Keystone pipeline a pipe dream?

The controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline pits protectors of the environment against the oil industry, and Republicans in Congress against President Obama. In this Decoder episode, we drill down into the battle over the Keystone.

Oil leaks from ruptured Shell pipeline

Aug 16, 2011

Royal Dutch Shell says there are now only two barrels of oil a day leaking from one of its North Sea rigs. But with an estimated two hundred tons having leaked into the water over 6 days, environmentalists say the clean-up could take some time. It's said to be the worst spill in British waters in more than a decade, and began last Wednesday. But it was only acknowledged by Shell two days later. Adam Ramsay from the UK-based People and Planet student organisation, thinks Shell and the government have been complicit in oil industry cover-ups for ages.

Gulf Spill's Effects Unknown For Years?

More than a year after the Deepwater Horizon spill, scientists say it could take a decade to figure out how the oil affected the Gulf of Mexico's environment.

Kites pulling their weight for the environment

A German engineer is marketing kites designed to pull oil tankers out of their heavy dependence on fuel. These 'Skysails' can reduce the fuel consumption of ships by 10,000 tonnes a day. With oil prices rising, they might just catch on.

Growing the next 'green' fuel

Will algae fuel the car of tomorrow? Harrison Dillon, CTO of Solazyme is growing strains of algae to produce various kinds of renewable oils. He hopes that over the next few years, people will start consuming algae derived products like gasoline, household cleaners, and makeup without ever realizing it.

Building powered by cooking oil

It may not seem like it, but used cooking oil could be the world's next hot commodity. PriceWaterhouseCoopers, a London-based accountancy firm, is buying up as much of it as it can, using the oil as fuel to power its offices. The new headquarters is now one of the most eco-friendly buildings in London.

Chevron vs. the Amazon

In one of largest environmental judgements ever, a court in Ecuador ordered Chevron to pay $8.6 billion in reparations to the victims of oil pollution in a remote rainforest in Ecuador. Chevron calls the court system in Ecuador corrupt, and it could interrupt the day to day business. Investigative Journalist Greg Pallast says President Obama told BP immediately to pony up money to pay for the damage to the gulf but will he have the same message for an American company?