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 "energy bills" ...
-
Center: Policy or Politics?
This story examined the political connections between former Colo. Giv. Bill Ritter and the funding of the Center for New Energy Economy, which he is the director of. A web of connections between the center, Ritter, and the Colo. Democratic Party were found that shows that Ritter's role at CSU could be a polarizing, political one and could align CSU- a public university- in controversial Democratic politics.
Tags: Colorado Democratic Party; Bill Ritter; New Energy Efconomy; Colorado State University
-
Center: Policy or Politics?
The story was about former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter and his journey to Colorado State University where he is the director of the Center for the New Energy Economy. The story examined the political connections that led Ritter to CSU and provided the funding for the new center, and it explored the implications those ties may have for the public university.
Tags: Gov. Bill Ritter; Colorado: Center for the New Energy Economy; CSU
-
Green Grants: Tracking the Energy Stimulants
The 2009 stimulus bill created a program that was supposed to drive development of wind, solar and other renewable energy projects. But when reporter Anne C. Mulkern dug into the grants in lieu of tax credits effort, she uncovered that in many cases, federal money did little to stimulate new business investments.
Tags: stimulus; green power grants; taxpayer money; grants; green grants
-
Inside National Grid's Secretive $25 Million
The reporters exposed a secret fund controlled by local power company National Grid. An add-on charge to each customer's monthly bill built a $25 million slush fund for two utility officials to spend on favored economic development projects.
Tags: electric company; utility fee; energy; rates; no-bid contract; favoritism
-
Power Brokers
A transition to a competitive energy market was supposed to lower energy prices for residents of the Balkan nations. Instead, "many people across the Balkans are facing energy shortages AND higher energy bills." Much of the infrastructure remains outdated, "and some state-run energy companies have been plagued by waste and corruption." Meanwhile, private energy companies are benefiting greatly from deals with government energy companies.
Tags: Energy; Bosnia-Herzegovina; energy prices
-
Natural Gas
The authors investigated the price of natural gas in Mobile, AL and compared it to neighboring communities in Southeast states. They found that the gas in Alabama, particularly in Mobile, was more expensive than other regions, with no clear explanation for the price spike.
Tags: natural gas; energy; power; Public Service Commission; FOIA; Department of Energy; energy pricing
-
Energy Drain
This article exposes utility companies for overbilling public schools, sometimes by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Schools have a had time finding evidence of the billing problems, so The Division of Public Utilities and other customer service facilities are not hearing complaints.
Tags: Education; Public schools
-
"Good value or bad risk: Industry officials point to long-term good safety record of liquefied natural gas terminals, but reports and experts say worst-case scenarios are catastrophic should an accident occur"
This investigation found that while federal, state and industry officials have noted the safety record of liquefied natural gas terminals, a common shipping accident involving a tanker could be catastrophic, according to federal documents and scientific studies. The newspaper began its investigation after ExxonMobil Corp. announced plans to build a $600 million terminal near a residential suburb of Mobile, Al.
Tags: LNG; liquefied natural gas; natural gas; energy; Department of Energy; Federal Regulatory Energy Commission; shipping; environment; ExxonMobil; harbor
-
Consumers in the dark
In this report, the Plain Dealer details how a prominent consumers' counsel deprived the publics of millions of dollars by destroying a crucial consultant's report. From the questionnaire, "Tongren kept an important consultant's report --paid for with dollars -- from the public that might have trimmed billions of dollars off FirstEnergy Corp.'s deregulation charges -- charges that are still being tracked onto electric bills years later". Furthermore, the report revealed, "Tongren had changed a records retention policy that allowed the report to be destroyed years ahead of the old schedule, and that he knowingly cleared the policy change despite numerous requests for the report while it was still protected due to ongoing litigation".
Tags: Public Utilities Commission of Ohio; LaCapra Associates; Kim Norris
-
Series of Stories on U.S. Energy Policy
These stories from Time magazine look at an energy crisis that the U.S. is likely to face. The story reveals that for three decades, the government has not adopted or stuck to any significant energy policy. Subsequent government policies have in fact been marked by sharp reversals of the previous ones.
Tags: Energy; Energy crisis; Government policies; energy bills; oil prices; gas prices; consumption of electricity