Topic: Consumer news (5)
Raleigh Garage Outfitting Priuses for Once-Unimaginable Mileage: 100 Miles Per Gallon
The Advanced Vehicle Research Center garage in Raleigh is one of a handful of companies that converts the Prius or other hybrids into plug-in hybrids, doubling their gas mileage. The result: A car that breaks a once-unimaginable fuel efficiency and delivers 100 miles per gallon, on average, with some drivers reaching 150 to 200 mpg under optimal conditions. The spare battery costs less than 75 cents to charge and gives the plug-in Prius about a 35-mile range solely on electric power, making gas optional on short commutes.
http://www.newsobserver.com/business/technology/story/1213178.html
Pennsylvania Governor Signs Bill Establishing US $650 Million Energy Fund
Heat of Battle - Utilities Struggle with Sales versus Savings
"Utilities are now in the heat of battle. While they would like to maximize their sales, they must now persuade their customers to save energy. It's a quest that will help defer investments in expensive and contentious infrastructure and in doing so, prevent the release of some harmful emissions.
Instead of investing millions in power plants to meet the 100 or so hours a year when energy demand is highest, utilities are turning to their customers to reduce energy usage...."
'Green' cities pop up around the globe
Duke Energy defends practices in hearing
"Critics: Conservation efforts fall short."
Background information on this story: Duke Energy is seeking approval from the NC Utilities Commission for several energy efficiency programs, some including repackaging of old approaches to load shifting and curtailment, while some of their proposals hinge on a new regulatory approach to cost recovery for real energy conservation measures. Their requested approach to cost recovery for these energy efficiency efforts, generally referred to as "demand side management," is highly unconventional in the amount of money Duke is asking to be paid and will likely not result in the most cost effective approach for NC to realize its vast potential to become more efficient in our electricity generation, delivery and use.
