July 20, 2006

We can’t do without itThe Justice Department is investigating price-rigging in the propane market, a vital fuel for off-grid consumers.
Propane provides heating and cooking for almost 7m US households which lack access to mainstream gas supplies. Ethan Bellamy, analyst at Stifel Nicolas, said "It is typically the fuel of choice for off-the-grid residences that cannot hook up to natural gas." Regulators found no evidence of price manipulation in the petrol market, but the dynamics of propane consumption are very different, he said. "Retail propane use is highly inelastic and driven by demand for heating, which tends to be weather dependent. Consumers either pay their bills or put on a parka."
»Keep reading 'Energy Corps fiddle the price of propane'
July 11, 2006

Anti-nuclear lobby whacked The UK Government has caved in to the Nuclear lobby, and its latest Energy review provides little or no support for decentralised and off-grid energy.
Instead its has announced support for privately funded nuclear power plants, supported the continuation of centralised power generation, and is to offer incentives to energy companies to help consumers in reducing consumption. It also said it would raise power companies renewables targets but there is nothing about reducing energy consumption by industry.
»Keep reading 'UK goes Nuclear'