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. -
The Biden administration set a new climate goal for the U.S. The White House argues states, cities and corporations will continue the work, even as Trump plans to exit the Paris climate agreement. -
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. -
Representatives of developing countries and climate activists were furious over the outcome, saying $300 billion annually from industrialized countries is far short of what vulnerable nations need to better protect themselves from climate change. -
The Biden administration issued a new fee on climate-warming methane pollution, but the EPA regulation faces an uncertain future under President-elect Trump -
Trump's return to the White House raises questions about whether the country will continue working on global climate initiatives. -
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. -
On social media, people are spreading false rumors that FEMA has abandoned victims of Tropical Storm Helene for political reasons. The reality on the ground looks a lot less partisan. -
The next time you shop for a cooking stove, the gas versions might show a health warning label similar to those on tobacco products. -
The rooftop solar business is a big source of consumer complaints. Across the country, prosecutors are investigating sales practices and financing arrangements. Now the solar industry is working to repair its reputation.
