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Hi. I’m a journalist and staff writer for E&E News, a leading publication on energy, environment and climate change. Can new energy systems (like renewable energy and electric cars) compete against older ones (like coal, or gas-powered cars)? And what’s the impact on the planet? That’s my beat. I write investigative and enterprise stories that get behind the headlines.

The job has sent me to Puerto Rico, where I covered the epic blackout after Hurricane Maria, as well as foreign capitals like Havana and Moscow. I enjoy writing profiles and taking deep looks at topics like America’s competitiveness in energy storage. Most recently, I’ve become head of E&E’s electric transportation team.

Earlier in my career, I worked as a newspaper reporter, web editor and magazine columnist. I have also covered energy for numerous publications including Forbes, Popular Science and The New York Times. Occasionally I am on the radio and TV.

Some of my favorite stories are below. I summarize recent work in my newsletter that goes out every so often. Follow my musings on Twitter. Got a comment or story idea? Email me at dferris AT eenews DOT net.

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People

In Puerto Rico, the Blackout Never Ends  Energywire, Oct. 19, 2017

Inside Solar’s Secret Society  Energywire, Sept. 6, 2016

Electrify the Elements  Sierra, Sept. 2013

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Gleaning Clues on Sunny Days from the Clouds  New York Times, Oct. 23, 2012

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Inside America’s Weirdest Energy Lab  Energywire, June 4, 2015

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Solar Power’s Rebel Capitalist  Energywire, Feb. 4, 2016

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Transportation

How VW Turned from Diesel Pariah into Electric Gorilla Energywire, Jan. 3, 2019

The City Where EVs, Regulators and Money Merge
Energywire, Aug. 7, 2018

AAA’s Big Move into Electric Vehicles Energywire, Sept. 4, 2018

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Seven Takeaways from a Wild Year for EVs Energywire, Dec. 21, 2018

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At LA Auto Show, EVs Swim Against a Tide of Bigness
Energywire, Dec. 3, 2018

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Palo Alto Is Living the Electric Dream Energywire, Oct. 15, 2018

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Energy Storage Is America’s Industry to Lose Energywire, April 11, 2017

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Why NRG’s Green Crusade Faltered Energywire, March 7, 2016

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Why the Oil Majors Are Backing Away from Renewable Energy Energywire,

Solar Firm Prods Trump to Start a Trade War Energywire, April 27, 2017

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Utilities’ New Partner: The Marijuana Industry Energywire, Oct. 3, 2014

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Smart Thermostats Turn Up the Heat on the Internet of Things  Energywire, Apr. 14, 2014


technology

Technology

When Wind is the Firmest Thing Energywire, June 26, 2017

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Can Big Data Make a Dumb Building Smart? Energywire, Feb. 18, 2016

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The Desirable, All-Natural (and Extremely Hard) Way to Light an Office  Energywire,  March 4, 2015

In LEDs, Some See an Intelligence to Rival Smartphones   Energywire,  Dec. 15, 2015

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Solar Designs from Nature  Sierra, Jan. 2013

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How Wireless Charging Will Make Life Simpler (and Greener)   Forbes, July 24, 2012

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Canada Has Too Much Clean Electricity. Anybody Want It?   Energywire,  Sept. 21, 2017

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Out of India’s Trash Heaps, a Controversy on Incineration Yale Environment 360, Dec. 3, 2013

Russia’s Power Grid, Held Together with Spit and Grit  Energywire, Dec. 14, 2014

India’s Only Electric Car Revamped to Woo Drivers  New York Times,  Mar. 4, 2013

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How Solar Can Save India’s Farmers  Smithsonian,   June 26, 2013

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Ice Manliness Cometh  Sierra, Nov. 2009

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Helping Others Find Their Inner Adventurer (pdf)  Adventure Sports Journal,  Jan. 2003

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Getting Lucky  Smith, Dec. 21, 2006

Fighting to Keep Fit   Men’s Journal,  Jan. 2010

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Good Going  Sierra,  Nov. 2007

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Mountain Bikes for Beginners (pdf)  Camping Life, July 2004

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Up on the Farm  Sierra, Nov. 2012

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Last Train to Paradise  American Way, July 15, 2009

Message in a Bottle  Sierra, May 2009

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How Rooftop Greenhouses Could Revolutionize the Supermarket  Forbes, Apr. 11, 2012

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