logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2021
26m 55s

A Wind Farm in Coal Country

The New York Times
About this episode
Wyoming has powered the nation with coal for generations. Many in the state consider the industry part of their identity. It is in this state, and against this cultural backdrop, that one of America’s largest wind farms will be built. Today, we look at how and why one local politician in Carbon County, Wyo. — a conservative who says he’s “not a true believer ... Show More
Up next
Today
A Historic Settlement Over Social Media Addiction
Meta, the world’s biggest social media company, reached a multibillion-dollar legal settlement on Wednesday over claims that its technology was addictive to children. The company agreed to impose major changes to how minors use its products. Cecilia Kang, a technology reporter fo ... Show More
28m 9s
Yesterday
The Stunning Rise of the Democratic Socialists of America
This summer, the Democratic Socialists of America have mounted their biggest and most successful attempt yet to redefine the Democratic Party. They have defeated its candidates in primary after primary from coast to coast. As its electoral success grows, the organization is confr ... Show More
50m 6s
Aug 25
Canada Is Done With Trump
In a dramatic decision, the prime minister of Canada abruptly cut off negotiations with the United States, delivering the message to President Trump that he would rather engage in an ugly trade war than submit to an unfair deal. Matina Stevis-Gridneff, the Canada bureau chief for ... Show More
37m 1s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2021
Wind power: turning blue and red into green
You can feel it in the air: the energy transition is already happening. And while fossil fuels make up the largest part of US power, all across the country thousands of windmills are spinning clean energy into the grid. The power is coming from deep in the heartland to off shores ... Show More
10m 13s
Apr 2024
The Power of the Wind
You probably know wind energy projects have been around since the 90s, but did you know they now provide 10% of America’s energy, and more than that in other countries? Learn about what’s ahead for wind and what it’ll need to become a real star like coal.See omnystudio.com/listen ... Show More
51m 54s
Mar 2022
Can Nuclear Power Save A Struggling Coal Town?
A struggling Wyoming coal town may soon go nuclear with help from an unlikely partner, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates. NPR Correspondent Kirk Siegler takes us to Kemmerer, Wyo., where Gates' power company, supported by public funds, plans to open a new type of nuclear ener ... Show More
12m 46s
May 2023
Green energy gridlock
Lyle Jack wants to build a wind farm on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. But to make the project work, he has to connect that wind farm to the electric grid. Which is easier said than done. On today's show - how the green energy revolution may live, or die, by bureaucr ... Show More
22m 14s
Jan 2020
Australia’s Coalface
Australia is stubbornly sticking to providing much of its power through coal. While many countries around the world are eschewing fossil fuels, (because of their environmental impact), the Australian government continues to give the all-clear to new coal mines, including one call ... Show More
27m 6s
Aug 2025
Can China save our climate?
While the Trump administration rolls back decades of climate regulation, the world’s biggest polluter is taking the lead on clean energy. This episode was produced by Gabrielle Berbey and Devan Schwartz, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patric ... Show More
26m 5s
Sep 2025
Evening Edition: GOP Lawmaker Offers Bill To Roll Back Biden Era Coal Regulations
The Trump Administration, and GOP members of Congress, have a focus on on boosting coal production in the United States with another bill in stark contrast with the record of the Biden administration. Earlier this year, the Trump Administration approved a permit to increase coal ... Show More
15m 44s
Oct 2025
Sunday Pick: How Texas became America’s biggest producer of wind energy | Speed & Scale
This is the surprising story of how Texas – rich in oil and gas – became America's biggest producer of wind energy. For our first episode, Ryan and Anjali talk with Pat Wood, once George W. Bush’s right hand man and head of Texas's Public Utility Commission, to uncover the innova ... Show More
28 m