Duke Energy is planning to install so-called smart power meters in 775 thousand homes in Indiana.
Duke plans to temporarily reduce rates and then increase them by 5.5% in five years.
Spokesperson Lew Middleton says the money will go toward power meters that allow homes to communicate with the power company with information about energy consumption and events such as blackouts.
“Right now, that two-way communication does not exist in any form,” he says. “As a matter of fact, the electric grid is so dumb—if you will—that when the power goes out at your home, you have to call your power company and let them know.”
The company will also request federal stimulus funds for part of the project. The plan is contingent on approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, which could hold hearings on the matter this summer. Middleton says if it’s approved, the project could be completed in five to six years.
Well, mostly. We did have air quality alerts here on Thursday and today (Friday), caused essentially by too many cars on the roads and high temperatures.
But on Capitol Hill, administrators and legislators alike made progress on curbing the kinds of emissions that can lead to those alerts.
The EPA announced today it would begin work with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to develop new standards for both vehicle greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide) emissions as well as fuel efficiency. If the new rules are approved, by 2016, new cars could be achieving nearly 35.5 miles to the gallon and emitting less pollution.
The reason the two agencies are involved, for the detail-minded readers, is this: the EPA is responsible for regulating carbon dioxide emissions (as ordered by the Supreme Court a couple of years ago) and NHTSA is responsible for the fuel efficiency part. Working together, they’ll be able to establish one “harmonized” national standard.
Vehicle exhaust
On the legislative side, perhaps the most significant bill to address climate change and energy issues has passed a U.S. House committee. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said in a statement that she’d like to get it to the House floor for a vote “as soon as possible.”
A bit of local air news: according to The New York Times, an Indiana jury found that Duke Energy Corp. did not install the proper pollution controls when it replaced equipment at its Gallagher plant in Floyd County. Since around 1999, that’s been leading to more air pollution in southern Indiana and around Louisville, the article says:
“The Gallagher Station has emitted 25,000 additional tons of pollution per year since upgrading the pulverizers, according to the New England-based Clean Air Task Force. Sulfur dioxide contributes to acid rain and can also cause serious health impacts.”
