Topic: Natural Gas (5)
North Carolina's Challenge Guts Air Rule
"A federal appeals court Friday upheld a challenge by North Carolina and struck down the regulatory cornerstone of the Bush administration's efforts to control air pollution. The state was joined by Duke Power and other utilities, which charged that the Environmental Protection Agency exceeded its authority when it established the 2005 Clean Air Interstate Rule."
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.
GE Study Finds Tax Revenues from Wind Farms Offset Tax Incentive
"GE Energy Financial Services has released a study estimating that the federal production tax credit (PTC) for wind power that is set to expire December 31, 2008 more than pays for itself through tax revenues from the projects' income, vendors' profits and individual workers' wages."
PSNC Gets Rate Boost, Asks For Another
"PSNC Energy is seeking a rate increase of 15 percent, just one month after raising rates 16 percent. The combined increases would add about $40 a month to a typical family's bill in the winter. About 40 percent of Triangle residents heat with natural gas. PSNC, the Triangle's natural gas utility, made the rate request Friday to the N.C. Utilities Commission. If approved, the change would go into effect July 1.
"It's staggering," said Bill Gilmore, natural gas analyst for the Utilities Commission. "We've never seen anything like this in the summer. These prices are out of control." "
Lack of Power Lines Seen as Obstacle in Wind Development
"The United States has been called the Saudi Arabia of wind, but transmission line deficiencies might keep the nation from achieving its wind energy goals."
