The Allegheny Front for the week of
February 20-26, 2015
Oil Train Derailment in West Virginia Ignites Safety Debate
A train hauling crude oil derailed and exploded in West Virginia this week, causing a fire that lasted for days. At least 125 residents were evacuated from their homes, one person was injured from smoke inhalation. The CSX train was hauling 3 million gallons of crude oil from the Bakkan shale in North Dakota.
Better Energy Storage Gives Renewables a Boost
When it comes to increasing clean energy, solar panels and wind turbines are just the start. Storage allows you to harness, and hold onto, renewable energy from the sun or wind until it’s most useful. New technology in storage makes renewables a viable alternative to gas and coal, where supplies are steady.
Teen Invents Pollution-busting Battery
What if a battery could do more than power your phone or flashlight—what if it could help clean the air, too? Ninth-grader Sahil Doshi has created a battery that does just that. And it won him the title of America’s Top Young Scientist at the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge in Minnesota last fall.
Grid Needs Upgrades for New Energy Sources
Gregory Reed says the electricity grid needs an upgrade. And he should know. He's Director of the Electric Power Initiative at the University of Pittsburgh, and leads the Grid Technologies Collaborative for the U.S. Dept. of Energy.
Commentary: Toddler Ice Skating Ups and Downs (and Up Again!)
Sometimes parents can get a little too invested in their kids' activities. This mom found she needed to keep pushing herself, so her daughter could learn to ice skate.
Pittsburgh Rally Part of Global Divestment Days
On Feb. 13 and 14, university students and community members all over the world came together to participate in "Global Divestment Days." In Pittsburgh, local environmental groups and students held a rally in Schenley Plaza in Oakland.