The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "Coal and Utilities" ...
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"130 Million Tons of Waste"
When coal is burned for electricity, it produces a byproduct called coal ash. "Every year, 130 million tons" of the ash is produced. It's "one of the largest waste-streams in the U.S.," and currently, there is little to no federal oversight. This report focuses on two major coal ash spills have occurred in the U.S. One of the spills caused "two communities to lose access to clean drinking water."
Tags: Coal ash; burning coal; toxic waste; Chesapeake; Kingston; EPA; Coal and Utilities
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The Energy Crunch
San Francisco Chronicle follows the controversies surrounding the energy crisis in California over a 10-month period. The package of stories examines the political manipulations relating to the talks between the energy companies and the state and federal regulators. Some of the articles also look at how the energy deregulation approach has been applied in other states and with what results. One of the findings is that "despite the huge run-up in prices and revenues, only a handful of regulators today can say whether the energy wholesalers are engaged in brazenly illegal price-fixing, merely unethical market manipulation or just good business." The investigation exposes "the veil of official secrecy that allows the companies to bid on lucrative energy deals behind closed doors."
Tags: California Public Utilities Commission; San Diego Gas & Electric; Enron Corp.; consumers; taxpayers; wholesale costs; Pacific Gas and Electric Co.; bankruptcy; Edison; El Paso Natural Gas; Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; power plants; blackouts; electricity; Duke Energy Corp.; California Power Exchange; economy; business; market; SoCalGas; Mexico; Pennsylvania; Nevada; deregulation; nuclear power; coal; environment; Green Mountain Energy
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Power to Pollute: War On Clean Air, Coal Loses Clout, Power Brokers, Fatal Beauty
In this multi-part series, the Akron Beacon Journal examines the politics and environmental impact of Ohio's coal industry and electric utilities. The series looks at how Ohio's electric utilities are the dirtiest in America; how thousands of jobs have been lost for the benefit of power companies; how connected coal brokers got rich while the industry itself was suffering; and the environmental damage done to the Adirondack Mountains.
Tags: air pollution; coal burning power plants; Ohio utilities; Clean Air Act; coal industry; sulfur dioxide emissions; ozone threat; smog; electric utilities; acid rain; Adirondack Mountains
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Inside the Southern Co.: discord, deception, death
Atlanta Business Chronicle reports on the disarray and corruption within the nation's largest investor-owned electric utility, Southern Co.; coal fraud scheme might have led to the mysterious 1989 plane crash that killed a Gulf Power executive.
Tags: utilities; electric; energy; corruption
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No title (id: 4277)
Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader documents that Kentucky's largest electric utility overcharged its customers for the past ten years, passing on excess coal costs; favors or kickbacks from coal suppliers, as well as incompetent management, cronyism and poor regulation, may have contributed to costs, May 11 - 12, 1986.
Tags: KY