Fla. town to Boulder: Starting a municipal utility is hard but possible - Boulder Daily Camera

Fla. town to Boulder: Starting a municipal utility is hard but possible - Boulder Daily Camera:

By Laura SniderCamera Staff Writer

Posted: 07/23/2010 08:46:47 PM MDT

Laura Snider, Camera Staff Writer

"a growing number of carbon-conscious locals, including members of the city's Decarbonization Tech Team, are asking the council to dump Xcel and consider creating a municipal utility -- a feat that's rarely accomplished in this day and age anywhere in the country.

A notable exception is Winter Park, Fla., which flipped the switch on its new, city-owned electric utility in 2005. The city manager of Winter Park, Randy Knight, will be in Boulder on Wednesday night to speak about his town's experience with recent municipalization"

Democrats Call Off Effort for Climate Bill in Senate - NYTimes.com

Democrats Call Off Effort for Climate Bill in Senate - NYTimes.com:

By CARL HULSE and DAVID M. HERSZENHORN

Published: July 22, 2010

"Bowing to political reality, Senator Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat and majority leader, said the Senate would not take up legislation intended to reduce carbon emissions blamed as a cause of climate change, but would instead pursue a more limited measure focused on responding to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and tightening energy efficiency standards."

Duke Energy gives first look inside its new HQ - Charlotte Business Journal

Duke Energy gives first look inside its new HQ - Charlotte Business Journal:

Charlotte Business Journal - by John Downey Senior Staff Writer
"Altogether, the new offices are projected to be about 20 percent more energy efficient than space not built to the LEED standards.

And Duke has another project under way in the new headquarters. The company is designing what it calls the Workplace of the Future.

If the LEED standards set out to provide maximum sustainability and minimum environmental impact on each floor, the workplace initiative is designed to provide the best working conditions. The desks have adjustable heights. Computer screens can all be brought to eye level for any worker, at whatever angle the employee finds most comfortable. There are work stations in groups of four set up for cooperative work. Additional private stations in the open floor plan are designed for what Duke calls “heads-down” work."

Private firm may provide Lower Richland sewage service - Local / Metro - TheState.com

Private firm may provide Lower Richland sewage service - Local / Metro - TheState.com:

Dawn Hinshaw

"Three members of County Council, meanwhile, are saying the county has lost credibility and should allow Palmetto Utilities to build and operate a sewage system for customers between Columbia and Eastover. Palmetto Utilities, which serves much of Northeast Richland, has a 23-year track record that makes some council members comfortable."

Little tips can help save plenty on your utility bills - WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina |

Little tips can help save plenty on your utility bills - WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina |:

"The ideal temperature to keep you thermostat at is 78 degrees. Even if you move it down just a few degrees to 72, it will increase your bill by 69 percent."

Rockefeller deals blow to FCC proposal - The Hill's Hillicon Valley

Rockefeller deals blow to FCC proposal - The Hill's Hillicon Valley:

By Sara Jerome

"Senate Commerce Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W Va.) may have dealt a significant setback to the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) on Wednesday when he announced that he will introduce a bill creating a nationwide broadband network for first responders."

Feds end bid to police Lake Murray docks - Breaking News - TheState.com

Feds end bid to police Lake Murray docks - Breaking News - TheState.com:

Tim Flach

"The decision leaves the job with South Carolina Electric & Gas Co., the Cayce-based utility that oversees the 650-mile shoreline.
New SCE&G standards have “necessary requirements and resource protection guidelines” to protect coves from adverse impact of mega-docks, the decision said."

Columbia, SCE&G reach $3.2 million deal - Local / Metro - TheState.com

Columbia, SCE&G reach $3.2 million deal - Local / Metro - TheState.com:

Adam Beam abeam@thestaste.com

"Columbia will pay off its $3.2 million debt to SCE&G over the next five years in an interest-free payment plan, according to an agreement City Council members are scheduled to vote on Wednesday."

Utilities and Environmentalists Haggle Over Climate Bill - Green Blog - NYTimes.com

Utilities and Environmentalists Haggle Over Climate Bill - Green Blog - NYTimes.com:

"The waltz of negotiations, closely watched by Politico, involves moderate forces in the two camps. Groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and the Bipartisan Policy Center are arrayed on one side, and investor-owned utilities like Duke Energy, Exelon, PNM and Pacific Gas & Electric on the other.

Mr. Rogers of Duke Energy caused a stir last week when he proposed linking carbon dioxide limits to proposed and pending regulations on other toxic or harmful emissions, like sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and mercury. As Thomas Williams, a company spokesman, said, “It’s intuitive that these regulations affect the same equipment, so why not be comprehensive and do it all at once?”"

EIA Analysis - Economywide Carbon Cap Reduces GDP by 0.2% - NYTimes.com

EIA Analysis - Economywide Carbon Cap Reduces GDP by 0.2% - NYTimes.com:

By MIKE SORAGHAN, JOSH VOORHEES AND KATHERINE LING of Greenwire

Published: July 16, 2010

"The Senate's plan for an economywide carbon cap would probably reduce gross domestic product by 0.2 percent from 2013 to 2035, reducing household consumption by about $206 dollars a year, according to an Energy Information Administration analysis released today."

Inside S.C. Business: Powering up - Business - TheState.com

Inside S.C. Business: Powering up - Business - TheState.com:

"The number of electricity customers in South Carolina — residential, commercial and industrial — rose by 46.7 percent from 1990 to 2008, according to the Energy Information Agency. That growth rate was eighth-fastest in the nation and well above the nationwide increase of 29.6 percent in that same period."

Solar to stage a comeback in home building - Business - TheState.com

Solar to stage a comeback in home building - Business - TheState.com:

By KRISTY EPPLEY RUPON - krupon@thestate.com

"That’s all about to change, according to organizers of a solar education conference planned for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
“Utility rates don’t go down. The cost to capture the energy from the sun keeps dropping. And so eventually, they’re going to cross,” said Mike Switzer, who is helping organize the conference for Argand Energy Solutions and Comfort Services of Columbia. “The latest studies show it’s just a matter of a few years. Then, solar’s a no-brainer."