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.
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 |
Gleaning Clues on Sunny Days from the Clouds New York Times, Oct. 23, 2012
Inside America’s Weirdest Energy Lab Energywire, June 4, 2015 Solar Power’s Rebel Capitalist Energywire, Feb. 4, 2016 |
Transportation
| How VW Turned from Diesel Pariah into Electric Gorilla Energywire, Jan. 3, 2019
The City Where EVs, Regulators and Money Merge AAA’s Big Move into Electric Vehicles Energywire, Sept. 4, 2018 |
Seven Takeaways from a Wild Year for EVs Energywire, Dec. 21, 2018
At LA Auto Show, EVs Swim Against a Tide of Bigness Palo Alto Is Living the Electric Dream Energywire, Oct. 15, 2018 |
Business
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Energy Storage Is America’s Industry to Lose Energywire, April 11, 2017 Why NRG’s Green Crusade Faltered Energywire, March 7, 2016 Why the Oil Majors Are Backing Away from Renewable Energy Energywire, |
Solar Firm Prods Trump to Start a Trade War Energywire, April 27, 2017
Utilities’ New Partner: The Marijuana Industry Energywire, Oct. 3, 2014 Smart Thermostats Turn Up the Heat on the Internet of Things Energywire, Apr. 14, 2014 |
Technology
| When Wind is the Firmest Thing Energywire, June 26, 2017
Can Big Data Make a Dumb Building Smart? Energywire, Feb. 18, 2016 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
Solar Designs from Nature Sierra, Jan. 2013 How Wireless Charging Will Make Life Simpler (and Greener) Forbes, July 24, 2012 |
International
| Canada Has Too Much Clean Electricity. Anybody Want It? Energywire, Sept. 21, 2017
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
How Solar Can Save India’s Farmers Smithsonian, June 26, 2013 Cuba Wants Clean Energy. Can the U.S. Deliver? Energywire, June 25, 2015
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Adventure 
| Ice Manliness Cometh Sierra, Nov. 2009
Helping Others Find Their Inner Adventurer (pdf) Adventure Sports Journal, Jan. 2003 Getting Lucky Smith, Dec. 21, 2006 |
Fighting to Keep Fit Men’s Journal, Jan. 2010
Good Going Sierra, Nov. 2007 Mountain Bikes for Beginners (pdf) Camping Life, July 2004 |
Science & Environment 
| Up on the Farm Sierra, Nov. 2012
Last Train to Paradise American Way, July 15, 2009 |
Message in a Bottle Sierra, May 2009
How Rooftop Greenhouses Could Revolutionize the Supermarket Forbes, Apr. 11, 2012 |