The White House commented on Monday that the U.S. will proceed with its plan to release 50 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserves despite a new coronavirus variant triggering a sharp drop in crude prices. OPEC stayed the course this week, sticking to their planned 400,000-barrels-a-day production increase and did not give in to the fears surrounding the recent price crash due to the omicron variant virus worries.
Clean energy analysts expressed concern on Wednesday that rising costs might erase years of renewable energy progress. They are increasingly uncertain that renewables and batteries can sustain their long-running price declines due to the high price of key raw materials like steel, aluminum and copper.
In 2020, the value of energy trade between the United States and Canada declined. A new report released by the EIA on Thursday found U.S. energy imports from Canada fell by 31% in 2020 compared with 2019, and the value of U.S. energy exports to Canada fell 34%, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
5Spreading holiday cheer takes energy – but how much will your Christmas lights add to your December energy bill?
Energy prices are rising nation-wide, meaning those lights you just hung outside your home are going to cost you a little more this year. FOX 8 shares what different types of stringed lights will cost you based on your usage this holiday season.
4New technology captures CO2 and permanently stores it underground
New direct-air carbon capture technology is storing CO2 permanently in volcanic rock. Tech Crunch explains that the new technology uses amines to capture CO2, applies heat to controllably release the CO2 from the amines, and then pumps it into nearby volcanic rocks, where it forms long-lasting carbonate minerals.
3Nuclear reactors on the moon could be the key to exploring Mars
NASA is looking for proposals for a fission surface power system that could be implemented on the moon. E&E News explains that a reliable, high-power system on the moon will be essential in achieving NASA’s goal of traveling to the red planet.
2How electric cars can help America’s electric grid
Smart-charging technologies in partnership with local utilities are allowing electricity providers to determine the best time to charge your vehicle, by waiting for off-peak times, to relieve pressure on the electric grid during high demand and save EV owners money. Axios reports that EV owners can plug in their car, set a departure time in an app, and let the utility control when to charge it – even allowing them to pause charging when the grid is under pressure.
1Breakthrough achievement in fusion energy could increase energy efficiency
Physicists recently achieved a historic milestone when their fusion reaction achieved a record 1.3 megajoule energy output. Science Alert reports that this is the first time a fusion reaction has exceeded the energy absorbed by the fuel used to trigger it.
