State Site Removes ‘Pro-Coal’ Material
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity took coal-education material off its website after objections that it was unduly pro-coal. The website sections, intended to educate children about energy, sparked a grassroots campaign demanding that the pages be taken down.
More: Yes! Magazine; Midwest Energy News
KENTUCKY
Fund Proposed to Move State Past Coal
An eastern Kentucky economic development organization recommended some coal severance tax funds be devoted to a program to diversify the regional economy. But many local needs and dwindling revenue from the tax present tough decisions for the area’s policy makers. Eastern Kentucky has lost more than 5,700 coal jobs in the last two years.
More: Kentucky.com
LG&E, KU Propose Gas Plant, Solar Facility
PPL’s two Kentucky utilities have proposed building a 700 MW combined-cycle plant and a 10 MW solar facility to help replace retiring coal generation. The new projects would make the Louisville Gas and Electric-Kentucky Utilities portfolio 59% coal, 40% gas and 1% renewables.
More: The Morning Call
MARYLAND
Push Harder on Smart Meters, PSC tells BG&E
Baltimore Gas & Electric must try harder to reach customers who have not responded to efforts to switch them to smart meters, the Public Service Commission said, rejecting for now the utility’s suggestion to call these customers meter “opt-outs.” BG&E also may not terminate their service for non-response, the PSC ruled.
More: Maryland PSC
MICHIGAN
Green Group Urges 40% Renewables by 2035
Michigan could get 40% of its energy from renewables by 2035, and do so at half the cost assumed when the state enacted its renewable portfolio standard in 2008, a renewable energy trade group said. The Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council made its comments in response to a draft state report that predicted the state could get 30% of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2035.
More: CBS Detroit
ATC seeks approval of Upper Peninsula line
American Transmission Co. filed for state approval of a 60-mile 138 kV line to improve reliability of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula grid. The line, which would cost up to $132 million, is part of a larger Bay Lake project. ATC plans to spend up to $3.6 billion over the next decade in Michigan, Wisconsin and neighboring states.
More: Journal Sentinel
NEW JERSEY
Booker May Get Environment Assignment
Newly-elected Sen. Cory Booker, who won the seat made vacant by the death of New Jersey Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg, may be assigned to the Environment and Public Works Committee. Lautenberg was an active member of the panel, and Booker has been engaged with climate change issues in New Jersey.
More: The Hill
OHIO
PUC Chief Warns Against ‘Dash to Gas’
Natural gas is a major player right now, but “there is no doubt coal needs to continue to play a major role in our future generation mix,” PUC Chairman Todd Snitchler told a state House committee. He also expressed confidence in advanced coal technologies.
More: Columbus Business First
AEP Chief Says Coal ‘Out of the Picture’
AEP CEO Nick Akins sees coal as a diminishing part of the utility’s portfolio. The company’s future is “natural gas, energy efficiency, smart-grid activities and renewables,” he told a Columbus Metropolitan Club program.
More: Columbus Business First
PENNSYLVANIA
PPL Wants New Bill Rider for Storm Costs
PPL asked the Public Utility Commission to add another new line item to its customers’ bills: a fee that would help it recoup its costs for severe weather and expenses related to the $60 million blow dealt the company by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The utility has just begun to collect a distribution improvement charge, a first in the state, and the new charge, if approved, would also be a first.
More: The Morning Call
PUC: No Details on PPL Storm Settlement
The Public Utility Commission refused to disclose details of its $60,000 settlement with PPL that resolved allegations that the company improperly transferred a repair crew from a high-priority outage to work on a low-priority outage after a freak snowstorm in October 2011.
The PUC denied a public records request by The Morning Call to review the letter from an anonymous tipster that launched regulators’ investigation. The PUC said its decision was necessary to protect the identity of the whistleblower. The agency also refused to identify the locations involved in the incident.
More: The Morning Call
PUC Approves Two Retailer Settlements
The Public Utility Commission approved settlements with IDT Energy and AP Gas & Electric on complaints of “slamming” and other illegal practices. The companies will pay civil settlements and take steps to comply with the state’s regulations. They admitted no wrongdoing.
More: Pennsylvania PUC
Enviros Take State to Task on Renewables
PennFuture, an environmental group, criticized state officials for refusing to consider raising Pennsylvania’s alternative energy standard above the current target of 8% by 2021. “While other states in the region and around the country recognize the multiple benefits of renewable energy and have increased the requirements in their state portfolios, [the Department of Environmental Protection] is telling us upfront that they won’t consider the idea of increasing renewable energy in Pennsylvania,” the group said.
More: PennFuture
VIRGINIA
Dominion Would Lower Fuel Charges
Dominion Virginia Power proposed lowering average customer bills 3.3% because of the unexpectedly lower cost of fuel. The fuel adjustment, which Dominion wants to make earlier than scheduled, would cut an average residential bill about $3.70. Overall rates would be about where they were five years ago, the company said.
More: Richmond Times-Dispatch
