The city of Fort Worth, home to hundreds of shale gas well sites, opted against allowing saltwater disposal wells within its boundaries. That means wastewater from gas well fracking activities must be shipped beyond city limits.

According to the Railroad Commission of Texas, which regulates oil and gas activities in the state, Texas has more than 50,000 of the saltwater disposal well sites.

What is a saltwater disposal well?

Photo of fracking wastewater truck traveling local roads (c) W.L. Sunshine

In early June, Toronto will host the World Hydrogen Energy Conference. Hundreds of attendees from more than 55 countries will benefit from six parallel tracks plus plenary speakers and a hydrogen safety basics workshop. Sponsors include the U.S. Department of Energy, top automobile manufacturers, and fuel cell manufacturers.

Learn more about this and other energy conferences in June

The DOE sees domestic geothermal as a vast, largely untapped resource "equivalent to a 30,000-year energy supply."

That's why they're sponsoring a competition for students from ten universities. The young participants are analyzing the potential for geothermal power development of the Snake River Plain in Idaho and will deliver presentations of their findings to industry.

Five notable geothermal powered facilities

In early 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency withdrew production approval of four promising biofuel grasses that could serve as feedstock for ethanol-gas blends.

Until these grasses receive EPA approval, they cannot be used to produce ethanol to meet the most recent Renewable Fuel Standards.

Four biofuel grasses not yet approved for ethanol feedstock