Grumpy Editor

EPA power-curtailing plan means soupy ice cream; Surprise! Survey finds most fireworks made in China

Will soupy ice cream and soggy, unfrozen peas in your freezer be common in the future as your local utility cuts power on high demand days, wonders Grumpy Editor. 

CNSNews.com --- in material that didn’t get much coverage in major print/broadcast outlets --- reports, “The Environmental Protection Agency has revised its Energy Star energy-efficiency requirements for residential refrigerators, and it is encouraging the inclusion of 'connected' features that respond to utility signals to curb their energy consumption.” 

That means the “connection” allows a power company to regulate appliances' electricity usage, including curtailing operations during peak demand periods, such as on hot summer afternoons.

CNSNews.com, from an EPA release, points out updated requirements encourage manufacturers of Energy Star appliances to include optional "connected" features.

Revised Energy Star refrigerator-freezer specifications are slated to go into effect on Sept. 15, 2014.

 

China provides spark for fireworks in U.S.

Since few people, especially around Fourth of July celebrations, observe the “manufactured in” fine print on fireworks packages, it comes as no surprise that a new study, via the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA), finds 93 percent of all fireworks set off in the U.S. are produced in China.

In reporting this on Friday, the Washington Times notes the U.S. made only 6.7 million of the total 207.5 million pounds of fireworks purchased domestically last year.

Bethesda, Md.-based APA, as the nation’s oldest and most recognized fireworks trade group, promotes safety in design and use of legal fireworks.

 

In case you missed these…

Hoffman Media is sticking by celebrity chef Paula Deen.  While others have pulled out backing her, the Birmingham, Ala.-based publisher has no plans to stop printing Cooking with Paula Deen, one of eight Hoffman magazines targeted at the women’s market…Chicago-based Tribune Co. agreed to buy 19 television stations from Local TV Holdings in a $2.73 billion deal that boosts Tribune’s television stations to 42…For the first time in four years, local TV news salaries are down, reports the latest Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA)/Hofstra University survey.  See the full statistics, including radio, here.  

The Star-Ledger, Newark, puts its 47-year-old headquarters building on the market a week after the paper, largest in New Jersey, threatened to close if union concessions are not met…Al Jazeera America signs former CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien and will feature her as a special correspondent for its prime time news magazine, America Tonight...So you think ad agencies have it easy?  Ad Age’s Nancy Hill points out several global advertisers who spend billions of dollars in advertising are proposing extended payment terms --- 75, 90 and up to 120 days --- for work from ad agencies.  At the 120-days level, that means output finalized today is paid by Thanksgiving.  Standard payment terms are usually 30 to 45 days. 

Road to master’s degree cut:  University of Southern California’s Annenberg's School for Communication and Journalism will begin offering a master’s degree in journalism in nine months rather than two years.

$7 billion power bill for Africa taps U.S. taxpayers; Newspaper editorial head count continues downward

American taxpayers, often facing power outages and steady rate increases from their local electric utility, are raising eyebrows today following President Barack Obama --- while on a three-nation tour of Africa --- pledging $7 billion to bring electricity to more parts of Africa, notes Grumpy Editor. 

The Power Africa project is directed mainly at Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Mozambique. 

Speaking yesterday in Cape Town, South Africa, Obama says the project would bring electricity to as many as 20 million homes and businesses in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Today’s assignment:  Survey U.S. media reports, see if there is mention that U.S. taxpayers would be supporting the $7 billion project in Africa while at home they are facing higher power bills and, in some cases, other costs. 

In Nevada, for example, a recently-passed state bill calls for NV Energy to shutter coal-fired power plants and replace them with renewable energy and natural gas facilities --- with ratepayers reimbursing the New York Stock Exchange-listed utility for both closing old power plants and for construction of new ones.

 

Newspaper editorial staffers slide continues 

There were about 2,600 fewer full-time professional editorial jobs at newspapers last year, a 6.4 percent decline from 2011, leaving that category with about 38,000 full-time employees, reports the American Society of News Editors in its annual newsroom census.

The total could be even lower.  ASNE points out some large newspapers did not fill out the survey this year, resulting in missing data.

Those include USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, the Baltimore Sun, the Arizona Republic, the Miami Herald, the (New Orleans) Times-Picayune and several others.

In all, 978 of 1,382 dailies responded to the survey.

Additionally, notes ASNE, the definition of editorial staff has become muddled as some newspaper operations maintain regional editing centers.

 

In case you missed these…

Crossfire will be returning to CNN in the fall.  An earlier version aired for 19 years…At least a dozen Los Angeles Times editorial staffers received pink slips Friday…The Star-Ledger, Newark, part of Advance Publications, warns its 771 workers it may shut down by the end of the year if its employee unions don't make concessions…Not getting much coverage:  CNSNews reports that “the Internal Revenue Service sent 23,994 tax refunds worth a combined $46,378,040 to ‘unauthorized’ alien workers who all used the same address in Atlanta, Ga., in 2011”…In a massive downsizing, the U.S. Army is slashing the number of active duty combat brigades to 33 from 45. A brigade usually numbers about 3,500 soldiers, but can be as large as 5,000 for the heavily armored units…Los Angeles bans plastic bags used in supermarkets.  Patrons have to bring their own reusable bags or pay a dime for each paper bag.  (No reports from environmentalists on concern in the number of trees cut down to supply sudden heavy usage of sturdy paper bags)…John Shaffer, program director at KDWN, Las Vegas, is named president of the Associated Press Television and Radio Association (APTRA).

A Bergen County, N.J. couple is facing a fine (up to $500) after neighbors complained the bird feeder of Alfred and Annette Rockefeller is attracting too much wildlife. Alfred, 77 and disabled, says feeding birds is one of his joys.

Optimism glows in pending acquisition of NV Energy by Buffett unit; Fresno daily thwarts visit by retired staffer

Grumpy Editor finds some business writers often jump the gun, saying a company has been sold, when it still --- often over a period of months --- has to clear shareholder and regulatory hurdles before the deal is finalized.

Such is the case with the announcement that MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co., a subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc., plans to acquire NV Energy, Inc., for $5.6 billion.

The pending acquisition needs the approval of NV Energy shareholders, Nevada’s Public Utilities Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice. 

The lengthy procedure for approval could extend to next year’s first quarter. 

Yet, some sources already report a done deal --- or close to a green light. 

The daily Nevada Appeal, Carson City, says NV Energy “has been sold” to MidAmerican Energy.

An Associated Press report mentions MidAmerican Energy “will buy Nevada electric and natural gas company NV Energy…”  (Incidentally, no natural gas is connected with the Nevada power company.) 

Meanwhile, Michael Yackira, NV Energy’s president and CEO informs customers that his company “will be acquired by MidAmerican.” 

 

Fresno Bee snubs retired veteran staffer’s visit 

Are former newsroom staffers welcomed back to visit where they once met deadlines?

After veteran newsman Bill Patterson, now retired, read an Editor & Publisher story that the Pasadena Star-News and San Bernardino Sun are inviting the public to sit back and relax in their newsrooms, he grumbled that wasn’t the way he was greeted when he attempted to show a friend where he toiled for 42 years at the Fresno Bee, a McClatchy Co. paper. 

E&P mentioned the Star-News and Sun unveiled “news lounges,” open to the public during business hours, that are equipped with computers, Internet access, tables and sitting areas. 

Digital First Media, parent of the Star-News and Sun, opened more than 20 similar "community media labs" around the country, part of a "community engagement initiative." 

Patterson, who drove more than 500 miles to Fresno two years ago, said he was greeted by a “grouchy receptionist who informed us our contacts were at lunch and not available,” thus blocking the visit. 

Rather than create a fuss, Patterson --- who worked in just about every part of the Bee editorial department, including the City Hall beat, business editor and 20 years covering courts --- simply departed. 

 

In case you missed these… 

The full photo operation, involving about 30 staffers, at the Chicago Sun-Times (and suburban subsidiaries) was sacked as the tabloid plans to rely on reporters performing double duty in shooting photos and video, along with taking notes.  The newspaper said, “The Chicago Sun-Times continues to evolve with our digitally savvy customers, and as a result, we have had to restructure the way we manage multimedia, including photography, across the network”…Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway was busy last week.  In addition to the NV Energy planned acquisition, it said it will add The Roanoke (Va.) Times to its growing list of small and medium-sized newspapers.  With a daily circulation of 76,000 and Sunday circulation of 90,000, it will be Berkshire's 30th daily newspaper…Veteran television host Larry King has joined RT (also known as Russia Today), the Russian-based 24-hour cable news network.  “Politics with Larry King” debuts this month.  RT will also host “Larry King Now.”  Programs will be recorded in Los Angeles and Washington…Cumulus Media Networks, through Friday, raised almost $4 million for Oklahoma tornado relief…With a high outbreak of tornadoes and thunderstorms, the Obama administration has shelved plans to furlough Weather Service staffers under budget sequestration…Veteran Associated Press correspondent Hal McClure, whose overseas coverage --- ranging from Singapore to Turkey --- spanned 21 years, died in  California.  He was 92.

The Internal Revenue Service spent about $50 million to hold at least 220 conferences for employees between 2010 and 2012, according to a House committee report.

Reid nixes Olympic garb from China but boosts solar plant

While much coverage stemmed from Sen. Harry Reid’s negative comments on Chinese-made uniforms that the U.S. Olympic team plans to wear at the games' July 27 opening ceremonies, media did not give much attention four months ago when the Nevada Democrat praised the Chinese in a deal involving a solar power plant in southern Nevada, points out Grumpy Editor. 

The Senate majority leader, noted for holding back legislation in recent months, seemed surprised about the origination of Ralph Lauren-designed attire for the athletes. 

His fuming quote, repeated over the weekend in television news, will go down as a classic:  “I think they should take all the (Olympic) uniforms, put them in a big pile and burn them and start all over again.” 

In a later call to home-state reporters, Reid emphasized:  “Our athletes should not wear clothes manufactured in China.” 

While Reid seemed shocked, it indicated the long-time senator hasn’t shopped lately in men’s clothing departments of Macy’s, Target or even Wal-Mart. 

Checking labels would have shown him that much garb for men (and women) these days is produced in Cambodia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, India --- and China.

Xinhua News Agency, China's official news agency, today called the made-in-China uproar "hypocritical" and "irresponsible."

 His jab at China contrasted with a March 21 news conference in which he promoted a bargain deal involving a Chinese group that will pay $4.5 million --- less than one eighth of the $38.6 million assessed value --- to buy land from Nevada’s Clark County to build a solar plant in Laughlin. 

Chinese-made components would be used at the solar site. 

In plugging the benefit of the Chinese-operated plant for the Golden State, not the Silver State he represents, Reid said it “will generate the electricity California must have in just a few years; 30 percent of all electricity must come from renewable resources.”

 

Obama praises solar plant: 5 jobs, no power for Nevadans

National media on President Barack Obama’s solar energy visit to the Las Vegas area on Wednesday neglected to mention that the one million glittering photovoltaic panels that served as a backdrop for his 17-minute televised speech that brought applause from the audience and heavy print/broadcast coverage, would not provide one watt of power to Nevadans who helped foot the bill, observes Grumpy Editor. 

And as for total jobs created at Sempra Energy Corp.’s Copper Mountain Solar 1 plant in Boulder City, 30 miles east of Las Vegas:  only five full-timers run the plant. 

That wasn’t exciting news to Nevadans in a state that has the highest unemployment rate in the nation, 12.7 percent. 

San Diego-based Sempra owns the facility that cost $141 million with a portion of that funded by Nevada taxpayers who consistently receive hikes in power rates --- now among the highest in the nation --- from NV Energy, Inc., which serves the Silver State.

Yet, Sempra's solar energy output from Nevada is being directed to California. 

Both NV Energy and Sempra are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. 

Meanwhile, Obama’s short visit to Boulder City did not win applause from many of its 15,000 residents who were curbed from their daily activities. 

On the afternoon the president’s motorcade traveled from Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport, where he arrived on the Boeing 747 Air Force One, motorists, including visitors and business people, were advised to stay away from Boulder City because of congestion and road closures.

 

Energy Secretary Chu doesn’t drive to work, but…

Facing a House Subcommittee on Energy and Power on a budget request yesterday, Energy Secretary Stephen Chu --- after mention of a battery-run Chevy Volt ---  revealed he didn’t drive a car and added, “I don’t own a car at the moment,” observed Grumpy Editor.

It sounded like he was doing his best to go green.

That got a lot of coverage on radio and television news, including some comments that Chu is trying to save energy, namely gasoline consumption.

On one TV network, it was suggested that perhaps Chu walks to work.

But few bothered to check further to uncover how he reaches his desk.

CNSNews.com did.

Craig Bannister, director of communications for CNSNews.com, pointed out that while Chu technically may not own a car, an Energy Department spokesman confirmed that Chu’s transportation to work is provided by a security detail.

And that his wife owns a car.

Far from being a Chevy Volt, however, a source identified the vehicle as a BMW 325i that requires premium gasoline. 

Photos showing pain at the pump are pain elsewhere, too

Rather than repeated tired images of drivers filling up at the pumps and shots of gas station prices, print and broadcast editors should try something different to illustrate the soaring cost of gasoline --- run photos of U.S. locations were oil drilling or pipelines would alleviate the high cost and dependency from foreign lands, advises Grumpy Editor.

The aim is to remind Washington to zero in on energy independence in a country rich in oil as analysts predict gasoline prices soon could reach $5 a gallon.

U.S. field production of crude oil peaked in 1970 and has since drifted downward to the early 1950s level.

Lost in the shuffle of election news that dominated print and broadcast media late last week are comments from Jack Gerard, president and chief executive, American Petroleum Institute.

President Barack Obama “is misleading Americans about his energy strategy” in an effort to ease pain at the pump, proclaims Gerard.

“Since taking office he has declared 85 percent of our offshore areas off limits, decreased oil and gas leases in the Rockies by 70 percent, rejected the Keystone XL pipeline and has 10 federal agencies planning more regulation of hydraulic fracturing, which is key to oil and natural gas development,” reminds Gerard.

“The president’s Jekyll and Hyde approach to energy security is hurting consumers,” he adds.

“We urge the president to work with our industry to generate more supply to the market and create new American jobs."

Meanwhile, another result of higher prices at the pump --- inflation.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke yesterday (when the Dow Jones Industrials later fell 53.05 points to 12952.07) tells the House Financial Services Committe that "gasoline prices have moved up ... (which is) a development that is likely to push up inflation temporarily while reducing consumers' purchasing power."

 

Obama pushes ‘green’ UPS trucks, then relies on gasoline

While national print/broadcast media traveling with the president somehow fail to observe such things, alert Kyle Gillis, an investigative reporter for Nevada Policy Research Institute counted “22 fossil-fuel powered vehicles” --- with video to back him up --- in a presidential motorcade headed for McCarran International Airport following Barack Obama’s 20-minute speech in Las Vegas on Jan. 26, observes Grumpy Editor. 

Obama, standing in front of a United Parcel Service truck (not the usual brown, by the way) at the company’s Las Vegas hub, spoke on use of liquefied natural gas to power such vehicles. 

In his brief visit to Las Vegas, Obama praised UPS for "leading by example" in converting long-haul trucks to use liquefied natural gas rather than diesel fuel.

Obama said 14 U.S. companies have converted one million vehicles to alternative fuel during his administration, resulting in less U.S. dependency on foreign oil.

"Let's get more of these natural gas vehicles on the road," declared Obama, before heading for the presidential limousine (a gas guzzler at eight miles per gallon) to transport him to the waiting Boeing 747 Air Force One.

Think tank NPRI’s Gillis, who observed the “fossil-fuel powered” parade --- which included national media in vehicles --- earlier worked at the Media Research Center's Business & Media Institute in Washington, D.C., where he covered financial reform, auto bailouts, housing reform, taxes and the stimulus. 

See the parade of 22 fossil-fuel powered vehicles here.

 

House effort to repeal curly fluorescent bulbs flickers out

U.S. House efforts this week to repeal curly, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which contain toxic mercury and are slated to replace long-used traditional incandescent bulbs, fell short of the two-thirds majority vote needed for passage --- without a peep from the Environmental Protection Agency, notes Grumpy Editor.

The EPA, with 17,000 employees at Washington headquarters, 10 regional offices and 27 laboratories, is charged with protecting human health and the environment. 

A few vigilant newspaper editorial writers in recent days alerted readers to problems with CFLs which entered the future lighting picture when Congress four years ago passed an energy bill that essentially banned the traditional incandescent light bulb that received a major thrust in 1878 from Thomas Edison’s research. 

While CFLs, made mostly in China, got the green light with new energy standards set to go into effect next year, officials have curtailed or banned mercury use in other applications, including thermometers and automotive and thermostat switches. 

Many lawmakers apparently remained unaware that when a CFL bulb (a small glass tube twisted into a spiral) shatters, mercury escapes as vapor that can be inhaled and as a fine powder that can settle into carpet and other textiles. 

A Scientific American posting three years ago was among the first to point out highly toxic mercury is especially harmful to the brains of both fetuses and children. 

At that time, the director of EPA’s Hazardous Waste Minimization and Management Division recommended opening windows and stepping outside then quickly ventilating the room when a CFL bulb breaks. 

"Get all the people and pets out of the room for 15 minutes and let the room air out,” he said.  With central heating system or an HVAC (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning) system, he warned, “you don't want it sucking the fumes around, so shut that down.”

 

Customers conserve power, so NV Energy gets rate hike

In covering utilities and their constant parade of rate increase proposals before state public utility commissions, business writers should do a bit of fact checking, even if it means looking at their own bills, rather than following information put out by the companies, suggests Grumpy Editor. 

For example, already-squeezed customers of Nevada power utility NV Energy ---  in a state already among those with the highest electricity rates in the West --- are grumbling about state Public Utilities Commission approval Monday of a 3.4 percent rate increase that goes into effect on July 1. 

The boost seems modest enough, especially when New York Stock Exchange-listed NV Energy puts “the average residential bill” extra cost at a mere $5.29 a month. 

But when customers, most living in air-conditioned homes, view their electric bill for July, they’ll see a total close to $300 --- or more, figuring a single-story 2,400-square-foot home.  That will be $10 to $15 above the like month a year prior. 

NV Energy bills include an assortment of fees and charges, such as basic service charge, local government fee, universal energy charge, temporary green power financing and renewable energy program. 

The state PUC grants the latest rate increase to allow NV Energy to recover costs related to its energy-efficiency program. 

In other words, that program is going so well, with customers conserving power, that NV Energy sways the PUC to approve a rate hike to compensate for revenue lost from more energy-efficient steps and equipment. 

Just prior to the rate increase, senior group AARP representative Barry Gold tells the Nevada PUC: 

“During a time of economic crisis (NV Energy) is asking us to pay more.  They ask us to save energy, but the better we conserve, the more it’s going to cost us.  (Nevada) already is first in foreclosures and first in unemployment.  We don’t want to be first in electricity shutoffs, too.” 

PUC chairwoman Alaina Burtenshaw, meanwhile, points to state legislators, declaring, “They’re the ones who make the laws we have to follow.” 

Look for more irate ratepayers. 

NV Energy is slated to apply for a general rate increase next Wednesday.