Monthly Archives: February 2011

Duke deal still tainted by coziness

February 28, 2011-An Editorial Opinion in the Indianapolis Star. While federal, state and Marion County authorities look into the chummy relationships between Duke Energy executives and state regulators, the taxpaying and rate-paying public may already have seen enough. Last week … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daniels Touts, Skeptics Rip Planned $2.6B Natural Gas Plant

February 21, 2011-by Norman Cox, Indychannel.com. Ed. Note-Valley Watch is an intervener along with Citizens Action Coalition, Sierra Club and Spencer County Citizens for Quality of Life in challenging the socialist style proposal before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. A … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Naomi Klein on earth and politics

February 21, 2011-Naomi Klein one of the sharpest minds today on the geopolitical scene speaks to and audience sponsored by TED.com in a speech she entitled “Disaster Capitalism.” [youtube id=”0ZhL7P7w3as” w=”640″ h=”400″]

Posted in Uncategorized | 12 Comments

SW Indiana has two of nation’s to ten Carbon Dioxide emitting plants- Gibson #5, Rockport #10

February 20, 2011-By John Blair, valleywatch.net editor. A new report, released late last week shows that US power plants increased  their emissions of climate change causing, carbon dioxide by 5.56 percent in 2010 over that released in 2009. The Environmental … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kentucky Senate bashes EPA on mine regulations

February 17, 2011-By Jim Bruggers in the Louisville Courier Journal. FitzGerald, director of the Kentucky Resources Council, told both committees that he understood lawmakers’ frustration with the EPA. But he noted widespread pollution in eastern Kentucky and said EPA was … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Coal’s hidden costs top $345 billion in U.S.-study. Public cost is greater than the cost of coal itself!

February 16, 2011- by Scott Malone at Reuters The United States’ reliance on coal to generate almost half of its electricity, costs the economy about $345 billion a year in hidden expenses not borne by miners or utilities, including health … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Spring is just around the proverbial corner.

February 16, 2011- by John Blair, valleywatch.net editor. Walked out of the house this morning and saw some lilac buds anticipating the coming warmth. Then I heard on the radio that temps were to reach into the mid 60s today … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Rockport gas plant backed by Daniels hits snag. Without pipeline’s OK, $2.6B Rockport project could be doomed.

February 14, 2011-by Ted Evanoff in the Indianapolis Star. Indiana’s Senate has handed Gov. Mitch Daniels a setback on the big coal gasification plant he wants to see built at Rockport. Senators rejected a measure that would have cleared the … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Governor’s Sit-In Day Two: Why Kentucky Can’t Wait

February 12, 2011-by Jeff Biggers in the Huffington Post. As the nation’s beloved author/farmer philosopher Wendell Berry settled his 76-year-old lanky frame onto the floor of Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear’s office last night, he picked up a copy of The … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Indiana Senate rejects “eminent domain” powers for Texas company

February 8, 2011-by John Blair, valleywatch.net editor. BREAKING NEWS- The Indiana State Senate today rejected a plan by Governor, Mitch Daniels and others to allow the taking of private land for a pipeline proposed to take carbon dioxide away from … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 11 Comments

Shasta and Goliath: Bringing Down Corporate Rule

February 8, 2011-by Allen D. Kanner in Tikkun Magazine. Editor’s Note: Adam Smith, the father of modern capitalism once determined that the free enterprise system is based on responsible commercial entities and informed consumers. In today’s world, it seems that … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Valley Watch’s Blair describes career in advocacy journalism to IU Journalism classes

February 4, 2011 – by Thomas Miller, IU School of Journalism web page. “I’ve never seen somebody so passionate,” said Ben Simmons. He said Blair’s lecture reinforced the importance of thinking about new stories. For John Blair, there’s being fair … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

EPA’s Blind Spot: Hexavalent Chromium in Coal Ash. Merom powerplant in Indiana on danger list

February 1, 2011-Press Release from EarthJustice– Just weeks after recent headlines about hexavalent chromium, a cancer-causing toxic chemical, contaminated drinking water systems around the U.S., a new report shows that scores of leaking coal ash sites across the country are additional … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Duke scandal widens. Governor’s office slow to respond to “public records” request.

February 1, 2011-by John Russell in the Indianapolis Star. Even the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor seems interested. Consumer advocates are demanding that the state appoint an outside investigator to look into whether Duke Energy Corp. used undue influence to … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments