Energy & Fuel

"The Environment Report explores the role that coal plays in our lives and in the lives of those who depend on coal mining for a living."

Many U.S. homes could be made far less expensive to heat and cool -- reducing greenhouse emissions in the process.

"A new US assessment of Venezuela's oil reserves could give the country double the supplies of Saudi Arabia."

"A sister company to Toyota Motor Corp secured a lithium supply deal in Argentina on Wednesday that could help the world's largest automaker keep its lead in gasoline-electric hybrid cars."

"Wind could replace coal and natural gas for 20 to 30 percent of the electricity used in the eastern two-thirds of the United States by 2024, according to a study released Wednesday by the Energy Department."

"Forget blackjack tables or roulette wheels. Tribal lands could generate wealth through solar, wind, and geothermal energy."

"Federal regulators said on Thursday that they would impose hard limits on energy futures contracts held by commodity traders, part of a move to curb excessive speculation and possibly avoid a repeat of the 2008 run-up in oil prices."

The New York Times' Green Inc. and Wheels blogs round up news from the Detroit Auto Show. The news is all about electric vehicles. Several foreign makers may beat U.S. firms to market or undercut them on price.

"It sounded like a good idea: Provide a little government money to convert wood shavings and plant waste into renewable energy. But as laudable as that goal sounds, it could end up causing more economic damage than good."