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ethical grid (eth'-i-kul grid) n., An electric industry in which the rights and responsibilities of utilities are carefully and properly balanced with legitimate interests of power consumers, the environment and society at large.
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Recent News
A DOE study says there may be 12,000 MW of developable capacity at existing dams currently without any hydroelectric equipment. But is that potential capacity low-hanging fruit, or are there economic and other challenges to developing it? Continue reading (free) ...
Kansas’s advocate for utility customers said the Kansas Corporation Commission's order approving a $50 million increase in Westar Energy’s base rates failed to rebut his arguments for a rate cut. Is an advocate due at least that? Continue reading (free) ...
A shareholder advocacy group is pressing three big IOUs to accelerate their shift to lower-carbon generation by encouraging approval of shareholders resolutions directing the utilities to prepare plans to ramp down their coal-fired generation. Continue reading (free) ...
How do we create an ethical grid that optimizes customer energy efficiency while protecting the rights of utilities to earn a reasonable profit? Read a new post by the editor of Ethical Grid at www.realenergywriters.com.
Should utility regulators whose political campaigns receive significant contributions from people tied to the development of a planned lignite mine and mine-site power project in North Dakota be required to recuse themselves from voting on the matter? Continue reading (free) ...
Update A first-of-its-kind agreement between a wind developer and a US Navy air base–under development for several months–has been signed by all parties, and could boost prospects for the developer’s 135-MW wind project south of Corpus Christi. Continue reading (free) ...
For years, the idea of capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide emissions from fossil-fired plants ran up against a big unknown: Is there enough CO2 storage capacity in the US to make a real difference? Now, an MIT study suggests an answer. Continue reading (free) ...
A study is sparking a renewed debate about how much utilities and independent power companies in the southeastern US could ramp up their use of biomass-fired generation without having a net negative effect on forest health or climate change. Continue reading (free) ...
Austin Energy, planning major changes to its rate structure, has taken the unusual step of hiring a consumer advocate to represent customers through the process. But he will not have it easy; the proposed changes have many up in arms. Continue reading (free) ...
Three environmental groups said that after exhausting their effort to reach an agreement with K Road Power regarding its 850-MW Calico solar project in California they have sued several US agencies to block the project from proceeding to construction. Continue reading (free) ...
The Nature Conservancy and a state agencies group said that that many dams in the West Virginia-to-Maine region play important roles in flood control, water supply and energy production, and and in some cases could be expanded to generate more power. Continue reading (free) ...
The founder and president of Interfaith Power & Light said that regulators should provide incentives to utilities for expanded energy efficiency, and that utility executives should take “the moral high ground” on environmental matters. Continue reading (free) ...
Did the Mississippi PSC defy the state’s highest court when it granted an “temporary” certificate to Mississippi Power’s Kemper County IGCC project. Or did it save utility customers millions of dollars by permitting construction of the project to continue, at least for now? Continue reading (free) ...
Duke Energy Carolinas asked the North Carolina Utilities Commission to throw out the notice of appeal that the state attorney general filed regarding Duke’s recent rate case, asserting the appeal was being made to the wrong court. Continue reading (free) ...
The “lessons learned” from Green Mountain Power’s successful effort to advance a controversial wind project that two independent developers had previously abandoned are the importance of aggressive public outreach and partnerships. Continue reading (free) ...
An Idaho bill to require utilities to share the likely rate impact of major generation and transmission projects did not advance this legislative session, but a bill to establish a state Utility Consumer Advocate Office will get a hearing in 2013. Continue reading (free) ...
Is building a small, concentrated solar power facility to boost the output of a unit currently fired by coal a good or bad thing from an environmental perspective? The Grand Canyon chapter of the Sierra Club is grappling with that very question. Continue reading (free) ...
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