As Brent crude approaches $100 a barrel, clean energy advocates say the Hormuz crisis is the latest proof that fossil fuel dependence leaves consumers at the mercy of distant wars.

By Aman Azhar

The war between the United States, Israel and Iran has triggered the largest disruption to global oil supplies in the history of the modern oil market, with Brent crude prices currently hovering around $100 a barrel, sending economic shockwaves across Persian Gulf states, Asian countries and the U.S. with no clear endgame in sight.

The Iran War Is Making the Case for Renewable Energy, Experts Argue

Destroying the facilities is a violation of international law that could cause a humanitarian crisis in the most water-scare region on Earth. Powering the plants with electricity from fossil fuels poses additional long-term threats.

By Phil McKenna

Recent attacks in the Middle East on desalination plants, facilities that remove salt from seawater, raise the potential for a humanitarian crisis if the region’s freshwater production facilities are subjected to more widespread destruction. The attacks also underscore the region’s heavy reliance on an energy-intensive method of producing drinking water that is powered almost entirely by fossil fuels.

Attacks on Middle East Desalination Plants Highlight Risks of Near-Total Dependence on ‘Fossil Fuel Water’

Emissions test results are in on the city’s 120 petroleum storage tanks. One activist scientist says they are high enough “to merit serious attention,” while a Citgo spokesman says the company is taking residents’ concerns seriously and working with state regulators.

By Ryan Krugman, Inside Climate News, and Sabrina Shankman, Boston Globe

SOUTH PORTLAND—It’s one of Maine’s most desirable locations—home to a vibrant and diverse community, nearby beaches, and close proximity to Portland’s downtown. But for years, residents in South Portland have wondered: With 120 massive petroleum storage tanks dotting the shore and knitted into some neighborhoods here, is the air safe to breathe?

There’s Something in the Air in South Portland, Maine