September 23, 2011-by John Blair, valley watch.net editor

While I certainly applaud Vectren’s effort to increase efficiency in power production, especially since their “pulverized coal” plants are less than 35% efficient, but their arrogance in asking for a rate increase when they are already the highest anywhere in the region seems overwhelming.

With more than five of their staff enjoying incomes of more than a million dollars per year, and their active board members “earning” just under $100,000 each for attending meetings, for them to even ask for a rate increase to improve their efficiency is a slap in the face of their customers and the fact they operate as a monopoly which we are all forced to patronize, at least if we want to run our TVs and stay warm in the winter.

Sadly, they will likely receive the rate “relief” they desire since the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission is nothing more than a rubber stamp for the utilities. Sure they will hold hearings and the so called consumer counselor will weigh in saying the relief should be less but at the end of the process Vectren will get what they want and their customers will get screwed, regardless whether the rates are justified or not.

Democracy is not served well in Indiana by the cozy relationship the various utilities enjoy with the IURC and others in state government. Monopolies should be regulated and reigned in when it comes to confiscatory rates which Vectren clearly has achieved.

We all know of stories where people are forced to make decisions whether to heat their home or buy food and medicine with the outcome being their termination of service when they simply cannot pay Vectren’s exorbitant fees and rates.

Of course, if I was making $100,000 for doing nothing but attending a few meetings each year, I might be equally unconcerned about the plight of my neighbors who are having difficulty simply finding a job.

September 13, 2011-by Arek Sarkissian in the Evansville Courier Press

Wind Turbine blades such as this will be manufactured in Evansville if all goes according to plans announced 9/13 by City officials and Global Blade Technology USA. Photo © 2011 John Blair

A windmill turbine producer will be the next company to move into the North Side factory formerly occupied by Whirlpool , Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel announced this morning.

Global Blade Technology USA will only take up about 45,000 square feet of space in the gargantuan facility that has since been renamed Park 41. It also will provide about 40 jobs, Weinzapfel said.

The announcement was a testament to the diligence, hard work and preparation the city applied to make the deal possible, Weinzapfel said during a news conference at the facility, which was attended by Gov. Mitch Daniels.

The former Whirlpool refrigerator manufacturing facility was purchased by the Kunkel Group in May. Kunkel Group Vice President Chuck Harper said GBT already has indicated interest in expanding its Evansville operation to 400 workers in the near future. In its initial phase, GBT will invest $3.5 million, but its next step could bring another $40 million, he said. Go to Original

September 3, 2011 by Brian Nisperos at SolarMash.com. (Editor’s Note. Vectren has some of the highest electric rates of any Midwest utility. Some of the higher rates are justified by environmental controls placed upon plants that are now approaching a half century old. Some of the higher rates, however, seem attributed to nothing but stockholder profit at the expense of their customers.)

Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana received Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) approval yesterday to implement additional electric energy efficiency programs, known as Conservation Connection, for its customers in southwestern Indiana.

The expanded programs are the result of a collaborative effort between the utility and the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC). The most notable additions, which will be implemented Oct. 1, are rebates toward the purchase of high-efficiency electric cooling and heating equipment that include:

– $300 toward a central air conditioner with a SEER rating of 16 or greater;

– $400 toward a heat pump with a SEER rating of 16 or greater; and

– $50 toward an electronically commutated motor for the air handling fan, which is a more energy efficient motor used in heating and cooling equipment. Continue reading →

September 2, 2011-by John Blair. This is the text of a statement issued by Valley Watch last night regarding playing high school sports on air pollution alert days.

With the USEPA and locals making an air pollution alert for both ozone and fine particles, I would like to ask that someone attempt to get football games rescheduled if levels remain high at the time the games are to begin.

Fine particles are known to cause premature death to people that might not even know they have a problem and ozone is responsible for increase asthma an do the respiratory attacks, especially in people who are exerting themselves which they are required to do during high pressure high school football games.

Valley Watch understands that rescheduling games would be a tremendous inconvenience to all involved but a few years ago, several players collapsed during games that were played in high heat and in polluted air. The chance of even a single death occurring during a sports contest when it could have been avoided is a totally unnecessary risk that can be avoided if air quality is considered “unhealthy” for certain populations that unfortunately include high school athletes and performing marching band members.

If the prognosticators of air quality have determined that conditions are right for an alert, our kids’ safety requires that we exercise caution in the conduct of school athletic events. Practicing and especially playing a strenuous sport in fouled air is a sure fired recipe for disaster.

August 22, 2011-Press release from the Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana

Today, in a letter to Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Chairman James Atterholt, the Citizens Action Coalition raised concerns with respect to the Commission’s apparent lack of engagement to date, at least publicly, in the proposed merger between Duke Energy and Progress Energy.  CAC also submitted a public information request seeking any communications regarding the proposed merger between and among officials of both Duke Energy and Progress Energy with the IURC and other State agencies.

“We find it difficult to understand why the Commission has not already begun a public investigation into the consequences of this proposed merger on the customers of Duke Energy Indiana,” stated Kerwin Olson, Interim Executive Director of CAC.  “Especially considering the recent behavior of Duke Energy not only with inappropriate communications with the Commission, but also with the gross mis-management of the problem plagued Edwardsport IGCC.”

Duke Energy and Progress Energy are positioned to become the nation’s largest electric utility later this year.  Shareholders of the two companies are scheduled to vote on the deal tomorrow, August 23, 2011.  The deal is worth an estimated $26 billion still requires approval from various State and Federal regulators as well as the company’s shareholders.

Mr. Olson continued: “While the IURC lacks the jurisdiction to review or approve the stock exchange effecting the merger itself, the Commission does have the authority to review the impact the proposed merger will have on Duke Energy Indiana’s retail electric customers.  In addition, Indiana Code does grant the IURC authority to review and approve all affiliate transactions and agreements required to implement the merger to ensure that those agreements are in fact in the public interest.” Continue reading →

August 2, 2011-by Jean Chemnick in the New York Times

The Republican-led House has voted to “stop,” “block” or “undermine” efforts to protect the environment 110 times since taking over the majority in January, two senior Democrats said last week.

Henry Waxman, the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has long been an environmental champion.