A climate of change rattles rural electric co-ops

Any efforts to cut greenhouse gases would force rates up at coal-reliant 
utilities

By PHILIP BRASHER
REGISTER WASHINGTON BUREAU


Washington, D.C. - When the nation's rural electric cooperatives take up a 
cause, they seldom lose, and they find a lot of allies in both political 
parties.

When the Nixon administration killed their government loan program, the 
electric co-ops went to Congress and got them restored.

When the Clinton administration tried to sell some the government's 
hydroelectric authorities, a source of relatively cheap power to many 
co-ops, they blocked that plan, too.

Now their worry is that Congress will impose caps or taxes on greenhouse gas 
emissions, a vital issue for Democrats, who control Congress.

http://dmregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070511/BUSINESS/705110318/1029/archive&template=printart

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ISU study stirs debate about crates for sows
Group housing for the animals can work as well and may save money, the 
research indicates.

By AMY LORENTZEN
Associated Press


Ames, Ia. - A study is raising questions about the effectiveness of small, 
metal crates for pregnant pigs that animal welfare groups call inhumane.

Iowa State University researchers found that allowing pregnant pigs to move 
freely in group housing structures, called hoop barns, could be less costly 
and just as productive as using the individual crates.

http://dmregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070511/BUSINESS01/705110322/1029/archive

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