Mayor seeks energy efficiency expert
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has created a new trust fund he hopes will help make Pittsburgh more environmentally friendly and energy efficient.
The mayor gave the Green Initiative Trust Fund $100,000. That's about half of what the city has saved by combining its energy purchases with Allegheny County.
Ravenstahl says a coordinator will be hired for $45,000 annually to help implement the Green Government Task Force's plan to cut pollution in the city by 20 percent.
Environmental officials say they hope the trust fund will get matching state, federal and foundation grants.
They say making some of the city's old buildings energy efficient could cost millions of dollars.
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Duke Energy seeks changes in how solar owners are paid for electricity
CHARLOTTE - Duke Energy has proposed new rules for how owners of rooftop solar panels are paid for electricity they send to the electric grid. It could mean more complexity and lower payments, but the utility says rates would be fairer.
State legislators have called for changes in the payment rules — known as "net metering."
Right now, solar panel owners who produce more electricity than they need get credits on their bills, equal to whatever they pay for electricity. Under the proposed changes, the credit would be lower and would vary according to electricity demand, said Duke spokesperson Randy Wheeless.
"So in…
