Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Something Arkansas does NOT need now: Disastrous House Bill 1895 could be voted on by Arkansas Senate tomorrow
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Important Legislative Update: The Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWECPO) has drafted HB 1895 which would make it much easier for utilities to get power plants approved under the radar, hurt ratepayers and cut the public out of the commenting process. The bill can be found at http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2011/2011R/Pages/BillInformation.aspx?measureno=HB1895 This bill is bad on several levels: 1) HB 1895, written by the utility Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO), would change the utility law that is the subject of pending litigation in suits where SWEPCO is a party. Changing the law right before a judge makes a ruling is not a tactic of which I want my legislature to be a part. 2) This bill would create a “declaration of need” proceeding to determine whether there should be more electricity production in Arkansas, but not create public notice requirements for the proceeding. If a government agency is conducting a decision making process that could later on affect my utility rates, I want to make sure that I’m given the opportunity to be a part of that discussion. And I won’t know how to attend if the law doesn’t require me to be notified. 3) HB 1895 would tip the scales to the utilities so that they can pressure government to raise electric rates even more. The bill would create a separate “declaration of need” proceeding where a determination for the need of increased electric capacity would provide the basis for utilities to recover new costs through increased rates. We, the ratepayers, would be stuck with higher bills. Unfortunately, it has already passed the Arkansas House. It is possible that this bill will wind up on the Senate floor, and we need concerned citizens to call their senators now and urge them to vote NO on HB 1895. In order to find your own senator, visit: http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/senatorSearch.html For more information about the bill, please contact: Lev Guter Associate Field Organizer Sierra Club - Arkansas lev.guter@sierraclub.org (941) 779-3337 |
What Arkansas needs NOW!
Local Pipeline Safety Policy
http://www.pstrust.org/resources/regs/local_pol.htm
Model Setback Ordinance for Transmission Pipelines
http://www.mrsc.org/Subjects/PubSafe/pipesetbackord.aspx
Myths and Misleading Statements About Oil and Natural Gas Pipelines
http://www.pstrust.org/library/myths.htm
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Tuesday, March 15
Peter Byck, director and producer, is coming to Fayetteville to screen his latest documentary, Carbon Nation, on Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 7:00 pm at the University of Arkansas’ Global Campus on the square in Fayetteville. A second screening has been scheduled for 2:00 pm, same location. Fayetteville will be among the first cities in the nation to screen this film featuring climate change solutions. This event is FREE and open to the public.
Click here to see a trailer of the film: www.carbonnation.tv. Click here to reserve your ticket: https://secure.sceao.uark.edu/EventCalendar/default.aspx
Brought to you by the UA Applied Sustainability Center, UA Global Campus, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, the Arkansas Chapter of the Sierra Club, the League of Women Voters of Washington County, and Arkansas Interfaith Power & Light.
Managing Director
Applied Sustainability Center
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
479.575.3044 (O) 479.200.8262 (C) www.asc.uark.edu
Make your personal sustainability pledge: www.ecologicalcommunities.org
Set up your personal dashboard: www.earthaid.net
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