AllGov - News - Supreme Court to Decide if AT&T Has Personal Privacy Rights

"At issue is whether AT&T can block the release of company documents, previously delivered to the Federal Communications Commission, as part of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The FCC intended to turn over the AT&T materials to comply with the FOIA request, when the company sued to stop the government and won a ruling before a federal appeals court."

FCC may regulate Internet lines days before Christmas - The Hill's Hillicon Valley

By Sara Jerome - 11/19/10 04:50 PM ET

'While many Americans will be enjoying their eggnog on that day, I'm sure the broadband providers won't be pleased to find this piece of coal in their stockings,' an industry source jibed."

Upton: Hastings lacks support to ‘steal’ energy jurisdiction - The Hill's E2-Wire

By Ben Geman - 11/21/10 01:57 PM ET

"Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.), the incoming chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, launched a bid last week to call the shots on energy policy in the next Congress.

Hastings wants to create a new Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which he argues would create more effective governance and “level the power” between the two panels. But Upton and other Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans say their panel has proven its effectiveness, and are trying to crush the plan."

Upton: Freshmen oppose Barton waiver for Energy gavel - The Hill's E2-Wire

By Ben Geman - 11/21/10 01:46 PM ET

"Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), who hopes to chair the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, does not believe incoming freshman Republicans are keen on granting Upton’s main rival a term-limit waiver that he’s seeking.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), the panel’s senior Republican, is a seeking a waiver from GOP caucus rules that prevent members from serving more than three terms (which is six years) atop a committee."

How to prep your home for an electric car - Technology - TheState.com

By JONATHAN FAHEY - AP Energy Writer

"Whether you go for a charging station or not, carmakers and utilities want your home checked out to make sure the wiring in your house and in your neighborhood can handle the extra load. Plugging into a regular socket that serves other appliances will almost certainly trip your circuit breaker. The extra electricity demand from a home charger can overwhelm small neighborhood transformers and kill power to a whole block."

Local governments installing car chargers - Business - TheState.com

By ADAM BEAM - abeam@thestate.com
"Local governments in Columbia, Greenville, Charleston, Conway, Myrtle Beach, Spartanburg, Rock Hill and Union each plan to install the charging stations. Columbia will have 10 stations — two each in the parking garages on Washington, Park, Taylor and Lincoln streets and the Arsenal Hill garage on Lincoln Street."

Utilities thrilled and worried about electric cars - CNBC

"Progress Energy is expecting electric car clusters to form in Raleigh, Cary and Asheville, N.C. and around Orlando and Tampa, Fla. Duke Energy is expecting the same in Charlotte and Indianapolis. The entire territory of Texas' Austin Energy will likely be an electric vehicle hot spot.

Adding an electric vehicle or two to a neighborhood can be like adding another house, and it can stress the equipment that services those houses. 'We're talking about doubling the load of a conventional home,' says Karl Rabago, who leads Austin Energy's electric vehicle-readiness program. 'It's big.'"