Insights from our Editorial Team
-
May 07, 2013 |
Transmission projects are seldom welcome. But the electricity that flows from them is vital. After all, the need for more wires that are in tune with a digital society is obvious while an uptick in power demand is also forthcoming. Yet, the regulatory process is extremely arduous. PPL Electric is the latest utility to have this battle.
Comments: 2 -
May 06, 2013 |
Natural gas has been a valuable source of energy for hundreds of years, but over the last decade or so, the use of this resource has intensified. In its early stages, natural gas was mainly used for street lights and powering a small number of homes. Now, industry is the big consumer.
-
May 03, 2013 |
Southern California may not go dark this summer. But the future of the nuclear power plants that provide the power there are in doubt. During a conference call, Edison International said that the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, or SONGS, may retire both of its reactors along the Pacific coastline.
-
May 02, 2013 |
A new trend in the electric vehicle industry is emerging. Several states are proposing a gas tax on vehicles produced in 2015 or later that get 55 miles per gallon or more. Cars like the Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf, and Toyota Prius are just some of the cars that will incur this per-mile fee.
Comments: 3 -
Verizon, Google and Apple are Active in Renewable SectorMay 01, 2013 |
Verizon is joining Apple and Google in the effort to not just finance the growth of sustainable technologies but to also fuel their own operations with cleaner energies and to reduce their carbon footprints. As for the telecom operator, it says that it will own its systems and apply those investments to its corporate offices and data centers.
Comments: 6 -
Apr 30, 2013 |
Why write about a $249 programmable thermostat? Because it just may be the device that finally engages the public in the idea that energy can be more than a commodity and that they can become active in managing their energy use. The smart, attractive, interactive thermostat from Nest Labs could turn out to be the switch that turns the smart utility on for the average consumer.
Comments: 1 -
Estimates of Potent Methane Releases ReducedApr 29, 2013 |
Shale gas producers have gotten an injection of adrenalin by an unexpected source: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which has reduced its estimates as to how much methane is leaked during the production process.
Comments: 1 -
Apr 27, 2013 |
While the Arctic Refuge is a high priority for those living in Alaska that would benefit from the influx of capital and the associated jobs, the region has drifted from the limelight in recent years. Now, though, it is indirectly making its way back to center stage by becoming a bargaining chip in President Obama’s quest to take oil and gas royalties and to allocate them to clean energy programs.
Comments: 6 -
Apr 25, 2013 |
The sociological and economic aftershocks from the devastation of Fukushima will reverberate through Japan for decades. Of the 52 nuclear plants operating before the disaster, only two continue to run, and the consensus is that Japan will not again resort to nuclear generation for the foreseeable future. That puts enormous pressure on utilities to replace lost capacity with other fuel sources and to better manage demand.
-
Apr 24, 2013 |
When you hear the phrase "electricity theft," you may automatically picture places like India or Brazil where the number of power outages is astounding. Unfortunately, electricity thieves can be found in nearly every country across the globe, including the U.S.
Comments: 2
