Utilities Bear Cost of New Regulations

The Environmental Protection Agency is requiring 22 states to reduceemissions that lead to smog. The states will likely go after electricpower plants that burn fossil fuels. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’sLester Graham reports that the power companies say they’re beingtargeted unfairly and the consumer cost will be high:

The Cost of Cheap Electricity

Concern about the environmental impacts of deregulating the electricitymarket have taken a back seat to promises of cheaper power and customerchoice on both sides of the border. But, as Great Lakes RadioConsortium Commentator Suzanne Elston has discovered, proponents ofgreen power just got a very strong ally:

Commentary – Biking to Work

The pressure to meet the climate change targets of the Kyoto agreements haseveryone advocating alternative, non-polluting modes of transport. But asGreat Lakes Radio Consortium commentator Suzanne Elston points out, gettingthere is only half the problem:

Court Decision Gives Renewable Energy a Boost

Coal fired power plants produce two-thirds of the nation’s electricity. In the process, they emit millions of tons of carbon dioxide and other air pollutants. But a recent court decision in Minnesota may provide an incentive to embrace cleaner energy sources. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Steve Frenkel has more:

Study Finds Cities Vary in Air Quality Improvement

According to a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency, Buffalo’s air quality has improved greatly over the last decade, but other Great Lakes cities have not met the same success. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Mike McKay has more: