Lawmakers urge Energy Dept. to halt Yucca shutdown - The Hill's E2-Wire

Lawmakers urge Energy Dept. to halt Yucca shutdown - The Hill's E2-Wire:

By Darren Goode - 07/07/10 01:24 PM ET

"Sixty-seven representatives and 24 senators — led by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) — argue the department “has overstepped its bounds and has ignored congressional intent without peer review or proper scientific documentation in its actions regarding Yucca Mountain,” according to a letter sent to Chu Tuesday."

At Con-Ed Nerve Center, Keeping the Lights On - NYTimes.com

At Con-Ed Nerve Center, Keeping the Lights On - NYTimes.com:

By PATRICK McGEEHAN

Published: July 7, 2010

"Con Edison, with an ability that might strike some as Big Brother-like, even exercised its ability to periodically shut off central air-conditioning units in some 20,000 homes and businesses to ease the burden on its system.

The scene inside Con Ed’s command center showed both the urgency of the utility’s efforts, and the nature of its reach — this was one of the few times it has adjusted residential thermostats from afar — as it struggled to cope with another record-setting day of heat and demand."

Weatherizing 82,000 Homes This Summer | The White House Blog

Weatherizing 82,000 Homes This Summer | The White House: "Through the Recovery Act, we are investing more than $11 billion to make homes and businesses more efficient and higher users of clean, renewable energy. This includes $5 billion to weatherize hundreds of thousands of low-income homes across the country. More than 240,000 homes have been weatherized since February 2009."

EPA issues new rule to reduce emissions - The Hill's E2-Wire

EPA issues new rule to reduce emissions - The Hill's E2-Wire:

By Darren Goode - 07/06/10 07:43 PM ET

"The draft, which could have implications for efforts in the Senate to reduce carbon and other emissions from power plants, would begin reducing emissions in 31 states and the District of Columbia quickly — in 2012.

It would affect coal-fired and all other fossil fuel-powered electric utilities, and the EPA says it would cut sulfur dioxide emissions by 71 percent and nitrogen oxide by 52 percent over 2005 levels.

The regulation’s price tag is an estimated $2.8 billion in 2014. But EPA officials say it would save between $120 billion and $290 billion in annual health and welfare benefits the same year and help prevent up to 36,000 deaths."

A Record 103 in New York City Tests Con Edison - NYTimes.com

A Record 103 in New York City Tests Con Edison - NYTimes.com:

By PATRICK McGEEHAN and FERNANDA SANTOS

Published: July 7, 2010

"While temperatures were expected to moderate some from Tuesday’s peak - which saw a record set at 103 degrees for the day in New York City - utilities warned that the length and intensity of this heat wave was testing the limits of the power grid."

The Item: News - Progress Energy bills get smaller

The Item: News - Progress Energy bills get smaller:

By Randy Burns, rburns@theitem.com

"More than 40,000 customers of Progress Energy in the tri-county area can expect to spend a little less money on electricity after the state Public Service Commission approved a reduction in rates on Wednesday afternoon.
The typical residential customer will spend about $1.75 less per month on electricity, officials said in a news release.
A customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month would see the bill drop from $100.90 to $99.15."

[Florida] Utility consumers lose big - Editorials - MiamiHerald.com

Utility consumers lose big - Editorials - MiamiHerald.com:

"Florida's utility consumers suffered a serious blow last week when the panel that approves nominees for the Public Serivce Commission rejected two worthwhile candidates with a meritorious track record.

Commissioners Nathan Skop and Nancy Argenziano, whose terms have expired, were seeking reappointment to the PSC. The PSC Nominating Council, dominated by state lawmakers, didn't even bother to show a sense of fairness in rejecting them, however. Neither one made the list of 18 applicants cleared for interviews next month"