According to the U.S. Department of Energy, pumped storage hydropower makes up more than 90 percent of the nation’s utility-scale energy storage. Now, the Tennessee Valley Authority is considering expanding pumped storage hydropower capacity.
Author: Kelvey Vander Hart
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How Will an International Visitor Surcharge Benefit Our National Parks?
Approximately 14.6 million travelers from other countries visit America’s national parks annually. Now, the U.S. Department of the Interior is proposing a surcharge so that these visitors pay a little extra for park entrance fees.
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Antora Expands Energy Options for Industry
The industrial sector accounts for more than one-third of global energy consumption, most of which goes toward the industrial heating required to manufacture the products and materials that line our store shelves and build our cities. Now, a California-based company has developed a solution that could allow the industrial sector to cut costs while powering industrial heating with clean energy.
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Wave Energy Set to Power Tribal Communities in Alaska
Alaska may be rich in energy resources, but many communities across the state struggle to keep the lights on due to extreme weather conditions, high energy prices, and difficulty accessing fuel resources in remote areas. However, Alaska doesn’t just have abundant oil and natural gas—the state holds enormous, untapped potential for renewable energy development.
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New Tool Can Predict Impact of Wildfire Smoke on Solar Production
As wildfires grow in frequency and intensity across the United States, more Americans are becoming familiar with smoke-filled days.
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New Data Modeling Could Target Best Areas for Manually Recharging Aquifers
Underground water sources are critically important in the United States. Groundwater supplies around 35 percent of America’s drinking water, and farmers rely on aquifers for crop irrigation, livestock production, and other agricultural needs. However, aquifers do not have an infinite amount of water.
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A New Precision-Engineered Surface Could Make Solar Panels More Efficient
America’s solar capacity has been rising—in 2023, solar panels generated enough energy to power 22 million homes, eight times more than in 2014. While that is impressive, solar still only produces roughly 4 percent of our nation’s total electricity. However, a recent development in anti-reflective coatings could improve solar efficiency and increase that percentage.
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Report: Repealing Electric Vehicle Tax Credits Would Save Taxpayers Hundreds of Billions
When the federal government introduced the electric vehicle tax credit in 2008, policymakers designed it as an infant industry credit.A new Institute for Energy Research report suggests that repealing IRA-specific EV subsidies could save taxpayers $300 billion over the next decade.
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Can Seawater Solve Green Hydrogen’s Water Problem?
The problem? In addition to the high cost of production, green hydrogen uses a lot of water. How can we overcome this roadblock?
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Advanced Recycling Could Improve Our Plastic Problem
This Earth Day, let’s explore one possible way to expand and improve our recycling system: the use of advanced or chemical recycling.