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AK: Gara -- Emissions resolution hurts gas pipeline efforts

By The Associated Press, Anchorage Daily News

Rep. Les Gara says a resolution passed by the state House could undercut efforts in Congress to secure a natural gas pipeline in Alaska.
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AK: Push for in-state gas line gets a boost

By Richard Mauer, Anchorage Daily News

The drive to build an in-state gas pipeline, with public funds if necessary, got a boost Thursday with the enthusiastic testimony of two of Alaska's elder statesmen, Ted Stevens and Bill Sheffield, with Frank Murkowski offering more conditional support.
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AK: Hearing held on Sealaska lands bill

By Mary Pemberton, The Associated Press, The Juneau Empire

U.S. Rep. Don Young defended a bill Wednesday to give Sealaska Corp. its remaining lands under the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Read More

AZ: Wind farm could widen in SRP deal

By Ryan Randazzo, The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)

Salt River Project announced a deal Thursday that could double the size of the state's only wind farm, the Dry Lake Wind Power Project near Snowflake. Read More

CA: Valero oil firm contributes half-million to suspend AB 32

By Jim Sanders, The Sacramento Bee

A Texas-based oil company has contributed more than half of the nearly $1 million collected in a drive to suspend California's landmark greenhouse-gas emissions law, documents filed Thursday show. Read More

CA: SMUD, other utilities seek to kick PG&E-backed Proposition 16 off June ballot

By Denny Walsh, The Sacramento Bee

A broad coalition of California's public utilities, including the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, sued Thursday to disqualify Proposition 16 from the June 8 ballot "for being false and misleading and for concealing its true nature and purpose from voters." Read More

CT: Trumbull residents seek Siting Council changes

By Ken Dixon, Connecticut Post

Dozens of Trumbull residents on Thursday asked state lawmakers to protect the historic Nichols neighborhood from a planned fuel-cell facility that would depend on high-pressure natural gas flowing through 50-year-old pipes. Read More

CT: Energy plant operator -- More state oversight would be 'redundant'

By Josh Kovner, The Hartford Courant

A spokesman for a major power-plant operator stunned a legislative panel Thursday when he said creating a state mechanism to increase safety at power plants would be "somewhat redundant." Read More

DE: Historic panel OKs Woodburn solar plant project

By James Merriweather, The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)

The proposal to install a solar power plant atop Woodburn, a 212-year-old house that serves as the state's official governor's residence, Thursday breezed to unanimous approval by the city's Historic District Commission. Read More

IA: Alliant sticks with planned rate increase

By Dan Piller, The Des Moines Register

Alliant Energy said "no" on Thursday to Gov. Chet Culver's request to hold off on a 10 percent rate increase for its 525,000 Iowa customers. Read More

IL: Coal-to-gas plant gets a big boost in state Senate

By Mike Riopell, The Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale)

A large coal plant project slated for Jefferson County got help from state lawmakers Thursday. Read More

KY: Time running out on alternative energy bill

By James S. Bruggers, The Courier-Journal (Louisville)

With time in the General Assembly running out, a key House leader on Thursday tried to sell his alternative energy bill as a multi-billion dollar job-creation measure that would protect Kentuckians from a future spike in utility rates. Read More

ME: Several towns eye hold on tower construction

By Rich Hewitt, Bangor Daily News

BLUE HILL, Maine — With interest in wind power and communications increasing in Maine, several Hancock County towns are considering slowing things down to make sure they can effectively regulate construction of the associated towers. Read More

MT: What happens to Otter Creek coal revenue, regarding schools and other programs

By Mike Dennison, Billings Gazette

While Thursday's lease of state coal in the Otter Creek Valley creates an $86 million windfall for the state next month, the ultimate decision on how to spend it is a year off — at the 2011 Legislature. Read More

MT: Land Board OKs resolution to protect North Fork of Flathead after controversy

By Mike Dennison, Casper Star-Tribune

The state Land Board on Thursday approved a resolution to protect the North Fork of the Flathead River from future mineral development - but not without some controversy and finger-pointing. Read More

MT: Fish Creek land purchase for state park, wildlife area approved

By Rob Chaney, Missoulian

The state Land Board unanimously approved buying 41,000 acres of former Plum Creek Timber Co. land in Fish Creek for a future state park and wildlife management area. Read More

NE: State joins in EPA challenge

By Martha Stoddard, Omaha World-Herald

Nebraska joined 11 other states Thursday in seeking to participate in a legal challenge to the federal Environmental Protection Agency's recent findings about greenhouse gases. Read More

NJ: New energy budget will give smaller rebates for solar panels on roofs

By Scott Fallon, The Record of Bergen County

Residents and small business owners looking to put solar panels on their roofs will receive smaller rebates under a new state Clean Energy Program budget made public Thursday. Read More

NM: State urged to monitor stray voltage

By Tom Sharpe, Santa Fe New Mexican

A New Jersey company on Thursday urged the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission to require monitoring of stray electricity like that which was shocking dogs in downtown Santa Fe late last year. Read More

NV: Special legislative session advocated for water rights

By Cy Ryan, Las Vegas Sun

The Nevada Legislature should be called into special session soon to clarify confusion created by the Nevada Supreme Court on thousands of water rights, say advocates for homebuilders, organized labor and the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Read More

NV: Governor, Legislature seek to keep $62 million for state budget

By Cy Ryan, Las Vegas Sun

Gov. Jim Gibbons and the Nevada Legislature have joined to ask the state Supreme Court to force the Clean Water Coalition in Las Vegas to turn over $62 million to help the financially troubled state government. Read More

OK: Oklahoma Capitol briefs

By Michael McNutt, The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City)

Oklahoma is one of a dozen states seeking permission to challenge an Environmental Protection Agency finding that could potentially cripple economic development in the state, Attorney General Drew Edmondson said Thursday. Read More

OR: Oregon energy tax incentives face new limits

By Harry Esteve, The Oregonian (Portland)

A host of reforms aimed at reining in Oregon's budget-busting subsidies for green energy projects were signed into law Thursday by Gov. Ted Kulongoski -- a year after he vetoed a similar bill. Read More

PA: PUC sets hearing on Marcellus shale pipes

By Don Hopey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is holding a special hearing as part of efforts to clarify and possibly expand its role in regulating burgeoning Marcellus shale gas well and gas pipeline development. Read More

SD: Blender pumps get fed boost

By Thom Gabrukiewicz, Argus Leader (Sioux Falls)

South Dakota is looking for gas station owners who want to install ethanol blender pumps, with $1 million in federal stimulus money to help prime the pump. Read More

TN: Environmentalists critical of number of meetings regulatory office has had with opponents to new coal ash rules

By Michael Collins, Knoxville News Sentinel

WASHINGTON - The White House regulatory office that is reviewing proposed standards for the storage of toxic ash from coal-fired power plants has met behind closed doors more than two dozen times with industry groups and other parties who oppose the new rules. Read More

TX: A border runs through it

By Julian Aguilar, The Texas Tribune

Steeped in the annals of the America's symbiotic relationship with Mexico is the two countries' long-standing and sometimes tense agreement over an issue more far-reaching than border security and immigration: water. Read More

UT: WVC wants UTA to delay rail designs for 5600 West

By María Villaseñor, The Salt Lake Tribune

West Valley City officials are concerned that, with no guarantee that light rail will travel along the 5600 West corridor in the near future, the Utah Transit Authority wants to acquire too much right of way in that area for mass transit. Read More

VT: PIRG challenges Vermont Yankee application

By Terri Hallenbeck, Burlington Free Press

The Vermont Public Interest Research Group filed a request with the state Public Service Board on Thursday asking the panel to throw out Vermont Yankee's application for continued operation because of misinformation the nuclear plant's owners provided. Read More

WY: Mineral tax revenues push up state income, sales tax down

By Phil Noble, Cowboy State Free Press

The latest monthly state income report says mineral severance tax revenues were over 14 percent higher than predicted. Read More

WY: Wyoming may modify 'fracking' rules

By Dustin Bleizeffer, Casper Star-Tribune

In order to protect fresh and potable water, state regulators may require the oil and gas industry to provide more detailed and readily available information about hydraulic fracturing activities. Read More

USEFUL LINKS

Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency
DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission
An organization of states which promotes conservation and efficient recovery of domestic oil and natural gas resources while protecting health, safety and the environment.

Grading the States 2005
The Government Performance Project's analysis of how well each state is managed in four areas: money, people, infrastructure and information.

National Association Of Regulatory Utility Commissioners
NARUC members include the governmental agencies that are engaged in the regulation of utilities and carriers in the 50 states.

National Association of State Energy Officials
NASEO is a group of senior officials from state energy offices.

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
NRECA was organized to represent the national interests of cooperative electric utilities and the consumers they serve.

Natural Resources Defense Council
NRDC actively pursues litigation to support environmental protections and offers online resources related to environmental advocacy.

Pew Center on Global Climate Change
The Pew Center on Global Climate Change is a non-profit, non-partisan organization established to “provide credible information, straight answers, and innovative solutions in the effort to address global climate change.”

Renewable Fuels Association
The Renewable Fuels Association promotes policies, regulations and research supporting the ethanol industry.

Southern States Energy Board
The Southern States Energy Board is a non-profit organization created to promote economic development through innovative energy and environmental policies in 16 states.

Statescape's BillFinder
BillFinder helps users find any bill eligible for consideration in the current calendar year using either keywords and phrases or bill numbers.