Monday, March 27, 2023

Play

Mobilizing Georgia voters in a non-election year is crucial for voting rights groups, Philadelphians over 50 will play a major role in the mayoral primary, and the EPA is finalizing a new air quality rule.

Play

Michigan becomes the first state in decades to repeal a "right to work" law, death penalty opponents say President Biden is not keeping campaign promises to halt federal executions, and more states move to weaken child labor protection laws.

Play

Finding childcare is a struggle everywhere, prompting North Carolina's Transylvania County to try a new approach. Maine is slowly building-out broadband access, but disagreements remain over whether local versus national companies should get the contracts, and specialty apps like "Farmers Dating" help those in small communities connect online.

CT Gas Conversions Fall Short

Play

Tuesday, July 18, 2017   

HARTFORD, Conn. – Gas companies fell far short of their goals to convert Connecticut homes and businesses to natural gas, and now environmentalists want construction of two new pipelines canceled. The state's Comprehensive Energy Strategy could be released later this week.

The 2013 CES called for a big boost in reliance on methane, with ratepayers subsidizing part of the cost of converting thousands of homes and businesses to natural gas.

But Martha Klein, chair of the Connecticut chapter of the Sierra Club, calls that a failed strategy and the companies' own figures indicate that, even after cutting the projected number of conversions by almost half, the goal still wasn't met.

"Now we have the data to show that Connecticut does not have the customers for the natural gas conversions that the state obligated us to subsidize," she says.

Calling gas cleaner and cheaper than oil, the companies used anticipated increases in the demand for natural gas to justify the construction of two new gas pipelines into the state.

But Klein points out that natural gas is more powerful than carbon dioxide as an agent of climate change, and the demand just isn't there.

"The interstate gas pipelines, Kinder Morgan and Enbridge, are completely not needed," she states. "We will not be able to use the gas here. There are not enough customers."

Three new gas-fired power plants are now in the approval process in the state and a fourth is contesting the denial of a permit for construction.

But Klein notes that Connecticut already generates more electricity than it needs. She believes that, rather than promoting natural gas, the state should be developing alternatives that are really clean.

"We should quite simply be converting to increased energy efficiencies and 100 percent renewable energy right now," adds Klein. "There is no reason to delay further."

The Sierra Club has launched a petition campaign urging members of Congress ask that construction of the pipelines be stopped.


get more stories like this via email

During this year's ACA open-enrollment period, a record high of more than 16 million people signed up, with 4.4 million more enrolled for health insurance coverage since 2021, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

It's been 13 years since more than 156,000 West Virginians gained health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act. As sweeping and …


Social Issues

High school graduates have the option before taking their next academic step to choose a gap year - for traveling, relaxing, or researching different …

Environment

This week, Hispanic environmental advocates are heading to Washington, D.C., from around the country to engage lawmakers on issues affecting us all…


Americans' total credit card balance is $986 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022, according to consumer debt data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

More than one in three Ohioans are relying on credit cards for spending needs, and nearly a quarter say they've increased their credit-card use in …

Social Issues

Massachusetts, like other states, continues to struggle with a shortage of teachers. But for one English teacher at Martha's Vineyard Regional High …

Cancer care costs are expected to top more than $245 billion by 2030, according to the American Association for Cancer Research. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

Beginning next year, more Kentuckians will have expanded access to biomarker testing - which helps doctors customize cancer treatment. Advocates of …

Social Issues

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed new regulations on credit card late fees, which could save Americans billions of dollars…

Environment

Researchers with the University of New Hampshire are taking to the skies to study the state's increasingly fragmented forests. Urban and …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021