Energy

Along with ballistic missiles and aerial bombers, nuclear

Obama administration weighs the future of America's nuclear arsenal

The United States has long been the premier nuclear power in the world. With the Cold War over, however, does maintaining and upgrading America’s aging nuclear arsenal make sense?In a major 2009 speech in Prague, President Obama promised to reduce... more

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Energy

Obama administration weighs the future of America's nuclear arsenal

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February, 15, 2012

Energy

The politics behind the world’s hard rock mining industry

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February, 10, 2012

With “fracking” and coal mining disasters dominating the news cycles, it seems hard rock mining gets less attention from the media. For communities across the globe, however, hard rock mining is a loaded issue. From Northern Michigan to Mongolia, mining the earth for scarce minerals often leaves... more

Energy

Energy Sustainability: Fact or Fiction

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January, 31, 2012

The dependence on oil and other fossil fuels for over 80% of our energy and the continued emission of carbon dioxide threatening a stable climate are captured in a single term: sustainability. Although we generally agree that sustainability is valuable, there is less agreement on how much... more

Energy

Illinois nuclear reactor loses power, venting steam

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January, 30, 2012

BYRON, Ill. — A nuclear reactor at a northern Illinois plant shut down Monday after losing power, and steam was being vented to reduce pressure, according to officials from Exelon Nuclear and federal regulators.Unit 2 at Byron Generating Station shut down around 10:18 a.m., after losing power from... more

Energy

Fracking: The Quest for Energy Independence

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January, 19, 2012

Fracking is a step in the production of gas and oil by the high pressure fragmentation of shale using water, sand, and chemicals. Using fracking to produce shale oil and shale gas has the potential to make the United States largely independent of foreign sources of natural gas and significantly... more

Energy

ComEd CEO Frank Clark looks back on his climb from the mail room

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January, 10, 2012

Frank Clark began his career at Commonwealth Edison in the mailroom. More than 45 years later, he became chairman and CEO of the largest electric utility company in Illinois. Clark will retire next month but recently sat down for a chat with WBEZ’s Richard Steele. He began by telling Steele that... more