Media General explores sale of newspapersAP
Newspaper publisher and TV station owner Media General says it is exploring the sale of its newspaper operations, …
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A central New York town can block
natural-gas drilling after a state judge, in the first test of
local laws, upheld the Town of Dryden’s ban on hydraulic
fracturing.
State Supreme Court Judge Phillip Rumsey in a ruling
released yesterday said the town’s zoning amendment on gas
drilling wasn’t pre-empted by state law. Denver-based Anschutz
Exploration Corp. sued in September, seeking to overturn the
ordinance, which bans gas and oil exploration in the town about
200 miles (322 kilometers) northwest of Manhattan.
New York placed a moratorium on the drilling process known
as hydraulic fracturing in 2010 while state regulators developed
environmental rules. Since then, about 20 towns in the state
have adopted laws to ban drilling, Karen Edelstein, a geographic
information-systems consultant in Ithaca, said.
“I think you’d call this a pretty substantial victory,”
Mahlon Perkins, attorney for Dryden, said yesterday in an
interview. “The pertinent part of it is, he declared that the
zoning amendment as slightly modified is not pre-empted by state
law.”
Tom West, an Albany attorney representing Anschutz, said
the ruling was disappointing. Anschutz has 30 days to decide
whether to appeal in state court, he said.
“These pure questions of law have a tendency to get
reviewed, and different judges can see it differently,” West
said in an interview. “We still feel very confident in our
position that the oil and gas law does pre-empt municipalities
from these types of regulation.”
Jim Monaghan, a spokesman for Anschutz, didn’t return a
phone call seeking comment.
New York sits on the northern edge of the Marcellus Shale
formation, which may hold enough natural gas to supply the U.S.
for about seven years, according to the U.S. Energy Department.
U.S. states from Wyoming (STOWY1) to West Virginia (STOWV1) with shale are
encouraging so-called
Read the whole article at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-22/new-york-town-s-ban-on-gas-fracking-upheld-by-state-court-judge.html
British Gas offers £50 incentive to nominate households in need of insulation.
British Gas is offering £50 payments to customers who pass on the names of
householders who could qualify for free insulation.
Energy (NYSEArca: JJE – news) companies are obliged to offer free loft or cavity wall insulation to
“vulnerable” households where members are on low incomes (usually less
than £16,000) or claiming income-related pension or disability benefits.
British Gas is now encouraging friends, family and neighbours to pass on
details of homes that may qualify so it can will meet the Government’s
target of providing free insulation in more than half a million homes.
Those providing details of “needy” homes will collect the £50 payment, with a
further £50 being paid to those receiving the service.
Despite recent reduction to gas and electricity prices, energy
bills are still substantially higher than a year ago, and the recent
cold snap will have affected many low-income households who are concerned
about soaring bills.
According to figures from the Energy Savings Trust, loft insulation can reduce
annual energy bills by £175, while cavity wall insulation can cut them by a
further £135.
Several energy companies provide free insulation to customers. Scottish
Southern Energy hands over a £25 shopping voucher while E.On pays £100 as an
incentive. But what is less well know is that some energy companies will
also provide free insulation, regardless of income.
A spokeswoman from Consumer Focus said: “In many cases it will depend on
the level of insulation already
Read the whole article at: http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/british-gas-launches-50-refer-101631561.html
Energy (NYSEArca: JJE – news) supplier’s new Business Energy Insight software tracks consumption
every half and hour and is available to all business customers with smart
meters
Thousands of businesses are wasting millions of pounds by keeping outdoor
signs, vending machines and computers on overnight, data from more than
6,000 smart energy meters show.
Some 46pc of business electricity use occurs outside the normal working hours
of 8am to 6pm, with essentials such as IT servers running alongside kitchen
boilers and decorative lights, says the research by British Gas Business
(BGB).
Some companies are already tackling this waste and saving a fifth off their
monthly bills by using a free monitoring service called Business Energy
Insight that is being officially rolled out by BGB today.
The utility has developed an online dashboard that shows energy consumption on
a halfhourly basis, measured in terms of cost, volume and CO2 output.
Small business (Other OTC: SBCO.PK – news) customers spending more than £5,000 a year on electricity can
call a named account manager based in Leicester, who will be able to offer
reasons for unexpected spikes in consumption and suggest changes that could
save money. Guides and quarterly reports are available that assess energy
use across a business.
Firms with less than £5,000 spend can still request a smart meter. BGB plans
to use the debate over energy consumption to introduce its customers to its
alternative energy services.
Elaine Roberts, the BGB director leading the service roll out, said giving
businesses a simple online tool to measure and reduce their electricity
consumption was
Read the whole article at: http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/british-gas-says-free-save-174427707.html
~ISX12 G Natural Gas Engine Targets Regional Trucking, Vocational and Refuse Markets in North America~
VANCOUVER, Feb. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Cummins Westport Inc., announced today the ISX12 G, a 12 litre heavy-duty, factory built dedicated natural gas engine for regional haul truck / tractor, vocational and refuse applications. The new ISX12 G is currently in field trials with full production expected to commence in early 2013.
The ISX12 G natural gas engine is based on the Cummins ISX12 diesel engine platform, the newest member of Cummins heavy duty engine family. The ISX12 G will operate exclusively on natural gas (CNG or LNG) utilizing Cummins Westport‘s proprietary spark-ignited, stoichiometric combustion with cooled exhaust gas recirculation (SEGR) technology, first introduced with the 8.9 litre ISL G.
The ISX12 G features three-way catalyst aftertreatment, which is packaged as a muffler and is maintenance free. No diesel particulate filter or selective catalytic reduction aftertreatment will be required. Preliminary specifications include a range of ratings to 400 hp and 1,450 lb-ft torque, optional engine brake, and manual and automatic transmission capability to meet customer and original equipment manufacturer requirements. The ISX12 G will be manufactured in Cummins’ heavy-duty engine plant in Jamestown, New York.
“This is an important product development for Cummins Westport given the increasing demand for natural gas vehicles in the heavy-duty market,” said Roe East, President of Cummins Westport. “The ISX12 G will offer customers heavy-duty performance, reliability, and durability and a choice of either compressed natural gas or liquefied natural gas as a fuel.”
The ISX12 G target markets at launch are North American regional haul and vocational truck/tractor, and refuse applications, where demand for natural gas vehicles is growing. Anticipated end-use applications in the regional haul market segment include intermodal and distribution operation, pickup and delivery.
Read the whole article at: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/cummins-westport-announces-heavy-duty-211000584.html
February 21, 2012, 4:29 AM EST
By Joe Carroll
Feb. 21 (Bloomberg) — Profits for the biggest U.S. energy producers including Exxon Mobil Corp. are poised to decline the most since the financial meltdown of 2008-09 as the drilling technique known as fracking collapses natural gas prices.
Exxon and Chesapeake Energy Corp., which today reports 2011 earnings, will see net income in 2012 slide 7 percent and 10 percent, respectively, according to the mean of analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg. That would be the biggest drop since 2009 for the companies, the largest U.S. gas producers.
While higher global demand for transportation fuels drove up crude prices about 30 percent since 2009, the domestic gas glut is pinching earnings for producers even as it pushes the U.S. toward energy independence. Especially hurt are Chesapeake and ConocoPhillips, which amassed gas assets before the full impact of fracking on supply growth was apparent, said Michael McMahon, a managing director for energy investments at Pine Brook Partners LLC, a private equity firm in New York.
“Fracking has opened up vast areas of development on a scale that’s practically overwhelming for the industry,” said William Dutcher, president of Dutcher and Co., an Oklahoma City- based operator of 1,300 oil and gas wells.
Oil output from U.S. fields including in shale rock is at a nine-year high and gas production hasn’t been this robust in almost four decades, Energy Department figures show.
“Shale has driven the gas price down to where it’s creating economic hardship for producers, especially those that made acquisitions in 2006 and 2007, when gas was so expensive,” Dutcher said.
Read the whole article at: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-21/oil-profits-slide-fastest-since-lehman-collapse-on-gas-energy.html
Equedia.com and The Equedia Weekly Letter provides research on Canadian companies with a focus on mining and resource stocks. Equedia is continuing research and evaluation on the prospects of Palliser Oil Gas Corporation (TSX VENTURE: PXL.V) and Renegade Petroleum Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: RPL.V). To be further notified of our updates on these companies and special report editions through the Equedia Weekly letter, please obtain your free subscription here:
http://equedia.com/equediaweekly
Many companies previously featured in our special report editions have hit new 52 – week highs since the initiation of our coverage and many companies under evaluation have made strong gains since being placed under evaluation. To receive these reports, please make sure to subscribe for your complimentary subscription to Equedia Weekly here:
http://equedia.com/equediaweekly
Here is a brief excerpt from our latest weekly letter, “The Most Important Silver Project in the World”:
“The amount of silver coming out of the ground is going down every year. Few discoveries have been announced in the last decade and most silver produced now is coming from the last stages of existing mines. Not only that, but the quality of silver mined is the lowest it’s ever been and like most metals, silver is rarely mined in veins now. It takes many tons of earth and rock to process even a single ounce. But that’s what makes the next company I am about to introduce so special.
Haywood Securities called this company’s marquee project “one of the most important high grade silver projects globally.”
Canaccord Genuity views this company as “a likely acquisition target with a joint venture that hosts one of the richest and highest-grade silver deposits worldwide…It’s simply one of the most attractive undeveloped silver projects on the planet.”
To continue
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AAA Michigan says gasoline prices are up more than 2 cents per gallon during the past week to a statewide average of $3.45.
The auto club says today the average is about 27 cents per gallon higher than last year at this time.
Of the cities it surveys, AAA Michigan says the cheapest price for self-serve unleaded fuel is in the Ann Arbor area, where it’s $3.45 a gallon. The highest average can be found in the Marquette area at $3.49.
Dearborn-based AAA Michigan surveys 2,800 Michigan gas stations daily.
Read the whole article at: http://www.freep.com/article/20120220/NEWS06/120220021
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Most students are out of school Monday for President’s Day and there are some interactive, fun and educational places you can visit. The best part is it’s all free.
The Children’s Museum is offering free admission for President’s Day. Those behind the displays have created a special way to teach kids about President’s Day — specifically 16th President Abraham Lincoln. They will have a character actor dressed as Lincoln and he will interact with the children, teaching them about his history.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for families to enjoy teachable moments together, from infants to grandparents. They get to explore cultures from around the world and learn some presidential history because it is President’s Day,” explains Kim Harms, from Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
Families getting in for free will save a bundle. The average cost for a family of four to get into the museum is $60. If you miss President’s Day, there are other free days you can take advantage of.
“We have multiple free days throughout the year to get the families an opportunity to come in and enjoy everything that we have for free. Those include the first Thursday of each month and family night. Then we have various holidays throughout the year that are also free including President’s Day, Martin Luther King Day and some others,” explains Harms.
The Children’s Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday.
Another place you can visit for free for President’s Day is Conner Prairie, the living history museum. It will save a family of four about $24.
Read the whole article at: http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/local/marion_county/childrens-museum-offers-free-presidents-day-admission
CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) -
The University of Cincinnati’s Hoxworth Blood Center is giving donors the chance to win free gas for a year.
From Monday, Feb. 20 to Saturday, March 3, each donor will automatically be registered for a chance to win a Speedway Gift Card valued at $2,600, or $50 a week.
Donors must be in good health, at least 17-years-old (or 16 with signed parental consent), weighing at least 110 pounds, and must provide identification at the time of donation. Donors should eat a meal and drink plenty of water within four hours of coming in. Hoxworth does accept walk-ins, but making an appointment is highly encouraged.
Hoxworth Blood Center at the University of Cincinnati serves hospitals all over Southwestern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeastern Indiana. It collects over 90,000 units of blood each year.
To schedule an appointment, call (513) 451-0910 or go to www.hoxworth.org.
Copyright 2012 FOX19. All Rights Reserved.
Read the whole article at: http://www.fox19.com/story/16972847/hoxworth-blood-center-gives-donors-the-chance-to-win-free-gas