Explainers

California’s freight system is an integral part of the US economy—but it needs modernization.

Heavy-duty trucks make up 7 percent of all vehicles on US highways, yet consume more than 25 percent of the oil.

At a basic level, nuclear power is the practice of splitting atoms to boil water, turn turbines, and generate electricity.

Ethanol is a key ingredient in today's gasoline—but the promise of ethanol as an oil and climate solution depends on how it’s made and what it’s made from.

Learn which fossil fuel companies are most responsible for the heat-trapping carbon emissions that are warming the planet.

Tropical deforestation accounts for about 10 percent of the world's heat-trapping emissions, equivalent to the tailpipe emissions of 600 million average U.S. cars.

Understand the basic terminology for how energy is measured in this quick primer from the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Learn the basic terminology for how electricity is measured in this quick primer from the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Harnessing the wind is one of the cleanest, most sustainable ways to generate electricity.

The effects of climate change are apparent throughout California, including higher temperatures, more extreme wildfires, and rising sea levels. Communities must prepare for them.

A list of prominent global warming skeptic organizations, including examples of their disinformation efforts and funding sources from the fossil fuel industry.

Serious accidents at nuclear power plants have been uncommon—but their stories teach us the importance of nuclear safety.