Today's Stories
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NewsReview.com, November 24, 2008
"Remember when we used to worry about sprawl? Runaway growth was once a top concern for Sacramento residents, along with its troublesome byproducts: traffic congestion, bad air and the loss of quality farmland. We don’t hear so much complaining about sprawl nowadays, with the collapse of the housing bubble and the ensuing global financial crisis. After all, no economic growth means no development and no sprawl. Right?"
Citywire.com, November 12, 2008
"There’s a critical “place” story beyond the carelessness and/or chicanery of subprime mortgage lenders and resellers who precipitated the crisis that’s triggered a $700 billion federal bailout and global financial jitters. It’s the brutal geographic sorting out of winners and losers among the residential properties we call home. It has to do with the “intrinsic value” of a dwelling. Which, in turn, has to do with where it’s located and the convenience and amenities of the surrounding community."
Wall St. Journal, November 24, 2008
"An unexpected drop in U.S. electricity consumption has utility companies worried that the trend isn’t a byproduct of the economic downturn, and could reflect a permanent shift in consumption that will require sweeping change in their industry.
Numbers are trickling in from several large utilities that show shrinking power use by households and businesses in pockets across the country."
Washington Post, November 21, 2008
"The traditional strategy for saving the Chesapeake Bay -- in which governments promise major improvements but only set a faraway deadline -- isn’t working, the leaders of the cleanup said yesterday. Instead, they promised to energize the effort with short-term goals."
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New York Times, November 19, 2008
"...And yet when it comes to the nation’s infrastructure, money isn’t the main problem.
A lack of adequate financing is part of the problem, without doubt. But the bigger problem has been an utter lack of seriousness in deciding how that money gets spent. And as long as we’re going to stimulate the economy by spending money on roads, bridges and the like, we may as well do it right.
"
Washington Post, November 11, 2008
"Maryland regulators have ordered the state’s electric utilities to come up with proposals by Dec. 1 to conserve power to prevent the rolling blackouts that customers could face by 2011...In an order issued last week, the commission expressed doubt that transmission lines planned through and around Maryland will be ready by 2011 to carry more electricity to the state. Regulators in Virginia and West Virginia have given their blessing to a 250-mile power line proposed through rural Northern Virginia, but the project has not been approved by Pennsylvania officials, who could scuttle it."
WTOP, November 11, 2008
"A new warning and a new president are renewing the debate over power supply across the Washington region...Robert Lazaro, from Virginia-based Piedmont Environmental Council, wants local leaders to do more planning together.
"Putting small power plants where they are needed so when there is a spike in local demand these plants can be turned on and provide power within the existing grid." "
Richmond Times Dispatch, October 17, 2008
"Government data show construction of new homes plunged by a bigger-than-expected amount in September as builders slashed production to the slowest place since early 1991."
Martinsburg Journal, October 18, 2008
"Plans for the proposed Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline have changed, according to Allegheny Energy officials, who on Friday announced a "reconfiguration of PATH" that will also delay the project’s overall timeline."
, October 23, 2008
"Members of a civic group have thrown down a challenge to the Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline powerline project, calling for an independent study.
Members of the Sugarloaf Conservancy and guest speakers pushed for the study Tuesday night at a meeting at the Urbana Fire Hall."
Washington Business Journal, October 8, 2008
"More than 24 million Americans, or 11 percent of the nation’s adults, use buses, light rail, commuter rail and other public transit options more than they did last year, according to a survey by HNTB Cos. "
C-Ville Weekly, September 30, 2008
"So, as you may have heard, there’s this ginormous new power line that’s been proposed for Northern Virginia.
This story is way too large, and tangled, for me to thoroughly cover in this space. But I can say three things: One, our local environmental defenders, the Piedmont Environmental Council, have been seriously on the case for a while now, agitating against the line on a number of fronts. "
, September 22, 2008
"About 38 West Virginia landowners have received letters reminding them that their property could be taken by eminent domain if they don’t negotiate with a company building a multistate power line.
Allegheny Energy says the letters were sent to landowners who haven’t engaged in any discussion about the company acquiring the right-of-way to their land."
, September 24, 2008
"Allegheny Energy Inc. on Monday raised the white flag, agreeing not to push further its proposed $1.2 billion high-voltage power line project through Washington and most of Greene counties.
Two state Public Utility Commission administrative law judges last month recommended the entire 240-mile project be scrapped. "
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