Energy and Climate Change

"For the past few years, wind turbine costs went up due to rising demand around the world and the increasing price of steel," he added. "Behind the scenes, wind manufacturers were reducing their costs, and now we are seeing just how cheap wind energy can be when overcapacity in the supply chain works its way through to developers."

Flathead Electric plans to gather 300 volunteer households in the Libby area and, for the same project later in the year, 150 households in the Marion and Kila areas, to test how well a few different technologies work toward lowering peak-time usage. Volunteers will receive participation rebates, as well as further incentives when their usage decreases during peak times.

Montana is getting warmer. The debate is about what, if anything, we should do about it.

The researchers’ plan calls for wind and solar power to contribute 90 percent of needed energy.

GE, Conoco­Phillips and NRG Energy have partnered to create a venture to invest $300 million in early-stage energy technology firms.

A research collaboration in England has resulted in a synthetic, hydrogen-based fuel that would be more stable in price than oil and would produce no carbon emissions when burned in a combustion engine.

It is expected to generate 50 kWh per square meter per year — electricity that can then be used for street lighting, traffic systems, or for household use.

"The glaciers are attractive to people, but the things that will affect people most, it’s the climate changing," said Daniel Fagre, a research ecologist for the U.S. Geological Survey in the Northern Rockies.

Chicago invented the skyscraper. Can it pioneer the best urban sustainable-energy strategies as well?

Despite the "green" movement that has taken over the country in the last few years, more than 80 percent of the world’s energy supply still comes from fossil fuels.