SCANA closes on $492.9M sale of pipeline subsidiary

Dominion paid $492.9 million for the pipeline company, which owns and operates nearly 1,500 miles of federally regulated interstate natural gas pipeline in South Carolina and southeastern Georgia.

Google could become a wireless carrier. Here’s what that means for you. - The Washington Post

By Brian Fung January 22 at 9:29 AM

The company hasn't confirmed anything, but reports suggest that Google wants to offer its own brand of cellular service by partnering with Sprint and T-Mobile, the nation's third- and fourth-largest carriers, respectively. This means you'd buy minutes and data from Google, but it would all ride over the other two companies' pipes.

The Smart, Angry Home - The New Yorker

BY EMILY ANTHES

When Ashley was named as the wastrel, her imaginary roommates were incensed, rating their anger as a 5.19, on average. They were likelier than their counterparts in the other groups to favor some form of punishment; nearly a third said that they’d ask Ashley to pay a larger share.

EPA delays landmark climate rule | TheHill

By Timothy Cama - 01/07/15 01:27 PM EST

The EPA now plans to finalize its rules for newly built power plants, existing plants and modified plants at the same time — in mid-summer, the agency said Wednesday.

Energy Efficiency Financing Tools For Cities And Governments

January 6th, 2015 by Zachary Shahan 

The report breaks down the various financing tools local governments can use to stimulate more energy efficiency upgrades according to whether or not they are market-based tools or financing tools that come directly from local governments. The first category includes: equipment lease financing, energy performance contracts (EPCs), energy services agreements (ESAs), and metered energy efficiency transaction structures (MEETs). The second category includes: energy efficiency investment corporations (EEICs); energy efficiency loan programs; loan loss reserves, interest rate buy-downs, and loan guarantees; property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing; on-bill repayment and financing; tax increment financing; and property tax abatements.

A strike against rent-seeking - George Will

George Will

Published Jan. 1, 2015

Bruner sued, arguing three things: that the CON process violates the Constitution's equal protection clause because it is a "competitors' veto" that favors existing companies over prospective rivals; that the statute's requirements ("inadequate," "convenience," "necessity") are unconstitutionally vague; and that the process violates the 14th Amendment's protections of Americans' "privileges or immunities," including the right to earn a living.

The next big turning point in the net neutrality debate - The Washington Post

By Brian Fung December 30

On Tuesday, industry associations representing smaller telecom companies and start-ups asked the FCC to apply Title II of the Communications Act to Internet providers. Title II has become a key flash point in the net neutrality debate; advocates say that part of the law, which also governs more traditional telephone service, would give the FCC the strongest possible powers to make sure Internet providers treat all Web traffic equally. Opponents argue Title II is unnecessary and could deter Internet providers from spending money on further network upgrades.