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Indiana Statehouse Committee to Investigate Power Outages Following August Storm

Indiana Statehouse Committee to Investigate Power Outages Following August Storm

The Indiana statehouse's Interim Study Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications is set to convene in Indianapolis to investigate the prolonged power outages that affected Northwest Indiana after an August 11 derecho. The committee will hear presentations on extreme weather events, vegetation management, and outage response. Officials, legislators, and the public will also provide comments before the committee discusses and votes on a final report. Additionally, the committee will review annual reports from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) and the Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor. State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, who chairs the committee, emphasized the importance of understanding what occurred, what worked, and what needs improvement to better respond to future major storms. He previously called for an independent, third-party review of utilities' responses to power outages. The IURC has already initiated its own investigation into NIPSCO, the utility company, whic...

Fact-Check Debunks Claims Against Senator Collins Regarding Epstein Files and PAC Donations

Fact-Check Debunks Claims Against Senator Collins Regarding Epstein Files and PAC Donations

An advertisement from WinSenate, a Democratic-affiliated super PAC, has accused Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) of voting to cover up the Jeffrey Epstein files and alleged that Epstein's 'business partner' funneled $3 million to her super PAC. PolitiFact has investigated these claims, finding them to be false. The ad specifically referenced a September 2025 vote on an amendment to a defense spending bill, which Collins voted against, stating it was not appropriate for that bill. However, PolitiFact noted that Collins had previously supported similar measures. In July 2025, the Senate Appropriations Committee, which she chairs, unanimously voted to direct the Justice Department to preserve Epstein files and report to lawmakers. Furthermore, in November 2025, the Senate unanimously passed a standalone bill to release the Epstein files, which Collins praised as an 'important step for the survivors.' The ad also claimed that Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, who donated $3 million to a pro-Collins PAC, was Ep...

U.S. Considers Diesel Export Ban Amid Record High Domestic Prices

U.S. Considers Diesel Export Ban Amid Record High Domestic Prices

The Trump administration is reportedly considering a ban on diesel exports from the U.S. in response to record-high domestic diesel prices, which are nearing $6.50 per gallon. This consideration comes six weeks before the mid-term elections, suggesting a potential move to address consumer concerns about fuel costs. Experts, however, believe that such a ban would likely offer only short-term relief to diesel prices in specific regions of the U.S. and is not a guaranteed solution. The proposal has met with opposition from industry leaders and European leaders, as the U.S. accounts for 40% of the European Union's diesel imports. French President Macron has also urged for the release of strategic reserves and regulatory changes to boost refining capacities in the near term to combat high diesel prices in Europe. The critical role of diesel across various sectors, including farming, transportation, and industrial uses, means that high prices have a broad stagflationary impact.

Lakewood Residents and Businesses Confront FirstEnergy Over Persistent Power Outages, Demand Accountability

Lakewood Residents and Businesses Confront FirstEnergy Over Persistent Power Outages, Demand Accountability

Residents and business owners in Lakewood, Ohio, confronted FirstEnergy representatives at a city hall hearing regarding a series of persistent power outages. The community expressed significant frustration over the outages, which have been a major issue for years, escalating with seven major incidents in June and July. Speakers at the hearing, including Lakewood resident Ashley Drachenberg and Lauren Small from the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the substantial financial costs incurred by businesses due to lost sales, spoiled inventory, and interrupted operations. City officials cited findings from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) indicating FirstEnergy's failure to maintain its infrastructure. FirstEnergy Vice President Sally Thomas acknowledged the company's shortcomings, stating, 'We have not lived up to your expectations or our own,' and admitted that the infrastructure in Lakewood is outdated and overburdened.

CVS Health Seeks Field Service Technicians for On-Site Support Across Indiana

CVS Health Seeks Field Service Technicians for On-Site Support Across Indiana

CVS Health Seeks Field Service Technicians for On-Site Support Across Indiana

Price City Experiences Widespread Power Outage Due to Severe Weather

Price City Experiences Widespread Power Outage Due to Severe Weather

Nearly half of Price City, Utah, is currently without power due to heavy rain and intense lightning. The city is actively working to assess the full extent of the outage and restore electricity to affected areas. Price City officials have indicated that crews are aiming to restore power by 2:00 a.m. for some areas, but an estimated restoration time for the east-central area outage is not yet available. Residents are advised to exercise patience and avoid unnecessary travel for safety reasons. In response to potential flooding, Price City has run out of sandbags, though some are available at the Carbon County Fairgrounds for self-filling. The American Red Cross has issued recommendations for residents during a power outage, including monitoring local alerts, contacting support networks, safely managing food, unplugging appliances to prevent overloads, and taking precautions against carbon monoxide poisoning if using gas appliances.

Senator Martin Heinrich Blocks Ratepayer Protection Act, Proposes GRID Savings Act for AI Data Center Costs

Senator Martin Heinrich Blocks Ratepayer Protection Act, Proposes GRID Savings Act for AI Data Center Costs

Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) has blocked the Ratepayer Protection Act in the Senate, arguing that the bipartisan legislation does not adequately protect U.S. consumers from the rising costs associated with AI-driven data centers. The Ratepayer Protection Act, which passed the House with overwhelming support (417-3), aimed to establish federal standards for state regulators when reviewing proposals for new customers with electricity demands of 100 megawatts or more, including large AI data centers. It also recommended charging large electricity customers for extra grid upgrade costs. Senator Heinrich, the top Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, stated that the measure "does not go far enough to protect U.S. consumers" and that "Congress needs to pass real legislation with real teeth." He has instead proposed the GRID Savings Act, introduced in July 2026, which would mandate that very large electricity users, such as AI data centers consuming 150 MW or more, directly pay for th...

US finalizes new lower fuel economy standards in boost for gas-powered vehicles

US finalizes new lower fuel economy standards in boost for gas-powered vehicles

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Monday finalized new lower vehicle fuel economy standards, in the latest effort to make it easier for automakers to sell gas-powered vehicles and to reverse a push by the Biden administration to force automakers to build

Representative Bob Latta Emphasizes Existing Law in DOE Nuclear Waste Consolidation Plan Discussions

Representative Bob Latta Emphasizes Existing Law in DOE Nuclear Waste Consolidation Plan Discussions

The Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking new legal authority from Congress to manage spent nuclear fuel and establish Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses (NLICs). These campuses would consolidate interim dry storage, spent fuel reprocessing, fuel fabrication, and permanent disposal in states that volunteer to host them. Assistant Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Energy Ted Garrish presented this request at recent House and Senate hearings. Energy Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) stressed that any new campus policy must complement existing law and the designated federal deposit site at Yucca Mountain, rather than replace it. Twenty-six states have expressed interest, with six signing non-binding memorandums of understanding to explore hosting a campus. Garrish also requested that Congress end Yucca Mountain's legal monopoly on disposal, authorize interim storage at campus sites, and make reprocessing an official policy where technically and economically feasible. The DOE aims for formalized host agreem...

Congresswoman Schrier's Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act Signed into Law to Streamline Dam Licensing

Congresswoman Schrier's Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act Signed into Law to Streamline Dam Licensing

Congresswoman Kim Schrier (WA-08) announced that her bipartisan Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act has been signed into law. This legislation, co-led with Congressman Russ Fulcher (ID-01), aims to enhance efficiency and transparency in the licensing process for hydropower dams. The new law requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to provide an annual report to Congress detailing the status of each hydropower dam license or relicensing application. This measure is intended to offer greater clarity to communities and dam operators regarding license statuses and equip Congress with tools to further streamline the process. The legislation has garnered support from various organizations, including the National Hydropower Association, American Whitewater, and American Rivers, all of whom emphasize the importance of efficient and transparent processes for managing hydropower resources and river health. Hydropower facilities typically need to relicense their operations with FERC every 30 to 50 y...

Blackstone Launches BXPM, a Single Fund for Non-U.S. Investors to Access Private Markets

Blackstone Launches BXPM, a Single Fund for Non-U.S. Investors to Access Private Markets

Blackstone Launches BXPM, a Single Fund for Non-U.S. Investors to Access Private Markets

Nor’easter Brings Heavy Rain, Winds, and Coastal Flooding to US Northeast

Nor’easter Brings Heavy Rain, Winds, and Coastal Flooding to US Northeast

A powerful nor’easter is impacting the northeastern United States, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds, and dangerous coastal flooding. The National Weather Service (NWS) has reported that the storm is affecting areas including New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, and southern Connecticut. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected in New York City and Long Island, with 1.5 to 3 inches elsewhere. The storm has already caused significant disruptions, including over 150,000 power outages, flight cancellations, and event postponements. Coastal flooding is particularly severe during high tide cycles, with the worst impacts along the south shore of Long Island and parts of New York Harbor. The storm is expected to weaken gradually by Monday night, though its effects will linger into Tuesday.