Jeff Brady
Jeff Brady is a National Desk Correspondent based in Philadelphia, where he covers energy issues and climate change. Brady helped establish NPR's environment and energy collaborative which brings together NPR and Member station reporters from across the country to cover the big stories involving the natural world.
Brady approaches stories from the consumer side of the light switch and the gas pump in an effort to demystify an energy system that can seem complicated and opaque. Brady has reported on natural gas utilities fighting to preserve their business in a world more concerned about climate change, the long saga over the Keystone XL oil pipeline, the closing of a light bulb factory in Pennsylvania and how gas ranges pollute homes and make climate change worse.
In 2017 his reporting showed a history of racism and sexism that have made it difficult for the oil business to diversify its workforce. A union at the center of that reporting now faces a class-action lawsuit from its Black members.
In 2011 Brady led NPR's coverage of the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal at Penn State—from the night legendary football coach Joe Paterno was fired to the trial where Sandusky was found guilty.
In 2005, Brady was among the NPR reporters who covered the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. His reporting on flooded cars left behind after the storm exposed efforts to stall the implementation of a national car titling system. Today, the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System is operational and the Department of Justice estimates it could save car buyers up to $11 billion a year.
Before coming to NPR in September 2003, Brady was a reporter at Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) in Portland. He has also worked in commercial television as an anchor and a reporter, and in commercial radio as a talk-show host and reporter.
Brady graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Southern Oregon State College (now Southern Oregon University). In 2018 SOU honored Brady with its annual "Distinguished Alumni" award.
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The Biden administration is tapping into the country's emergency petroleum reserves in a bid to bring down high gas prices. But it's not clear how successful that strategy will be.
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The Biden administration will release 50 million barrels of oil from the country's strategic petroleum reserve to lower gas prices for Americans as the holiday traveling season kicks off.
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The infrastructure law includes money for capturing carbon from power plants and removing it from the air. Scientists say such technologies are crucial to avoiding the worst impacts of climate change.
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New analyses find countries' latest climate promises are still not enough to meet the goal set in the Paris climate agreement. And they warn few countries even have plans to carry out their pledges. -
In a major expansion, proposed U.S. rules would apply not only to new oil and gas operations but also older ones. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas considered key to slowing global warming quickly.
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Australia says it is committed to addressing climate change, yet it exports huge amounts of coal and natural gas. There are calls for Australia to wind down global fossil fuel exports.
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Under the Paris climate deal, exports of oil, gas and coal don't count toward a country's emissions. That's coming in for scrutiny as leaders gather for another global climate summit.
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Even as the U.S. aims to cut climate-warming emissions at home, it still exports huge amounts of natural gas, oil and coal. That's coming in for scrutiny ahead of another global climate summit.
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Americans love their gas stoves, but they pollute homes and are connected to a supply system that leaks methane. That's part of a battle as more people face a decision about switching to electric.
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Environmentalists are optimistic a $150 billion plan to make the electricity grid more climate friendly will pass in Congress. Some utility companies say the cleaner energy goals are too aggressive.
