News bites: Oil prices rise on Fed plans, fossil fuel ads dominate, and more

Oil prices have reached triple digits again. Bloomberg reports:

Oil rose to $100 a barrel in New York for the first time since May as the Federal Reserve pledged further economic stimulus, while unrest in the Middle East and North Africa fanned concern that supplies will be threatened.

West Texas Intermediate advanced as much as 1.9 percent to $100.17 a barrel, having last risen above $100 on May 4 in intraday trading.

The New York Times analyzes heavy spending on campaign ads by coal, oil and natural gas interests.

Japan’s government hopes to phase out nuclear power by 2040, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Officials are “responding to strong antinuclear sentiment but stopping short of a clear commitment to make the country nuclear-free,” the paper notes.

The Texas Tribune explores how the expiration of the federal wind power tax credit would affect the Lone Star State, which leads the nation in wind energy.