Nicolás Rivero
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Articles by Nicolás Rivero
One of America’s most dangerous volcanoes will soon power homes
On the slopes of an Oregon volcano, engineers are building the hottest geothermal power plant on Earth. The plant will tap into the infernal energy of Newberry Volcano, “one of the largest and most hazardous active volcanoes in the United States,” according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It has already reached temperatures of 629 degrees Fahrenheit, making it one of the hottest geothermal sites in the world, and next year it will start selling electricity to nearby homes and businesses.
Workers keep dying from heat. Data from inside their bodies shows why.
Six hours before she collapsed from the heat in the South Florida tropical plant nursery where she works, Irma wasn’t feeling well. By 10 a.m., two hours into her shift weeding long rows of plants on a hot August day, her head hurt and she felt nauseous. By 2 p.m. she had full body cramps and chills. At her boss’s urging, she pushed through the pain without a break until her body gave out at 4 p.m. Her vision went black and she fell to the ground.
See the world’s first ‘flying’ electric ferry zipping around Stockholm
Commuters in Stockholm are cutting their travel times — and carbon emissions — on an electric ferry that seems to fly above the water. The ship rises above the waves on a set of underwater wings known as hydrofoils.
Growing weed takes more energy than mining bitcoin. Can it go green?
In 2010, an energy researcher named Evan Mills was surprised to walk into a plant nursery near his Mendocino, California, home and find, among the seedlings and bags of soil, a display of gigantic 1,000-watt lightbulbs — a more powerful version of bulbs commonly used to light highways at night. He asked the nursery owner what they were for. “He gave me kind of a side eye and then explained, ‘Well, this is for cannabis growing, you idiot. That’s what everyone around here does,’” Mills said.
How to grow houseplants without ever having to buy one
Houseplants have gotten something of a bad rap lately, with climate advocates citing the energy-intensive greenhouses they're grown in, the harmful emissions produced from shipping them long distances and the environment-depleting peat they are often packed in. But there's a greener - and cheaper - way to expand your plant collection. Local plant swaps offer a chance to trade plants and get tips for how to care for them.
A revolução dos carros elétricos pode estar em terreno mais instável do que se imagina
Planos republicanos de eliminar quase todo o apoio federal a veículos elétricos (VE) podem prejudicar seriamente a indústria emergente, dizem especialistas da indústria automobilística, justo quando mais americanos estão considerando comprar um elétrico e as companhias de carros planejam grandes investimentos.
The electric-vehicle revolution may be on shakier ground than you think
Republican plans to scrap nearly all federal support for electric vehicles could kneecap the nascent industry, auto industry experts say, justwhen more Americans are considering buying an EV and car companies are planning big investments. “Everything that’s happening politically couldn’t have happened at a worse time from the point of view of EV adoption,” Ed Kim, president and chief analyst at the car market research firm AutoPacific, said in an interview.
How to propagate a plant by cutting and rooting in soil or water
Houseplants have gotten something of a bad rap lately, with climate advocates citing the energy-intensive greenhouses they’re grown in, the harmful emissions produced from shipping them long distances and the environment-depleting peat they are often packed in. But there’s a greener — and cheaper — way to expand your plant collection. Local plant swaps offer a chance to trade plants and get tips for how to care for them.
Prédios comerciais dos EUA usam 'baterias de gelo' para reduzir gastos com energia e emissões de CO2
Edifícios comerciais nos Estados Unidos estão se resfriando com a ajuda de baterias de última geração feitas de um dos materiais mais simples do mundo: o gelo. Quando a eletricidade é barata, as baterias congelam a água. Quando os custos de energia aumentam, os responsáveis por esses edifícios desligam seus caros aparelhos de ar-condicionado e usam o gelo para manter a temperatura baixa.
These buildings use batteries made of ice to stay cool and save money
Thousands of buildings across the United States are staying cool with the help of cutting-edge batteries made from one of the world’s simplest materials: ice. When electricity is cheap, the batteries freeze water. When energy costs go up, building managers turn off their pricey chillers and use the ice to keep things cool. A typical building uses about a fifth of its electricity for cooling, according to the International Energy Agency.
FBI investigating Trump EPA claims of fraud in $20B Biden grant fund
FBI agents this week questioned Environmental Protection Agency employees regarding a Biden administration grant program for climate and clean-energy projects, escalating a criminal probe that already caused one veteran prosecutor to resign, according to two people familiar with the matter.
New EV batteries are making electric cars cheaper and safer
A new kind of battery could make American EVs cheaper and safer, experts say. But first, it will have to overcome trade barriers between the United States and China. If you bought an EV with a lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) battery, you could expect lower car payments, less fire risk and more years of use out of your car — but you wouldn’t be able to go as far on a single charge as you could with the nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries commonly found in American and European electric cars.
High-ranking D.C. federal prosecutor resigns over order to freeze EPA funds
The head of the criminal division in the U.S. attorney’s office in D.C. resigned Tuesday morning after declining to comply with an urgent Trump administration demand to freeze the assets of a multibillion-dollar Biden administration environmental grant initiative, according to the official’s resignation letter and two people familiar with the matter.
Trump okays $782 million loan to sustainable jet fuel plant in Montana
Donald Trump has frozen billions of dollars in Energy Department loans for clean energy projects. But on Feb. 7, he quietly blessed one deal cut in the final days of Joe Biden’s presidency: a $782 million loan guarantee to a company expanding a biofuels plant in Great Falls, Montana. Montana Renewables, which makes jet fuel and diesel out of plant oils, beef tallow and other waste fats, signed a $1.67 billion loan deal with the Energy Department on Jan.
How much climate money can Trump claw back? We did the math.
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More than two weeks after President Donald Trump signed an executive order pausing tens of billions of dollars in federal climate spending, the funding freeze is continuing to cause chaos and confusion for states and nonprofit groups across the country, despite lingering questions about its legality.
By Dan Keating, Maxine Joselow Verified, Nicolás Rivero, Amudalat Ajasa Verified, Evan Halper Verified
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The Washington Post
Verified
Ultra-efficient AI won’t solve data centers’ climate problem. This might.
When Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek announced a chatbot that matched the performance of cutting-edge models such as ChatGPT with a fraction of the computing power, it sparked a glimmer of hope that AI might be less of an energy hog than people had feared. But making AI cheaper and more efficient could just prompt people to use more AI, meaning data centers will still wind up using a lot more electricity, according to computer scientists, energy experts and tech investors.
In the Trump era, renewable energy isn’t green - it’s ‘dominant’
More than 160 solar energy executives converged Wednesday on Capitol Hill for what the clean-energy industry described as its largest-ever lobbying blitz. And they tailored their pitch for a new audience: President Donald Trump and his political allies. The executives sported surprising accessories: lapel pins with the message “AMERICAN ENERGY DOMINANCE” below an image of the sun rising over a solar panel.
What America can learn from Miami’s trash nightmare
DORAL, Fla. - Two years ago, Miami-Dade County awoke to a garbage nightmare. Both of the county landfills were nearly full, and the aging incinerator that once burned the lion’s share of the county’s waste had itself been consumed in a runaway trash fire.
This incinerator shows how hard it is to solve America’s trash problem
DORAL, Fla. — Two years ago, Miami-Dade County awoke to a garbage nightmare. Both of the county landfills were nearly full, and the aging incinerator that once burned the lion’s share of the county’s waste had, itself, burned down in a runaway trash fire.
Heat pumps help these EVs extend their battery range in cold weather
Cold winters are bad news for EV batteries. But with a heat pump — the same climate-friendly heating system that helps buildings stay warm with less energy — electric cars can run longer in freezing temperatures. On average, EVs lose about a fifth of their range when temperatures hit 32 degrees Fahrenheit, according to data from Recurrent, a company that tracks the battery performance of electric cars. That’s mainly because chilly passengers crank up the heat, which draws down the battery.
Tesla is no longer the world’s biggest EV manufacturer
For about a decade, Tesla has been the world’s biggest EV producer, making its luxury vehicles the most ubiquitous electric cars on the road. But now a very different type of car, made in China and selling for as little as $10,000, is vying for the top spot. China’s BYD, which makes more than a dozen models of all-electric sedans, SUVs and minivans, built more electric cars than Tesla last year, the first time it has done so.
A vintage sweater may outlast anything you buy today. Here’s why.
Does your winter sweater look like the one on the left or right? The one on the left has been worn by two generations for four decades, and its tightly knit wool fibers are still in good shape. The other one, made of polyester and spandex and bought for cheap from a department store in December, is already pilling after one wear.
A science-backed tip to waste less food on Thanksgiving
It is a great irony of American life that we celebrate Thanksgiving - a holiday meant to commemorate a group of people who narrowly escaped starving to death - by wasting more food than on nearly any other day of the year. On a typical day, U.S. households throw out roughly 230 million pounds of food, according to data from ReFed, an American nonprofit that aims to reduce food waste. This Thanksgiving, ReFed estimates that number will rise to 316 million pounds.
These batteries could harness the wind and sun to replace coal and gas
SAPPORO, Japan - Ocean winds whip across the beaches, hillsides and sprawling plains of Hokkaido. There’s enough wind energy here for Japan’s northernmost island to power itself and export clean electricity to the rest of the country. But Hokkaido can’t harness all of that power unless it has a way to store energy when breezes are blowing and use it later when the gusts die down.
How do you dispose of pumpkins after Halloween? Try these green methods.
Every year, Americans buy tens of millions of decorative pumpkins to carve, paint and display for Halloween. When you throw those pumpkins out, they wind up in the landfill, where they rot and release methane, an extra-powerful planet-warming gas. How scary might those pumpkin emissions be? In 2022, the United States harvested about 2 billion pounds of pumpkins destined to be sold whole (not processed, canned ormade into pie or bread) according to data from the Agriculture Department.
Hurricane Helene turned this restaurant worker into an emergency manager
Donations are organized at Colaborativa La Milpa's disaster response warehouse. (Camille Nevárez-Hernandez) By Nicolás Rivero October 22, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. EDT ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Edna Alviter stands in the eye of Hurricane Helene recovery. Behind her towers a mountain of donated clothes, stuffed in garbage bags and piled more than six feet high. In front of her stand nearly 20 volunteers, ranging in age from their 20s to their 60s, chattering in a mix of English and Spanish.
In Helene-battered towns, many schools are still closed. What that means for recovery.
Extreme WeatherWeatherClimateCapital Weather GangEnvironmentClimate LabHurricanes Extreme WeatherWeatherClimateCapital Weather GangEnvironmentClimate LabHurricanes Experts say when, or if, schools reopen will not only determine how families and school staff recover, but also how battered communities bounce back.
For these North Carolina residents, disaster aid may never come
A woman, who is undocumented, on the front porch of her home, which was flooded and full of mud after Hurricane Helene. (Allison Joyce for The Washington Post) By Nicolás Rivero October 17, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. EDT MARION, N.C. — A family of four who lost everything in Hurricane Helene came looking for help. A dad in tan work boots and a faded baseball cap. A mom with dark hair tied back away from her tired eyes. A boy in a Spider-Man tank top.
North Carolina official: Helene toll will only be known when search and rescues end
Ben Phillips scoops mud out a window of his house in Marshall, N.C., on Tuesday in the wake of Hurricane Helene. (Jeff Roberson/AP) By Allyson Chiu , Nicolás Rivero and Molly Hennessy-Fiske October 3, 2024 at 11:49 a.m. EDT As Thursday began in the mountain towns of western North Carolina, it remained a challenge to get through washed-out roads and across crumbled bridges — meaning crews were still trying to reach remote areas devastated by Helene.
Rescue and recovery extend deeper into areas ravaged by Helene
A citizen rescue team looks for a way to move supplies across the Broad River near Bat Cave, N.C., on Tuesday. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images) By Nicolás Rivero , Allyson Chiu and Molly Hennessy-Fiske October 2, 2024 at 2:53 p.m. EDT Rescue and recovery crews on Wednesday continued pushing further into areas devastated by Helene that have been cut off from the rest of the world for days, their efforts shedding more light on the reality of the storm’s true toll.
Don’t want to go vegetarian? This diet is also good for the planet.
Sandra Gutierrez, a home cook and cooking teacher, chops vegetables from her home garden for a bean salad in her kitchen in Cary, N.C., in 2023. (Lauren Vied Allen for The Washington Post) By Nicolás Rivero September 24, 2024 at 6:30 a.m. EDT I’m not a perfect role model for a healthy or sustainable diet. I know I should eat more fruits and veggies and less red meat.
Millions of Americans let power companies control their thermostat
HOUSTON — Last September, in the final days of what was then the hottest summer in human history, scorching temperatures threatened to knock out the Texas power grid. As air conditioners around the state strained to keep homes and businesses cool in 100-plus-degree heat, the state’s grid operator declared an energy emergency, asking all Texans to save electricity between 6 and 9 p.m. Ada Garcia, a Houston homeowner, didn’t have to touch her thermostat to pitch in.
America’s heirloom seeds can protect crops from climate change
A farmer planting pumpkin seeds. (S.Piyaset/iStock) By Nicolás Rivero September 20, 2024 at 6:30 a.m. EDT Here’s a way you can help protect the U.S. food system from pests, disease and climate change. All you have to do is plant a seed. Each year, hundreds of American gardeners sign up for a citizen science program run by Seed Savers Exchange, a nonprofit that preserves thousands of heirloom crop varieties from around the United States.
Electric cars now outnumber gas-powered in Norway, a global first
Teslas are parked at a charging station in 2020 in Skei, Norway. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images,) By Nicolás Rivero September 17, 2024 at 1:42 p.m. EDT Norway is the first country in the world with more electric vehicles than gas-powered cars on the road, according to vehicle registration data the Norwegian road federation, known as OFV, released Tuesday. Of the 2.8 million passenger cars registered in the country, 26.3 percent are fully electric, just edging out the share of gas vehicles.
How Japan could finally tap into its giant geothermal energy reserve
Climate Solutions One hot spring town shows how Japan could turn its underground cauldron of heat into clean energy — without risking its centuries-old tradition of public baths. 10 min Sorry, a summary is not available for this article at this time. Please try again later. Tsuchiyu Onsen, a nature-rich hot spring town surrounded by the mountains is home to many ryokan and hotels in the Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
Science says a slushy is one of the best ways to cool down on a hot day
Any drink made from crushed ice can help you stay cool on a hot day. (Deb Lindsey for The Washington Post) By Nicolás Rivero August 26, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. EDT On a hot summer day, one of the most effective ways to cool your body is to drink a slushy. Really, it could be any drink made from crushed ice: a slushy, a frappé, a frozen margarita. Even a snow cone or sorbet will do.
Can rooftop solar panels survive hurricanes, hail and snow?
A crew from Solar Solutions installs solar panels on a home in Southeast Washington on Feb. 23, 2022. (Robb Hill/for The Washington Post) By Nicolás Rivero August 17, 2024 at 6:30 a.m. EDT Rooftop solar panels aren’t cheap — so in an especially active hurricane season, they can create anxiety for homeowners who have a $20,000 investment strapped to their roofs.
See how this green hydrogen plant converts water into clean fuel
CORPUS CHRISTI, Tex. — The tangle of pipes at this industrial plant doesn’t stand out in this city built around the carbon-heavy business of pumping oil and refining it into fuel for planes, ships, trucks and cars. But this plant produces fuel froma different source, one that doesn’t belch greenhouse pollution: hydrogen. Specifically, hydrogen made from water using renewable electricity, also known as green hydrogen. Aerial view of the Infinium plant.
It’s never been cheaper to buy an EV. Here’s why
19/03/2024 KL. 10:00 For abonnenter The price of electric cars is plummeting so fast that they’re now almost as cheap as gas-powered cars. Since EVs first hit the market, car buyers have had to pay a steep premium if they wanted a car that ran on batteries instead of a gas engine. Two years ago, they would have paid about $17,000 more on average for a new electric Log ind Få adgang til FINANS - Overblik, inspiration og indsigt i dansk og internationalt erhvervsliv. Læs om alle fordelene her
A new watchdog satellite will sniff out methane emissions from space
07/03/2024 KL. 08:25 For abonnenter The global crackdown on methane emissions will get a boost from a watchdog satellite built to track and publicly reveal the biggest methane polluters in the oil and gas industry. The satellite launched March 4 on a SpaceX rocket and will begin transmitting data later this year. The satellite, designed by scientists from the Log ind Få adgang til FINANS - Overblik, inspiration og indsigt i dansk og internationalt erhvervsliv. Læs om alle fordelene her
Florida farmworkers created America’s strongest workplace heat rules
The sweet, earthy scent of tomatoes hangs in the air as a crew of 44 workers speeds through rows of vines. They fill 32-pound buckets with fruit, then deliver them to co-workers waiting on the backs of flatbed trucks who dump the contents into crates to be sorted and packaged. During an eight-hour shift, each worker hauls an average of about three tons of tomatoes.
Here’s how many private jets besides Taylor Swift’s ride landed in Vegas for the Super Bowl
Understanding our climate: Global warming is a real phenomenon, and weather disasters are undeniably linked to it. As temperatures rise, heat waves are more often sweeping the globe — and parts of the world are becoming too hot to survive. What can be done? The Post is tracking a variety of climate solutions, as well as the Biden administration’s actions on environmental issues. It can feel overwhelming facing the impacts of climate change, but there are ways to cope with climate anxiety.
Dutch start-up Human Material Loop turns hair into sustainable clothing
Entrepreneurs are looking for ways to recycle human hair, including weaving clippings swept off the floor of salons and barbershops into clothes. The United States and Canada throw out 32 tons of hair per day, according to a report from the waste management firm Green Circle Salons. But Kollar says there’s a better use for all those wasted locks: weaving them into clothing.
Sorting recycling is hard. AI could help.
Recycling is hard. Most Americans don’t know what should go into their recycling bins — and when they guess, they often guess wrong and gum up the works of recycling facilities in the process. This year, the United States will spend tens of millions of dollars to teach Americans the right way to recycle. But some companies and researchers think it would be smarter to outsource the job to computers. Waste-sorting plants have been using machines to separate recyclables for years.
Fat, sugar, trash: All the weird things that may fuel planes by 2050
So for now, the most realistic way to dial back the airline industry’s emissions is to have planes burn cleaner fuels, known as sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). The problem is there’s nowhere near enough SAF to meet the airline industry’s fuel needs. Last year, the United States produced enough sustainable fuel to meet less than 0.2 percent of the airline industry’s jet fuel consumption.
Why the idea of Taylor Swift’s Super Bowl jet trip is sparking controversy
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Why the idea of Taylor Swift’s Super Bowl jet trip is sparking controversy
Few celebrities have had their jet travel come under as intense scrutiny in recent months as Taylor Swift, who has crisscrossed the country in a private plane to watch her boyfriend Travis Kelce play for the Kansas City Chiefs.
How to choose a protein powder that’s better for the planet
Athletes, bodybuilders and gym rats can get obsessive about their protein powders. In addition to cost, taste and texture, shoppers carefully scrutinize the ratio of fat to protein and the exact mix of amino acids present in each powder. 10 steps you can take to lower your carbon footprint But eco-minded gym-goers might want to consider one more factor: the impact their protein powder has on the environment.
Will Texas grid upgrades help the state avoid power outages this winter?
Comment Save Texas’s electric grid operator ERCOT is gearing up for a winter storm that’s expected to drop temperatures to about 15 degrees across the state early next week. But Texans have reason to hope the electric grid will perform better in the cold than it did in 2021, when winter storm Uri caused massive power outages that left millions of homes and businesses in the dark. Nearly 25o people died.
What’s the best reusable water bottle material: Glass, metal or plastic?
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