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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Natural gas utilities likely will face stricter federal regulations for their climate-warming methane emissions. Among the biggest sources of leaks is the meter outside a gas customer's home. -
A small North Carolina town is suing Duke Energy for costs from climate change, claiming the utility knew its fossil fuel power plants were heating the planet and deceived the public. -
Climate negotiators struck a controversial $300 billion deal from industrialized countries to vulnerable nations to better protect themselves from climate change.
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We look at what happened during the first week of the United Nation's annual climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.
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The results of the U.S. election are dominating many conversations during this year's U.N. climate meeting. But the intended focus is how richer countries may help developing ones meet climate targets.
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Volunteers from across the country are in southern Appalachia to help with recovery from Hurricane Helene. Among them are a Texas couple who have volunteered at a dozen disaster sites this year. -
Some people are complaining that FEMA has abandoned North Carolina after Helene. While politicians try to politicize the disaster, the reality on the ground looks much less partisan.
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The next time you shop for a cooking stove, the gas versions might show a health warning label similar to those on tobacco products. -
Solar power is booming, helping the country meet its climate goals. But the rooftop solar industry is a big source of consumer complaints and the industry is working to repair that.
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The rooftop solar business is a big source of consumer complaints. Prosecutors are investigating sales practices and financing arrangements.
