Wednesday, 05 July 2006 01:00
Emissions
Power plants in Florida will have to further reduce the amount of emissions released into the air. The Environmental Regulation Commission has approved more stringent air quality standards from the state Department of Environmental Protection. The DEP’s Sara Williams says the new regulations will build upon improvements already being made voluntarily.
“One of the big ones is TECO is the Tampa area – they have worked and reduced their emissions from coal fired power plants tremendously. Another good example is Gulf Power last year put in some state of the art technology to reduce their emissions at their largest coal-fired plant in Northwest Florida.”
If approved by the EPA, the new regulations would go into effect by 2010. They require a 55 percent reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions per year; a 75 percent annual reduction in nitrogen oxides, and a 45 percent cut in mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants.
“One of the big ones is TECO is the Tampa area – they have worked and reduced their emissions from coal fired power plants tremendously. Another good example is Gulf Power last year put in some state of the art technology to reduce their emissions at their largest coal-fired plant in Northwest Florida.”
If approved by the EPA, the new regulations would go into effect by 2010. They require a 55 percent reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions per year; a 75 percent annual reduction in nitrogen oxides, and a 45 percent cut in mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants.
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WGCU News
Wednesday, 05 July 2006 01:00
Insurance Help Website
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation just launched the website after state lawmakers approved its creation last year. It allows the state’s small business-owners to look at premiums and benefits offered in the state. Insurance Office Regulation spokesman Bob Lotane says small businesses can also get sample monthly costs for employee health insurance.
“It’s a lot easier to get information about what’s in a Chevy car than there is about what’s in your health plan or your hospital billings. And so it’s commonly agreed that information easily available to consumers and to all stakeholders is going to be necessary to really make the system work better.”
The state’s Insurance Commissioner, Kevin McCarty, says healthcare needs to be more accessible and affordable -- and this effort is a step towards making it more transparent.
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The state of Florida has just kicked off a new website that it says is a fast and easy way to help small business owners find affordable health plans. The state Office of Insurance Regulation says the site lets employers view insurance rates for standard, basic and high deductible plans. Insurance Office spokesman Bob Lotane says the site makes healthcare more accessible.
“Instead of you having to go to agents or onto different company websites to find out about plans that are available and what’s in them and what does it all mean, we want to put it on to a one-stop shop where people can go in and get it a lot easier and make it more transparent.”
“It’s a lot easier to get information about what’s in a Chevy car than there is about what’s in your health plan or your hospital billings. And so it’s commonly agreed that information easily available to consumers and to all stakeholders is going to be necessary to really make the system work better.”
The state’s Insurance Commissioner, Kevin McCarty, says healthcare needs to be more accessible and affordable -- and this effort is a step towards making it more transparent.
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The state of Florida has just kicked off a new website that it says is a fast and easy way to help small business owners find affordable health plans. The state Office of Insurance Regulation says the site lets employers view insurance rates for standard, basic and high deductible plans. Insurance Office spokesman Bob Lotane says the site makes healthcare more accessible.
“Instead of you having to go to agents or onto different company websites to find out about plans that are available and what’s in them and what does it all mean, we want to put it on to a one-stop shop where people can go in and get it a lot easier and make it more transparent.”
Published in
WGCU News
Tuesday, 04 July 2006 01:00
Gasoline and Vacation Costs
Vacation costs are up this summer, but travel over the Fourth of July is still predicted to be busier than a year ago. Triple-A estimates 41 million Americans will be on the road, up about one percent from 2005. Two-point-three million travelers are expected to be Floridians. Gregg Laskoski at the auto club says digging deeper to pay for gas is not keeping many from taking off.
“The prices that we’re looking at today are about 60 to 65 cents higher than where we were last year at this time. I think it’s a combination both of the anticipated volume that’s expected for the holiday as well as the fact that crude oil is up in record territory trading at 72 dollars a barrel. So that explains why we’re seeing the high prices statewide.”
Other vacation costs are also higher compared to one year ago. Hotel rates are up about 10 percent, and car rentals are up five percent.
“The prices that we’re looking at today are about 60 to 65 cents higher than where we were last year at this time. I think it’s a combination both of the anticipated volume that’s expected for the holiday as well as the fact that crude oil is up in record territory trading at 72 dollars a barrel. So that explains why we’re seeing the high prices statewide.”
Other vacation costs are also higher compared to one year ago. Hotel rates are up about 10 percent, and car rentals are up five percent.
Published in
WGCU News