Abe Scarr

still frame from the beginning of Twin Peaks it is February 24th and Special Agent Dale Cooper arrived in the town of Twin Peaks

Good morning

Hinkley Point C now expected to cost £49 billion.

Chicago voter turnout in this midterm primary election is bananas. 10,163 ballots received as of last night.

By contrast at this stage in 2022: 438 ballots received
2018: 186 ballots received

Why residents in one small town are fighting data centers I witnessed Appling, Georgia’s fight against three data center developments – one of many similar battles taking place in communities across the country.

Data centers are cropping up across the country – posing challenges to communities in the bullseye of development. @KylieHanson11 found herself in the center of the debate in one small Georgia town. Read about it in our new short piece. frontiergroup.org/articles/why...

Republican won’t seek reelection to Georgia Public Service Commission Tricia Pridemore said her decision not to seek reelection came after “deep reflection” and “thoughtful conversations with my family, colleagues and trusted advisors.”

ICYMI -- veteran GOP utiltiy regulator Tricia Pridemore says she will not run again for the PSC, creating an open seat for this year's election.
My story with Drew Kann in the @ajc.com

www.ajc.com/news/2026/02...

BGE profits reach another record high while failing on customer service, safety, affordability pirg.org/maryland/med...

In today's newsletter, learn about Green Homes Chicago and how to apply for free home energy upgrades: app.indigov.com/pub/outreach...

YouTube video by State Farm Insurance Stop Livin' on a Prayer (Extended Cut) | State Farm® Commercial

Cute ad campaign. I bet the 72,000 policyholders State Farm dropped in California appreciate the laugh.

We need insurers who aren’t “halfway there”, which means: Paying covered claims. Pricing fairly. Rewarding risk reduction. Protecting people, not just company profits.

Illinois insurers clash with states over regulation as profits soar State Farm and Allstate are putting on a full court press when it comes to regulation they say is hampering their ability to lower prices for customers.

"Allstate...full-year results showed earnings of $9.3 billion in 2025 compared with $4.91 billion in 2024...Despite the strong profits, Allstate filed to raise homeowners’ rates in Illinois twice during 2025" www.chicagobusiness.com/insurance/in...

The Future of Heat Initiative has more affordability primers for you!

Because gas utilities are actually pipe companies and the pipes ain't getting cheaper.

#7 Connecticut

#8 Rhode Island

thefutureofheat.com/publications

Why a New Mexico Developer Quit Natural Gas

Why a New Mexico Developer Quit Gas www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/c...

Oh man. Writing the Marley piece I listened to a LOT of Sly Dunbar, the man who moved reggae past the one-drop and (with Robbie Shakespeare) formed one of the most incredible rhythm sections/production duos ever. RIP

Danny McBride and Keegan-Michael Key Go Halfway for State Farm's Super Bowl Teaser The brand sat out 2025’s Big Game after LA wildfires.

Jokes about an insurance company called "Halfway There" are strange coming from a P&C insurance giant that Weiss Ratings estimates was among the insurers that closed < half their claims payments in 2024 weissratings.com/en/weiss-new...

At one time, Illinois was a top oil producer. Today, that legacy is a $160M problem. Abandoned oil and gas wells pose environmental and public health risks. For three decades, the state has mismanaged funds earmarked for minimizing the threat.

There are thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells in Illinois, littering fields and farmland, sitting unplugged and unnoticed.

Here's a look at these so-called "orphan" wells and how state mismanagement could cost taxpayers millions:

Natural-Gas Prices Soar as U.S. Braces for Arctic Blast A big concern is Texas, where cold temperatures threaten to ice oil-and-gas fields and wreak havoc on the power grid.

Natural-gas prices have jumped this week in response to forecasts calling for some of the coldest, snowiest weather in years to freeze the country from the West Texas desert to the Great Lakes.

MALACHI MORENO FOR THE WIN 😼😼😼😼😼😼😼

How BGE is unnecessarily driving up your gas bill | GUEST COMMENTARY Baltimore Gas and Electric’s expensive pipe replacement projects are more about profit than safety, writes Sofia Gilroy.

How BGE is unnecessarily driving up your gas bill, by Maryland PIRG Associate Sofia Gilroy www.baltimoresun.com/2026/01/14/b...

Kentucky River

New report: Gas utilities spent record amount replacing leaky pipes in 2024 - CommonWealth Beacon The latest data on utilities’ work to replace leaky pipes paints an even more damning picture of GSEP as costs balloon with few additional results — driving up ratepayer bills — and places recent refo...

Familiar story ...The latest report on MA pipeline safety programs shows utilities are spending more but the miles of pipe being replaced remains flat commonwealthbeacon.org/energy/new-r...

I think this Bears team might be the ultimate Chicago team: always down, never out.

“Yes,” said Frog, reaching for a cookie, “we need will power.”

“What is will power?” asked Toad.

Nicor files for $221M gas rate hike less than 2 months after last increase approved Article Summary Nicor Gas submitted a rate request to the Illinois Commerce Commission on Friday, seeking a $221 million rate

Nicor files for $221M gas rate hike less than 2 months after last increase approved capitolnewsillinois.com/news/nicor-f...

Nicor Gas seeks $221 million rate increase for suburban Chicago customers Nicor Gas filed a $221 million rate increase request Friday with the Illinois Commerce Commission to continue replacing and repairing transmission pipelines and aging equipment, according to a news…

Nicor Gas seeks $221 million rate increase for suburban Chicago customers www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/09/n...

Nicor seeks another massive rate hike that could add $6 to suburban gas bills The utility has sought six rate increases since 2017, with its latest hike going into effect this month.

Nicor seeks another massive rate hike that could add $6 to suburban gas bills chicago.suntimes.com/consumer-aff...

"I’m shocked that Nicor is proposing to raise rates again, just one month after imposing its last rate hike. Nicor is busting its customers’ household budgets because it apparently refuses to live within its own."

pirg.org/illinois/med...

Map showing the U.S. 2025 Billion-Dollar Weather & Climate Disasters and highlights wildfires and severe weather through December 2025. Graphic is produced by Climate Central.

Just in - "According to @climatecentral.org, 2025 ranks as the third-highest year (after 2023 and 2024) for billion-dollar weather and climate disasters..."

+ Interactive graphics/data: www.climatecentral.org/climate-serv...
+ Climate Matters article: www.climatecentral.org/climate-matt...

Peoples Gas $202M rate hike request sparks public outcry, protests in Chicago area Peoples Gas on Monday filed a $202.3 million rate hike request with the Illinois Commerce Commission, sparking public outcry and protests from consumer advocates.

Peoples Gas $202M rate hike request sparks public outcry, protests in Chicago area
https://abc7chicago.com/post/peoples-gas-202m-rate-hike-request-illinois-commerce-commission-sparks-public-outcry-protests-chicago-area/18363112/

Peoples Gas seeks another big rate hike on Chicago heating bills

Chicago heating bills could get even higher next year under a proposed rate hike from Peoples Gas that would increase the average household natural gas tab by up to $11 per month.

Peoples Gas seeks another big rate hike on Chicago heating bills The average household bill would increase by up to $11 per month under the Peoples Gas proposal, which state regulators will consider for most of this year.

Peoples Gas seeks another big rate hike on Chicago heating bills

chicago.suntimes.com/business/202...

Gov. Murphy Signs Smart Solar Permitting Bill To Cut Red Tape, Accelerate Installations, & Deliver Affordable Electricity Gov. Murphy signed into law the smart solar permitting bill, which will speed up the project approvals for residential solar projects.

Ho ho ho! Bill to streamline residential solar permitting signed into law in NJ. environmentamerica.org/newjersey/me...