December 29, 2010

The Climax Molybdenum Company, one of Colorado's largest electricity users, spelled out its objections to an initial ruling by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission that approved triple cost overruns by Xcel at SmartGridCity in Boulder. Read this summary or click through to the document itself. In a nutshell: SmartGridCity is a research and development project that should be paid for Xcel shareholders, not 1.4 million Xcel ratepayers in Colorado.

You'll recall I've broken a few pieces of china in this space over the initial ruling by the Colorado Public Utility Commission, via an administrative law judge (ALJ), to grant Xcel full cost recovery of $44.5 million for its SmartGridCity initiative.

December 22, 2010

The hoopla over cutting the federal debt is just that - a lot of hot air. Case in point: The country's ethanol industry, which enjoys billions in subsidies and which a bipartisan group of lawmakers are calling for cuts. But the powerful Midwestern farm lobby will prevail, enabling this industry that purports to cut foreign oil consumption to thrive.

Ethanol subsidies, which had been set to expire at year-end, are snuggled well inside of the $858 billion tax law that extends unemployment benefits and provide tax breaks to all Americans. They have been extended for a least another year, which has set up the next round of debates - one that promises to get interesting.

December 09, 2010

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case over whether the judicial branch can essentially impose carbon limits on companies. The utility world is gleeful but should it be?

The crux of the argument that the utilities are making is that these matters should be left to elected officials and regulators. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has already been given the authority to monitor the carbon emissions from power plants, which it is now trying to do. Understandably, power companies don't want judges telling them how to operate their plants. But they have been just adamant about having the EPA set new rules and regulations.

December 08, 2010

Innovation adds to the wealth of society. Science and technology research and development lie at the heart of innovation. American leadership in this endeavor, which this country still owns, cannot be taken for granted.

These statements provided the basis for an address by U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu at the National Press Club yesterday in a talk titled, "The Energy Race: Our New Sputnik Moment."

It's well worth giving Sec. Chu the floor today. He runs the agency that has instigated much smart grid-related R&D aimed at implementing existing innovations for grid modernization, as well as fostering new innovations that will fuel this country's continued leadership in clean energy, the global space race of the 21st century.

December 07, 2010

When Republicans take control of the House of Representatives in a couple weeks, the national legislative agenda will also change. While trimming the national debt is the top goal, Americans can also expect to less emphasis on environmental regulations and more focus on expanding businesses.

The Republicans have selected their leaders, who created a steering committee to name committee heads. Among those with seniority is Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., who appears to be the top candidate to take over the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee - an obvious slap in the face to Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, who wants this job and who has been that committee's ranking member for several years.