Arkansas Blog

Its not just in Central Arkansas that Chesapeake Energy is airing their infomercials. There was a promo for one on KTBS-Shreveport (Yes, I get that station sometimes when the weather is right some mornings, but thats another topic altogether) titled "Hayesville Shale", and airtimes.

Chesapeake Energy is sure puking out much propaganda these long-hot summer days.

Suggested theme song for Chesapeake Energy: I Shale Be Released

Slogan for folks who rely on well water around Chesapeake Energy operations: Shale Mary

"If you're going to err, err on the side of protecting the environment." --Mike Beebe while talking to the Governor's School.

First of all, let's not "err" at all. Secondly, can anyone name me one thing Beebe has done right for the "environment". Click my name for video of Beebe's statement to the Governor's school.

Why does the energy company not review powering the power plant they want to build in Ar., with some of the natural gas from the wells they are supposedly drilling in NW Ar? Why even resort to coal at all? My electric costs have risen more than thirty percent since this time last year. That kind of tells me that the damned coal fired plants are not, in all actuallity, very efficient, nor are they economical. Thirty percent is one ^%(( of a rise in just one year! I paid $120+- for last month, last year, and my current billing is $160. That is right at one third, (33%), of an increase. Who in the #)^% authorised that much of an increase. Is not the government monitoring and supposedly controlling how much the costs can be raised? I'm on a fixed income, but my income sure didn't go up 33%.

JNYJ- I doubt your cost per kilowatt hour has gone up that much even if your overall bill for one month has gone from $120+ last year to $160 this year. I've kept records on our cost of electricity covering 1997 through 2008. Our cost of electricity during that 11 year period has increased only 6.2% total. Comparing all of 2007 to the first half of 2008 shows a 4.3% increase this year. Note- our electricity provider is Entergy, but you may have a different provider.

I suggest you look at both electric bills and see how many kilowatt hours you used. I suspect you will find you used many more KWH this year compared to last. Please report those numbers here so we will know if that is true or not.

Now, changing the subject to natural gas, that is a completely different story. From 1997 to 2008 the price of natural gas has increased a whopping 89.3%. It is likely still cheaper to use natural gas rather than electricity to power a hot water heater or clothes dryer, but the difference in cost is getting much narrower.

Anybody have a simple way to compare the cost of natural gas versus electric to power such household appliances? Please share.

JNYJ , It's my understanding the new coal plant is strictly intended to supply the Texas wholesale electric market.

ANd I should note.. Texas is rejecting several proposed coal plants from being constructed within their boundaries.

>>Gov. David Paterson has until Wednesday to decide whether he will sign the bill, and the state's Department of Environmental Conservation, or DEC, says drilling permits could be approved in as little as 12 weeks.<<

When are these governors gonna wise up when presented with time-pressured bills. Just copy Bushco and use signing statement that says it will not go into effect until 2014.

eL - I got the impression that Gov. Paterson signed off on this bill the other day.