Week of 1/27/2012

The Buzz’s EDITOR’S PICKS OF THE WEEK…

FirstEnergy Corp. announces closure of six coal-fired power plants by Sept. 1

AEP’s residential rate rises 4 percent from December to January; Ohio Power higher

Related: Sticker shock for commercial building owners when AEP sends out bills

In Illinois, a proposal to boost license fees for bankrolling electric car incentives

Lawmakers in Kansas ponder electric car fee to prepare for lost gas tax revenue

Latest Pew Research Center poll of national priorities has global warming dead last

The Buzz’s FEATURE OF THE WEEK...

Chevy Volt has become a ‘political punching bag,’ bemoans GM’s CEO

Related: NHTSA chief hammered as hearing begins on Chevy Volt fire risk

More: What did federal transportation regulators know about Volt fires and when?

The Buzz’s CLIMATE-ENERGY POLITICS & RELATED Links…

Obama in SOTU speech wants to be all things to all people on energy issues

Related: Only one reference to climate change in speech: ‘Differences too deep’

More: Rep. Issa says president is not promoting energy development despite speeCh

More: Clean coal coalition CEO questions Obama’s promises versus his policies

President hits campaign trail with contradictory messages on energy and environment

Regulations to curb GHG from existing power plants won’t come about soon

Attacks on EPA are what happen when government isn’t trusted, says former chief

Pacific Northwest congressional delegation questions FERC wind power ruling

Wind energy tax incentives might be extended after election, no matter who wins

The Buzz’s CLIMATE SCIENCE & SCANDAL Links…

Should science deniers be allowed to espouse their contradictory views on the Web?

UK Met Office: Weakening of sun’s energy over next 90 years won’t delay warming

Climate change roller derby: Dialogue is more ideological and personal than factual

Panel of climate change skeptical scientists finds sympathetic audience in Portland

The Buzz’s OHIO Links…

Ohio logged fastest wind power growth in nation during 2011, according to AWEA

Village of Genoa to receive discounted power from AMP-Ohio’s new Fremont facility

Chesapeake Energy to move drilling rigs and money from Texas to Ohio

Opposition solidifies to FirstEnergy’s transmission project in Delaware County

Noble County solar farm ‘a viable project that will result in jobs and investment’

Ohio Power Siting Board gives green light for 200-MW Black Fork wind farm

AMP-Ohio reveals stranded costs associated with defunct Meigs power plant

Green, hybrid UAVs being developed by Lockheed-Martin at Wright-Patterson AFB

In ‘fracking forum,’ state lawmakers pledge to tighten regulations on injection wells

Sugarcreek shale bed drilling forum reassures landowners and residents

Youngstown mayor purchases earthquake insurance for his home after seismic events

IKEA store in Butler County switches on 1,000-kilowatt rooftop solar array

Eastern Ohio 911 callers alarmed by red glow in nighttime sky caused by gas drilling

The Buzz’s NATIONAL Links…

Energy giant Chesapeake will cut back drilling because of low natural gas prices

EIA: U.S. emission of CO₂ expected to remain below 2005 levels due to coal decline

Related: Coal share of generation will drop to 39 percent by 2035; nuke output shrinks

Judge rules that State of Vermont can’t order closure of nuclear power plant

4,200 signatures on petition to stop deployment of smart meters in Chicago suburb

With carbon sequestration, the solution is all location, location and location

The Buzz’s INTERNATIONAL Links…

Haiti launches plan to make electricity available on wider scale with more reliability

Fuel imports, supply line disruption push Japan into a second year of trade deficits

The Buzz’s RENEWABLES, ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY, FUELS Links…

FERC awards first license for tidal energy project; turbines to be installed in East River

AEP’s SWEPCO subsidiary signs contract for more than 358 MW of wind power

National Football League continues ‘greening’ of Super Bowl and 2012 Pro Bowl

DOE plans to move Solar Decathlon competition from Washington to California

Step toward fusion? X-Ray laser creates and probes 2 million-degree matter

Buzz’s ENERGY EFFICIENCY & CONSERVATION Links …

Traverse City, Mich., homeowners take advantage of energy efficiency incentives

Using microwave oven instead of stove is good way to be energy efficient

This is how to prove that doing laundry in cold water will save money

The Buzz’s ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE NEWS links…

Ohio’s Washington Electric Cooperative moves into new headquarters

How member-owned electric cooperatives evolved, courtesy of Wisconsin statewide

Cobb EMC pulls out of controversial Georgia coal-fired power plant project

Related: Four EMCs remaining in power plant effort vow to forge ahead

Vermont co-op and municipal electric utilities don’t want IOU to control transmission

Montana’s Public Service Commission enters G&T bankruptcy court proceedings

Cost of EPA’s haze regulations would be passed on to N. Dakota electric co-ops

Cooperative Response Center: Providing calm voices during power outages

Court upholds denial of unemployment compensation for fired co-op manager

The Buzz’s ELECTRIC CARS, HYBRIDS, TRANSPORTATION Links…

California begins process of making auto emission standards even stricter

Related: Proposal calls for 15 percent of new cars to have advanced drive technology

What’s next? How about an electric vehicle that folds up to save on parking space

Electric cars popular mode of transportation on current Sci-Fi television shows

The Buzz’s OPINION AND ENERGY POLITICS-REGULATION Links…

Editor’s Note – The following piece from The Washington Post is a well-reasoned and succinct appraisal of America’s energy future.

Lofty goals of energy independence and global warming mitigation ‘unreachable’

Albatross around President Obama’s neck is ‘green,’ and he can’t get of off

Wind power has turned into a dirty business in parts of the developing world

After decade of deregulation in Texas, higher prices for electricity, according to report

The Buzz’s WEEKLY STINERS...

Company executives see possibility of energy independence in 15 years

Demonstrators protest light and heat shutoffs in front of Detroit utility’s headquarters

USDA updates plant hardiness zone map to account for climate warming effects

Poor timing for Puget Sound Energy: Rate increase sought after sweeping outages

In Wisconsin, state aid recommended for those with health effects from wind turbines

More federal funds for low-income heating aid in Idaho as power companies hike rates

The Buzz’s HALL OF SHAME…

Energy.gov has morphed into the black hole of information, and it’s getting worse

If it’s too good to be true… Example of classic Internet renewable electricity scheme

After $118 million from DOE, battery maker sees parent company in bankruptcy

Related: Evergreen Energy follows Beacon Power and Solyndra into bankruptcy

In Oregon, state must bail out renewable energy fund because of so many bad loans

The Buzz’s WEIRD, SAD, FUNNY, UPLIFTING AND UNBELIEVABLE Links…

Murder suspected after Chinese tycoon dies while eating poisoned ‘cat meat stew’

Lawsuit: U.S. Navy sonar responsible for deaths of whales off West Coast

Radio and TV announcer who voiced ‘Lost in Space’ robot dies at age 85

Misspelled ‘S-H-C-O-O-L’ crossing sign lingers for months in Manhattan