Blowout: Inside America's energy gamble

Featured coverage

As oil and gas exports surge, West Texas becomes the world’s “extraction colony”

By Kiah Collier, The Texas Tribune, and Jamie Smith Hopkins and Rachel Leven, Center for Public Integrity Oct. 11, 2018

An unprecedented drilling boom in the Permian Basin is great for business. But it’s polluting the air, overwhelming communities and threatening the planet. Full Story 

Drilling overwhelms agency protecting America’s lands

By Rachel Leven, Center for Public Integrity Nov. 13, 2018

The Bureau of Land Management is making it easier to produce oil and gas on federal acreage. In southeastern New Mexico, it can’t even keep up with what’s already happening. Full Story 

The U.S. is helping the natural gas industry make a profit — at the expense of the environment

By Jie Jenny Zou, Center for Public Integrity Dec. 12, 2018

The U.S. government has become a pitchman for the natural gas industry. That could raise profits — and temperatures. Full Story 

Latest coverage

• How Washington unleashed fossil-fuel exports and sold out on climate

  By Jie Jenny Zou, Center for Public Integrity Oct. 16, 2018

  The Trump administration has its predecessor to thank when it comes to “energy dominance.” Full Story 

• Surge of oil and gas flowing to Texas coastline triggers building boom, tensions

  By Jamie Smith Hopkins, Center for Public Integrity, and Kiah Collier, The Texas Tribune Nov. 29, 2018

  For Texas ports, the rise in oil and gas exports is a windfall. For some communities, it’s not so simple. Full Story 

• Death in the oilfields: Fossil fuel boom brings mounting risk of death, injuries

  By Jim Morris, Center for Public Integrity Dec. 21, 2018

  From 2008 through 2017, 1,566 workers perished trying to extract oil and gas in America. About as many U.S. troops died fighting in Afghanistan during that period. Full Story 

• U.S. fossil fuel exports spur Asian building boom, climate worries

  By Michael Biesecker and Kim Tong-Hyung, Associated Press Dec. 27, 2018

  As American natural gas production soars, South Korea rushes to build tankers to move that energy to Asia’s top economies. Full Story 

• How a new oil boom is transforming West Texas and altering climate change math

  By Kiah Collier, The Texas Tribune, and Jamie Hopkins and Rachel Leven, Center for Public Integrity Dec. 28, 2018

  Our series on the global implications of a new golden age for Permian Basin oil began with a very local story: How towns large and small are trying to deal with an explosion in drilling activity, population, traffic and other effects of the new boom. Full Story 

• In key vote, federal regulators OK controversial South Texas gas export facilities

  By Kiah Collier Nov. 21, 2019

  A coalition of residents and indigenous and environmental groups has rallied against a trio of proposed terminals to export liquefied natural gas from the Port of Brownsville. Thursday's vote puts the terminals closer to final approval. Full Story