Ethics Commission dismisses complaints against Edgar and Argenziano

Ethics Commission dismisses complaints against Edgar and Argenziano:


 "The Florida Commission on Ethics quietly released a press release today clearing Public Service Commission Lisa Edgar, and her aide Roberta Bass, for a second time, on ethics charges of engaging in ex parte communications with FPL lobbyist Ken Hoffman
....
."But Commissioner Nathan Skop, who has consistently accused Edgar of violating the ex parte rules when she allowed Bass to transmit a message to her from Hoffman, was unhappy with the ruling. He issued this statement:

"The ruling of the Ethics commission is immaterial to the inappropriateness of Commissioner Edgar's conduct. Under this absurd ruling, it is apparently okay for a commissioner to have a secret communication with FPL while sitting on the bench hearing the case instead of requiring FPL to state their concern publicly on the record.''

....

Climate bill teetering - TheHill.com

Climate bill teetering - TheHill.com

By Alexander Bolton - 06/16/10 08:29 PM ET

Sen. Scott Brown (Mass.), a crucial Republican swing vote, met with President Barack Obama on Wednesday and told him he would not support a cap-and-trade plan or carbon fee to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

But this blow came after Obama delivered the first setback Tuesday night. In his primetimes speech, he called for comprehensive energy reform but did not propose an emissions cap.

SC utility wants to cut natural gas rates - WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina |

SC utility wants to cut natural gas rates - WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina |:

"The State newspaper reported Wednesday the Cayce-based utility is asking state officials to cut natural gas rates an average of 2.25 percent, starting in November.

The utility says the lower rates and lower costs for natural gas could save the average residential customer about $100 over a year"

ECT.coop House Approves Grid Security Bill

ECT.Coop. House Approves Grid Security Bill: "

By Todd H. Cunningham | ECT Staff WriterPublished: June 11th, 2010

The bill also would give FERC authority to require protection against less-imminent “vulnerabilities” to cyber or electromagnetic weapon attacks if it determines that the North American Electric Reliability Corp.’s reliability standards do not adequately address them.


Additionally, the legislation would require the commission to direct NERC to submit for approval standards mandating adequate availability of large transformers and provisions to protect against geomagnetic storms, to ensure bulk power system reliability.


FERC would also receive authority to require industry action related to the “Aurora vulnerability,” which involves hackers utilizing remote capabilities to potentially access and cause damage to physical grid asset"

Lightning presents danger in summer storms | SCNow

Lightning presents danger in summer storms | SCNow:

By STEFFANI NOLTE
Published: June 15, 2010

"“The likelihood that someone is going to get hit or lose equipment is pretty high during the summer,” Alan Swisher, Progress Energy Surge Protection Program manager, said. “A good surge protector, if its done right can protect customers from having to replace or repair items in their home if lightning strikes.”
A meter-based protector works to protect home appliances, like refrigerators, HVAC systems and washing machines, from the outside the home.
Progress Energy has a meter-based surge protector that can divert up to 4000 amps of energy away from a house and outlet protectors. Progress Energy requires a meter based surge protector in order to use one of their outlet protectors."

In address to nation, Obama urges action on clean energy bill

In address to nation, Obama urges action on clean energy bill:

By Scott Wilson and Anne E. Kornblut

Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 16, 2010

"But Obama spoke only in general, often lofty terms about the need for Congress to pass energy reform legislation this year, a point he has made at least twice in the past month. He did not call for a price to be placed on carbon, even though one senior administration official said he thinks that is the most effective way to reduce U.S. energy consumption and protect against climate change."

In address to nation, Obama urges action on clean energy bill

In address to nation, Obama urges action on clean energy bill:

By Scott Wilson and Anne E. Kornblut

"But Obama spoke only in general, often lofty terms about the need for Congress to pass energy reform legislation this year, a point he has made at least twice in the past month. He did not call for a price to be placed on carbon, even though one senior administration official said he thinks that is the most effective way to reduce U.S. energy consumption and protect against climate change."

Energy plans taking shape as fight to craft oil legislation looms large - The Hill's E2-Wire

Energy plans taking shape as fight to craft oil legislation looms large - The Hill's E2-Wire:

By Ben Geman - 06/14/10 06:00 AM ET

"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) pledge to bring energy legislation to the floor this summer is intensifying political jockeying among senators for their favorite plans — and spurring a furious push by climate advocates to keep carbon limits in play."

Duke Energy, opponents: N.C. must define 'renewable' - Sustainable Business Oregon

Duke Energy, opponents: N.C. must define 'renewable' - Sustainable Business Oregon: "Duke wants a broad definition. In tests that used both coal and biomass fuel to fire power plants, its biomass material consisted of waste wood and wood chips. Some of the wood came from whole trees Duke cleared near one of its coal plants for construction of a pond to retain coal ash.

Environmental groups contend such wood shouldn’t qualify as biomass fuel. They say counting whole trees as waste wood, listed in the law as a biomass fuel, could broaden the fuels beyond the law’s original intent."

Cyber War: Sabotaging the System - 60 Minutes - CBS News

Cyber War: Sabotaging the System - 60 Minutes - CBS News
Watch CBS News Videos Online
Could foreign hackers get into the computer systems that run crucial elements of the world's infrastructure, such as the power grids, water works or even a nation's military arsenal, to create havoc? They already have. Steve Kroft report