Topic: Duke Energy (5)
North Carolina's Challenge Guts Air Rule
"A federal appeals court Friday upheld a challenge by North Carolina and struck down the regulatory cornerstone of the Bush administration's efforts to control air pollution. The state was joined by Duke Power and other utilities, which charged that the Environmental Protection Agency exceeded its authority when it established the 2005 Clean Air Interstate Rule."
Heat of Battle - Utilities Struggle with Sales versus Savings
"Utilities are now in the heat of battle. While they would like to maximize their sales, they must now persuade their customers to save energy. It's a quest that will help defer investments in expensive and contentious infrastructure and in doing so, prevent the release of some harmful emissions.
Instead of investing millions in power plants to meet the 100 or so hours a year when energy demand is highest, utilities are turning to their customers to reduce energy usage...."
Duke Energy defends practices in hearing
"Critics: Conservation efforts fall short."
Background information on this story: Duke Energy is seeking approval from the NC Utilities Commission for several energy efficiency programs, some including repackaging of old approaches to load shifting and curtailment, while some of their proposals hinge on a new regulatory approach to cost recovery for real energy conservation measures. Their requested approach to cost recovery for these energy efficiency efforts, generally referred to as "demand side management," is highly unconventional in the amount of money Duke is asking to be paid and will likely not result in the most cost effective approach for NC to realize its vast potential to become more efficient in our electricity generation, delivery and use.
Electric Cars Will Need Juice
"With gasoline prices orbiting in the stratosphere, Jim Bartlett relies on a cheaper alternative to fuel his pickup truck: a standard wall outlet. Bartlett's truck is powered by electricity, not gasoline. Bartlett, a mechanical engineer who lives in Cary, juices up his truck by plugging in."
Duke Energy Proposes $100 million R&D plus Some Solar Installations Program
"CHARLOTTE - Duke Energy Corp. is moving ahead with a $100 million plan to install rooftop and ground-level solar systems at up to 850 N.C. homes and businesses."
