTEN
“Emission Impossible" NPR's Planet Money How well do carbon offsets from forests really work? LISTEN
“World Food Prize goes to former farmer who answers climate change question: 'So what?'" NPR’s Goats and Soda The 2022 honoree is Cynthia Rosenzweig, whose computer modeling shows the impact on global crops. READ
“In decarbonizing the US, a big nuclear question” APM’s Marketplace How much should nuclear power be part of our energy future? LISTEN
"The renewable energy transition has companies looking out to sea” APM’s Marketplace Nodules on the ocean floor are rich in cobalt, nickel, manganese and copper. (Sept 2021) LISTEN
“Could this tree be an eco-friendly way to wean Indonesian farmers off palm oil?" NPR's All Things Considered A little-known commodity could be a key part of the fight against deforestation and climate change. LISTEN
“To Some Solar Users, Power Company Fees are Unfair Charge" NPR's All Things Considered Alabama’s utility has the highest solar fee of its kind in the US and critics say it is unjustified. LISTEN
“Climate change anxiety is real. Here's how you can manage those feelings" NPR's Life Kit These feelings aren't going away, but here are five ways to recognize them, sit with them and use them. READ AND LISTEN
“America's Mining Law Digs Up Old Issues” NPR’s Morning Edition President Trump has opened land to mining in California and Utah. But what does that mean? Julia Simon of our Planet Money podcast explores the rules for mining on public land. LISTEN
“The Golden Rules" NPR's Planet Money Planet Money joins the gold rush 170 years late. And the rules are still about the same. How did that happen? LISTEN
“The Story of Mine Mill" NPR's Code Switch How a little-known 1930s inter-racial steel miner union paved the way for civil rights in Birmingham, and changed America as we know it. LISTEN
“Antitrust: The Story of Standard Oil" NPR's Planet Money At the turn of the 20th century, Ida Tarbell investigated John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil. What she discovered changed the economy of the United States. LISTEN
“Nigerian Farmers and Herders Clash over Climate Change” NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday There's another conflict in Nigeria related to climate change that's killing more people than Boko Haram. READ AND LISTEN
“Stealing Oil is Easy, Selling it on the International Market Isn't” NPR’s Morning Edition To steal oil, lots of people need to be in on it: small time crooks and criminal bosses, the owners of oil tankers, corrupt officials and even traders in the United States looking the other way. LISTEN
“How to Steal A Million Barrels of Oil" NPR's Planet Money To steal oil, lots of people need to be in on it: small time crooks and criminal bosses, the owners of oil tankers, corrupt officials and even traders in the United States looking the other way. LISTEN
“Energy hedge funds look to spreads, margins as long bets flail” Reuters While commodity funds continue to shutter their doors, some are finding other ways to make money. READ
“Funds pull back from Permian as U.S. shale oil firms go into overdrive” Reuters As people and equipment pour into the largest U.S. oilfield, one group of investors is heading the other way - concerned that shale may become a victim of its own success. READ
“Egypt’s Energy Deals” NPR’s All Things Considered The Egyptian government continues to sign production agreements with international oil and gas firms. But as Julia Simon reports, more and more questions are being raised about the nature of those agreements. LISTEN
“In Kenya election, the issue in one region is oil” APM’s Marketplace Morning Report It’s been a year since Kenya discovered oil in the north-west region of Turkana. LISTEN
“U.S. Company Begins Drilling in Cyprus” Marketplace from American Public Media A U.S. oil company’s causing a big rift in the Middle East, in the waters between Turkey and Cyprus. LISTEN
“Egypt Hydrocarbon Market Remains Steady” Marketplace from American Public Media (2011) Despite all the political unrest, the one area that’s still growing with investment is the oil and gas sector. LISTEN