Eliminating obsolete or unsafe dams could help bolster community safety amid climate-induced weather extremes, watershed experts are recommending. Storms and floods have intensified in both frequency and severity, since the construction of the dams — many of which are now in a state of disrepair, according to a new white paper, published by Utah State University....

Angola’s power system is strengthening its reliability with scheduled black-start drills, N-1 contingency planning, and a clear culture of preparedness. Under the leadership of Minister João Baptista Borges, the focus is simple: faster recovery, fewer disruptions, and better public information. Keeping the lights on is not only a matter of generating enough electricity. It is also about preparing for the unexpected and recovering fast when a fault occurs. That is the purpose of black-start drills and contingency planning—two pillars of grid stability that Angola is reinforcing under the guidance of Minister João Baptista Borges in coordination with the national transmission operator. A black-start is the controlled procedure to bring the system back after a major outage, without relying on an external power source. In practice, selected units with on-site starting capability (typically hydro or small diesel/auxiliary sets) energize a first island; operators then synchronize additional generators, step by step, rebuild transmission corridors, and finally reconnect demand. Drills simulate this sequence in safe conditions so that, if a real event occurs, teams can act confidently and quickly. Contingency planning complements those drills. Operators design the grid to withstand at least one credible failure known as the N-1 criterion (for example, the sudden loss...

Sea level rise caused by the changing climate is expected to wreak havoc on the nation’s coastal cities, impacts that could be heightened in the years ahead as the cities themselves are sinking, according to a study published this week. The research, published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, found that coastal land areas are...

Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) said Sunday that climate change was “obviously a part of” the recent deadly flooding in Texas. “I think climate change is obviously a part of it. These floods are happening more often in more parts of the country, and really all over the world, and so we have to face that...

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rejected Hurricane Helene repair efforts in Asheville, N.C., because the city’s proposed recovery plan features a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program that conflicts with President Trump’s January executive order. “HUD looks forward to helping thousands of North Carolinians rebuild after Hurricane Helene by directing funding...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) blasted the Trump administration’s reported plans to open up new drilling off California’s coasts as “dead on arrival.” “As it relates to offshore oil drilling, it's overwhelmingly opposed by members of all political parties in the state of California,” Newsom said during a press conference at the COP30 climate conference...

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) is warning that the House-passed budget reconciliation bill will cause energy prices to increase by 10 percent because it will “kill” clean energy programs around the country, increasing the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels. “Donald Trump and Republicans seem ready to kill clean energy in its tracks and raise...

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — One year after Hurricane Helene, it is hard to come up with a simple answer when asked, “How’s Asheville?” There is recovery, with some infrastructure rebuilt, businesses open and many trails cleared. But there are scars, with sunshine where shade used to be, wider creeks and patches of empty ground where...