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The state Utilities Commission is thought to be close to a decision on Duke Energy Co.’s request to build two new coal-fired power plants west of Charlotte. But a proposal by a growing number of legislators that the decision be delayed makes sense. State Reps. Jennifer Weiss of Cary and Paul Luebke of Durham, among…

They’re not always the most entertaining things, but they are important. Check out this live webcast of the House Natural Resources Committee. WV Congressman Nick Rahall (D-3) is the presiding chair, and the panel is mainly industrial interests and Congressmen with poor environmental records talking about how there needs to be less government regulation in…

Presidential Candidate and New York Senator Hillary Clinton recently announced her energy plan. It is full of so called “Carbon Capture and Storage” (CCS) and plans for IGCC. In Tonawanda, Clinton said the country is “nowhere near” being able to eliminate coal from its energy strategy More of this… Means more of this… Update: Don’t…

[Wall St Journal] Landowners who place conservation easements on their scenic, environmentally sensitive or historic properties have long been able to get tax breaks from the federal government, and some states have also begun offering tax incentives. Now, a little-noticed provision in the wide-ranging pension law Congress passed last summer has made the federal tax…

This bulletin summarizes key federal income tax provisions related to owning and managing forest land. From USDA Forest Service. News notes are courtesy of Southern Forests Network News Notes www.southernsustainableforests.org

[Oregon] Logging on private land that muddied drinking water for this small Coast Range town has raised concerns about rules to protect that water. City workers had to shut off the intake to the water treatment plant to prevent clogging its filters or sending dirty water through faucets, and the reservoir that holds the drinking…

Living within walking distance of the US Capitol has its perks. Unfortunately, mountains aren’t one of them.

The change will allow contractors to invest in gear and train workers [Oregon] A top Bush administration forestry official announced Wednesday that the Forest Service will try a new business model for contract work in federal forests to help prevent worker abuse and encourage investment in rural communities. The goal is to make forest management…

Sustainable operations are good for the environment. But they can be even better for business, as 181 FSC certified printers are learning. Whether pushed by customer demand and industry regulation or motivated by personal conviction, printing “green” is an accelerating trend. Use of paper that supports sustainable forestry is the hot “eco” practice. Already some…