Week of February 11, 2011

The Buzz is an e-guide to energy news, opinion, and trends published by Buckeye Power, Inc. and Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives.

The Buzz’s EDITOR'S PICKS OF THE Week…

Interruptible gas supply contracts to power plants seen as one reason for Texas outages

New study: ‘Patchwork deregulation’ of power sector puts grid reliability at risk

Clean energy standard lacks detail, but not early criticism: ‘A huge regional problem’

Related: Utilities could gain credits under CES three ways, according to DOE’s Chu

Low-income residents surface as possible opponents of state climate change legislation

The Buzz’s FeatureS of the Week…

Brawl in House committee hearing over EPA regulatory authority lives up to billing

Related: EPA chief warns if endangerment finding is overturned, ‘legacy’ will result

Related: Environmental regulations amount to ‘war on domestic coal,’ says lawmaker

Coal and its supporters rally for a place in the evolving clean energy arena

Budget ax comes out: GOP in Congress looks to slash energy and climate spending

Related: Here’s a line item listing of the proposed federal budget reductions

Sierra Club campaign will be aimed at defending EPA clean air regulations

The Buzz’s CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION & RELATED Links…

Republican lawmakers want outgoing energy czar’s paperwork files preserved

U.S. foreign aid for climate change certain to be target of GOP budget-cutters

Q & A with new House science subcommittee chairman (and global warming skeptic)

Lawmakers eye NASA’s earth science (climate change) funding, might shift to space

Ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich assails EPA, calls for agency’s abolishment

Rockefeller tells West Virginia Coal Association that clean coal needs to ramp up

Lawmakers in four states aim to dismantle renewable energy mandates

The Buzz’s CLIMATE SCIENCE & SCANDAL Links…

Royal climate heartburn? Prince Charles comes under fire for comments

Argentine glacier in South Patagonia advancing several feet per day; scientists puzzled

Oceanographer says sea level rise could turn New York City into a Venice

The Buzz’s OHIO Links…

Meigs County ‘angry and stunned’ at AMP-Ohio’s abandonment of plant site

Related: Officials in SE Ohio counties say AMP let them down on Letart Falls project

Related: Small community looked to AMP project with hope, now dashed by pullout

Gov. Kasich appoints Stark County state legislator to Public Utilities Commission

Legal ‘slugfest’ anticipated at formal PUCO hearing on all-electric home discounts

Solar energy credit shortage in Ohio not due to amount of sunshine

AEP to relocate utility poles in downtown Pomeroy; officials question attachments

Massive natural gas pipeline explosion lights sky in eastern Ohio

Veteran political strategist and Ohioan joins ACCCE to help advocate for coal

The Buzz’s NATIONAL Links…

Texas Public Utilities Commission moves to launch probe of state energy emergency

Idaho regulators side with utilities in adjusting size cap for wind power facilities

Home-heating assistance at record high due to unemployment, frigid winter

Environmentalists target Nevada coal-fired power plant for coal ash chromium

Will mutual fund investors embrace President Obama’s clean energy goal?

Lawmakers seek to abolish Oregon Department of Energy in wake of scandal

Groups threaten Allegheny Energy with lawsuit over power-plant arsenic releases

The Buzz’s INTERNATIONAL Links…

Hydropower-dependent Chile prepares for energy rationing in throes of drought

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

Amusement park wind power? New Jersey OKs legislation for turbines on state piers

Fracturing method opens vast new oil fields in shale formations of western states

Wind farms proliferate along Texas Gulf Coast on sprawling cattle ranches

DOE commits $50 million to fast-track offshore wind farm development

The Buzz’s ENERGY EFFICIENCY & CONSERVATION Links …

Minnesota electric co-op member realizes savings from super-efficient water heater

Energy auditor seeks clues to saving households money and improving comfort

‘Hey, neighbor! How much energy did you use last month?’

Consumers across the nation are squirreling away incandescent light bulbs

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

No gas tax from electric cars, so Washington lawmakers consider $100 owner fee

Electric car purchase rebates instead of tax credits will be proposed in new budget

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

Deciding between wind, solar and nuclear power is false choice: all are needed

Greenhouse gas regulation: Power-grabbing hoax that’s all pain and no gain?

United Nations climate efforts endanger U.S. energy security and sovereignty

Unfair to blame Texas energy emergency on wind power performance

The WEEKLY STINGERS...

What exactly does the term ‘clean energy’ mean to the Obama administration?

Winter’s extreme snow and ice hasn’t been kind to residential solar panel owners

Obama’s proposed budget reportedly will reduce LIHEAP funds; Democrats in uproar

The Buzz’s HALL OF SHAME…

Media concentrates on coal mining accidents, ignores coal’s energy security value

Editor’s Note – I’ve included this excellent piece from the Business and Media Institute because it clearly quantifies a media bias in the broadcast industry that the coal industry and coal-fired power industry has experienced for several years.

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

Tribal elder in Idaho advocates for the ugly, misunderstood and scarce lamprey fish

Bottled water bill for congressional offices tops $860,000, complains watchdog group

‘Frost quakes’ cause houses to shake, lights to flicker in Southwest Ohio counties

Missouri prison inmates train deaf dog in sign language, give him to students

Cockfighting raid spooks handler, and he sustains fatal cut from rooster’s knife-spur