Rules prevent solar panels in many states with abundant sunlight - LA Times

An interesting point and counter point to keep in mind whilst reading:

Utility officials say the policies inhibiting solar installations result from more than a mere turf battle. Utilities bear the cost of maintaining the power lines, switches and extensive computer networks that make up the electrical grid.

How much of a burden homeowners who install rooftop solar systems place on the grid is hotly debated between utilities and environmentalists.

Florida is one of several states, mostly in the Southeast, that combine copious sunshine with extensive rules designed to block its use by homeowners to generate power.

States like Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York — not known for clear, blue skies — have outpaced their counterparts to the south in the installation of rooftop solar panels.

While the precise rules vary from state to state, one explanation is the same: opposition from utilities grown nervous by the rapid encroachment of solar firms on their business.

The business models that have made solar systems financially viable for millions of homeowners in California, New England and elsewhere around the country are largely illegal in Florida, Virginia, South Carolina and some other Southern states. Companies that pioneered the industry, such as SolarCity Corp. and Sunrun Inc., do not even attempt to do business there.

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Southern states, several of which cherish low electricity rates afforded by extensive use of coal, typically have far fewer solar incentives.

Several also have rules that specifically discourage homeowners from going solar. In addition to the bans and restrictions on leasing arrangements, some Southern states assess taxes and fees on solar equipment and generation that do not exist elsewhere.

Rules prevent solar panels in many states with abundant sunlight - LA Times

HRC Foundation Releases Comprehensive State-By-State Legislative Report | Human Rights Campaign

Today the Human Rights Campaign Foundation released a comprehensive state-by-state report detailing LGBT-related legislation in 2013, a year marked by huge victories for the LGBT community from statehouses across the nation to the United States Supreme Court. The report indicates that the majority of pro-LGBT legislation came in the form of marriage equality legislation. In 2014, HRC expects bills providing comprehensive, inclusive non-discrimination protections will take center stage, including those aimed at preventing health professionals from subjecting youth to sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts. This is the tenth year HRC has published this comprehensive guide to state legislation affecting LGBT people.

HRC Foundation Releases Comprehensive State-By-State Legislative Report | Human Rights Campaign

Anti-Science Bills Weighed in Four States : Discovery News

Anti-science bills are popping up like daisies after a spring shower. Five bills in four states have been introduced with the opening of state legislatures across the United States. All of the bills are aimed at undermining the teaching of biology and physical science — specifically, evolution and climate change — in public schools. Oklahoma has two bills in the hopper, Colorado, Missouri and Montana have one each.

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"It is almost identical language in all of the bills," said Rosenau. "It's a package of bills that we've been tracking since the 2004 'Academic Freedom' bill." That bill, which was passed into law, was based on language generated by the Discovery Institute, which has long pushed for the inclusion of biblical creationism and pseudo-scientific "intelligent design" into science classes in public schools.

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On the other hand the bills would create problems for administrators and teachers, said Eric Feaver, president of the Montana Education Association and the Montana Federation of Teachers.

“It affects the supervisors of the schools,” said Feaver, because they would not be able to stop the teaching of religion disguised as science. “Teachers who teach creationism would be immune to punishment.” That basically undermines school supervisors, he said

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A federal court ruled in 2005 that the teaching of intelligent design was in violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Since that time, efforts to undermine public school science have been forced to attempt the "academic freedom" subterfuge, explained Eugenie C. Scott, executive director of the NCSE.


Anti-Science Bills Weighed in Four States : Discovery News

Firestorms Of Accusations Rage That Obama Is Going To ‘Kill The Internet;’ What’s The Truth? | Addicting Info

I have seen a few postings in regards to the bill referred to, but is not an issue I have followed very closely,,,they do include a link to the legislation so you can read it for yourself,,,,(now after hearing the the ACA act was an alleged 2000 pages,,,I can tell u that it was not, in total it took bout 4 hrs to read,,,so dont let the length scare you away from reading it,,, lots of white space)

Multiple assertions claim that the President “quietly” signed an Executive Order on July 6th, giving himself control of all communication systems in America, with the ability to “kill” the Internet. This is blatantly false.

Firestorms Of Accusations Rage That Obama Is Going To ‘Kill The Internet;’ What’s The Truth? | Addicting Info