Energy

GA - Proposed midstate coal-fired plant draws variety of opposition

In a county where folks are accustomed to a single industry calling the shots, community organizing doesn't come naturally. But some Washington County landowners are starting to line up against a proposed coal-fired power plant, with the help of college and high school students from around the state. Opponents have created the Fall Line Alliance for a Clean Environment, or FACE, which is in the process of incorporating as a nonprofit group. At issue is a $2.1 billion plant scheduled to be built eight miles north of Sandersville. Powered by coal, the plant would generate 850 megawatts of electricity for 10 cooperatives that teamed to form Power4Georgians, which would own the plant. The cooperatives, including Washington Electric Membership Corporation, would sell the electricity. The proposal is awaiting state environmental permits before it can proceed.

The Macon Telegraph

LA - Entergy: 2 storms cost at least $1 billion

Entergy Corp. estimated Tuesday that damage from hurricanes Ike and Gustav cost the power provider $1 billion to $1.2 billion. Of Entergy's six regulated power utilities in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi, Entergy Texas took the most damage during Ike - an estimated $435 million to $510 million. Entergy said that storm cost a total ranging from $525 million to $625 million. Earlier, Entergy estimated the cost of repairs and restoring electricity following Gustav to range from $500 million to $600 million. New Orleans-based Entergy also said it expects a yet-to-be determined drop in utility revenue for the third quarter because of the storm outages. The company noted that each utility unit would be responsible for its costs and recovering those costs. How much might be passed on to ratepayers depends upon storm reserves and insurance payments, among other factors, Entergy said.

The Sun-Herald (MS)

MD - O'Malley announces new solar energy agreement

A new solar power system will help power the Maryland Environmental Service's headquarters in Millersville, the governor's office said today in announcing an agreement between MES and a Constellation subsidiary. The agreement involving Constellation Energy's Projects & Services Group will last 15 years, and the electricity produced by the solar panels will power about half of MES headquarters' annual electricity, the governor's office said. The solar installation, which will be on the rooftop of the MES building, will also serve as an educational facility.

The Baltimore Sun

REGION - Frustration in the South as a Gasoline Shortage Drags On

As a gasoline shortage in the South drags through its second week, drivers have gone from being mildly annoyed to deeply frustrated, with lines hours long at service stations in Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. Southern drivers could continue to face long lines, high prices and widespread station closings until mid-October, the AAA automobile club said Monday, although the problem may begin to improve this week. The problem began when Hurricanes Gustav and Ike battered Gulf Coast refineries, reducing the national refinery capacity by as much as 20 percent. It worsened as nervous drivers stockpiled gasoline.

The New York Times

WV - 'Clean coal' policies absent, GAO finds

Federal policy-makers have taken few of the steps necessary if greenhouse emissions from coal-fired power plants are to be captured and stored underground, according to a new government report. Coal industry backers are banking that "carbon capture and storage" will allow the industry to survive efforts to control global climate change. But the U.S. Government Accountability Project report, released this week, adds to growing concerns that the technology isn't ready now - and might not be for a long time. GAO investigators cited underdeveloped and costly emissions-capture technology and legal uncertainties about the permitting and liability for carbon dioxide that would be stored underground. National studies, industry leaders and top scientists have all pointed to key problems with CCS becoming a reality, the GAO noted.

Environment

GA - State unveils 'green' home insurance policy

A fire-blackened home can turn shades of green under an environmentally friendly insurance policy announced Tuesday. The first of its kind in the state, the policy allows homeowners to pay as little as $25 more a year for coverage that will upgrade traditional home-building materials to environmentally friendly designs and products when a home is damaged. Under the coverage offered by Fireman's Fund Insurance Co., charred walls can be redone with paint that emits fewer chemicals and tornado-twisted beams can be replaced with wood from certified sustainable forests. Debris from the damage will be recycled after it is removed. Owners of homes that are already environmentally friendly receive a 5 percent credit toward their policy.

The Augusta Chronicle

LA - Disaster bill leaves La. farmers in dust

Louisiana farmers failed to receive any federal money from a hurricane bailout package approved in Washington, D.C., late Saturday night. The LSU AgCenter estimates the storms caused $950 million in damage to the farming, ranching, forestry and fishing communities, mostly in crop damage. State leaders warned the U.S. Senate that the agricultural economy is in danger of collapsing and asked for $700 million to deal with the damage from Gustav alone. Cotton, soybean, sweet potato and pecan crops sustained heavy destruction as did the state’s fisheries. Washington left farmers out of the recently passed $23 billion federal disaster package. The funding is for hurricane-affected areas along the Gulf Coast and Midwest flood victims.

The Advocate

MD - Md. takes part in CO2 sale

Maryland and five other states launched a pioneering effort to combat climate change yesterday by auctioning off rights for power plants to release Earth-warming carbon dioxide into the air. How much Maryland and the other states got for their pollution credits won't be announced until Monday, but the proceeds will be used for energy efficiency programs and other efforts designed to offset any resulting increase in rates - and, proponents argue, eventually reduce consumer bills. The three-hour auction, kicked off by bell-ringing at the New York Mercantile Exchange, was the first of six rounds of bidding planned through next year. It is part of a process in which Maryland and other states in the Northeast and MidAtlantic regions move to cap and ultimately reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, the gas that scientists say is largely responsible for warming the planet.

The Baltimore Sun

SC - South Carolina energy report challenged

The recent recommendations of a state climate and energy committee would cost the state $11.9 billion while only reducing global carbon emissions by two-tenths of 1 percent, according to the South Carolina Policy Council. The Climate, Energy and Commerce Advisory Committee, appointed by Gov. Mark Sanford, formally presented its 653-page report to the governor last week. The panel recommended the state significantly cut its carbon dioxide emissions by 2020, increase sources of renewable energy, including nuclear power, and expand bike and pedestrian opportunities and mass transit. The report estimated the cost of most of its recommendations at $1.6 billion.

U.S. & World News

US - No easy ride for bike programs

From New York to San Francisco, cities across the country intent on getting greener through bicycle programs are finding a difficult road ahead of them. Early enthusiasm to reduce traffic congestion and pollution through bike programs is being tempered by questions over funding and who's held liable if someone is injured on a government-owned bicycle, and even "anti-bike activists."

Outside the Region

CA - Schwarzenegger signs greenhouse gas bill

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation Tuesday that attempts to ease greenhouse gas emissions by giving priority to transportation projects that limit commutes and curb urban sprawl. Supporters said the legislation is needed to help implement a 2006 law that requires California to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The bill requires the state Air Resources Board to set regional targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks and directs regional planning agencies to develop land-use strategies to meet those targets. Cities and counties will not have to implement those plans, but they could lose transportation funding if they don't.

The International Herald-Tribune

CA - California launches broad effort to control hazardous chemicals

California on Monday launched the most comprehensive program of any state to regulate chemicals that have been linked to cancer, hormone disruption and other deadly effects on human health. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed two broad laws that shift the state away from a scattershot approach in which bills targeting individual chemicals and products have passed or failed depending on the intensity of the lobbying and media attention. The new measures are designed to encompass 80,000 chemicals now in circulation, rather than focus narrowly, as previous bills have, on specific substances in products such as baby bottles, toys, mattresses, computers or cosmetics. State regulators are to inventory the most dangerous, widespread chemicals first and control them at the manufacturing stage, before they are handled in workplaces, incorporated into products or allowed to escape into air and water.

More News

Energy

AR - Beebe pumps own gas to promote biofuel

GA - Energy officials respond to Perdue's request

GA - Did state do enough with gas-crisis plan?

GA - Tax-free energy holiday back

GA - Georgia gas market takes another hit

GA - DOT works to stabilize gas supply

LA - La. officials fretting over oil price swings

LA - Upside of high oil prices: State gains from royalties

NC - Oil firms faulted as shortage lingers

Environment

LA - Coastal restoration money sorted

LA - Jindal says farmers should get aid before bailout

LA - Fishing industry hurting in La.

MD - Lawmakers stop short of enacting effective environmental safeguards

SC - Alligator capture raises questions about S.C. law