National Jul 20, 2019
Tepco to decommission reactors at Fukushima No. 2 nuclear plant
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. will formally decide to decommission the Fukushima No. 2 nuclear plant after informing the prefectural governor.
World / Science & Health Jul 19, 2019
Solar panels on every roof. Parking meters that double as car chargers. Wind turbines towering above farm fields and ocean waves. Cars, home furnaces and factories converted to run on electricity from renewable sources. A new law signed Thursday by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ...
World / Politics Jul 14, 2019
Polish opposition, unveiling election pledges, promises to eliminate coal
Poland's biggest opposition group, the European Coalition, plans to eliminate coal from power production by 2040, its leader said on Saturday as he unveiled pledges ahead of an autumn election to be fought against the coal-friendly, conservative government. Poland generates electricity mostly from coal and ...
Business | INSIDER REPORT Jul 8, 2019
Building toward large-scale use of renewable energy in Japan
by Sumiko Takeuchi
The Paris agreement has accelerated worldwide momentum for strengthening global warming countermeasures. As most greenhouse gas emissions come from energy consumption, key measures to check global warming are saving energy through efficient use and transitioning to low carbon energy. For example, better fuel efficiency would ...
Business Jul 8, 2019
Power outage hits Venezuela's largest refinery complex, says lawmaker
Venezuela's largest refinery complex has been hit by a power outage, at a time of acute fuel shortages in parts of the crisis-torn oil producer, an opposition lawmaker said Sunday. Luis Stefanelli, a deputy in the National Assembly, told AFP there was a "general blackout" ...
National | Beyond Tokyo Jul 5, 2019
After G20 role, Nagano resort town of Karuizawa looks to lead way in green tech and energy
by Eric Johnston
The Nagano Prefecture resort town of Karuizawa has long been associated with green, natural energy. Nestled in the mountains, Karuizawa has long attracted both Japanese and Westerners escaping the capital's heat to recharge their batteries in the verdant outdoors ever since the 19th century. Recently, green ...
Business Jul 2, 2019
OPEC is extending its deal to cut oil production for another nine months in a bid to keep prices from sagging as the oil cartel faces a weakening outlook for global demand. The decision among the members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries ...
Business | INSIDER REPORT Jul 1, 2019
Japan's energy policies at a critical juncture
by Sumiko Takeuchi
Japan's energy policies are at a big turning point. Due to the unforeseeable future of the energy business, utility companies have yet to embark on drastic reform. Despite the fact that irreversible, inevitable and diverse social change is underway simultaneously, the government has been ...
National Jun 17, 2019
NRA safety license for Sendai reactors legal, Fukuoka court finds, dismissing volcano risk lawsuit
The district court says it found nothing illegal with a safety clearance granted to two reactors in Kyushu that were restarted after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis.
Business / Corporate Jun 17, 2019
Inpex inks $20 billion deal on Abadi LNG project, the largest investment ever in Indonesia
Japan's Inpex Corp. reached a new deal with Indonesia on the $20 billion Abadi liquefied natural gas project, a key step toward reviving work on the long-stalled venture that's expected to be the biggest-ever investment in the Southeast Asian nation. A heads of agreement between ...
Business Jun 15, 2019
G20 envoys assemble in Nagano to discuss climate change and plastic waste
by Eric Johnston
Group of 20 nations’ environment and energy ministers gather to search for innovative ways to combat emissions-driven climate change and eliminate plastic waste.
Commentary / World Jun 13, 2019
The realist case for combating climate change
by Sumiko Takeuchi
A balance must be struck between reducing use of fossil fuels and maintaining a level of economic growth that can eradicate poverty and hunger.