Despite a nationwide drop in gas prices, California drivers continue to face prices near $5 per gallon—thanks in large part to state-imposed taxes and regulations, not oil companies, according to state data and industry experts.
President-elect Donald Trump plans to declare a national energy emergency to enhance American energy production and reduce energy costs, according to an incoming administration official. The soon-to-be 47th president will sign a series of executive orders shortly after his inauguration to accelerate domestic energy development.
The devastating wildfires raging across Los Angeles have drawn sharp criticism over years of mismanagement and budgetary neglect under Democrat leadership. The crisis has exposed a severely underfunded Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), leaving firefighters and residents to face unprecedented challenges.
L.A. Times columnist Sammy Roth has attributed the recent Palisades Fire and other devastating wildfires in Los Angeles to climate change, framing the issue as a result of fossil fuel dependence and global warming. In his column titled “Los Angeles is a climate disaster. The fires will change nothing,” Roth called for systemic changes, such as reducing fossil fuel use, supporting green businesses, and prioritizing climate action in public policy and personal decisions.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman announced Monday that the Kingdom plans to produce "yellowcake," a uranium concentrate used as fuel for nuclear power plants, and to enrich and sell uranium globally. The statement, made at an energy conference, highlights Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to expand its nuclear program and diversify its economy beyond oil.
Actor and outspoken climate activist Leonardo DiCaprio faced backlash after fleeing Los Angeles wildfires on a private jet. The fires, which began on January 7, have devastated California, destroying 10,000 buildings, killing at least 24 people, and forcing 150,000 residents to evacuate.