Loyola student leader Lily Cashman making a public comment at the Illinois Commerce Commission against the Peoples Gas rate hike. One of 3 students making a comment today.

“In a statement Monday evening, consumer group Maryland PIRG argued that the Senate version of the bill “guts consumer protections.” Emily Scarr, a senior adviser at Maryland PIRG, argued that the Senate’s changes to the bill “reward the utility companies that are driving our high bills.”

So many problems solved by beans. Reduce carbon footprint, air pollution, water pollution? Beans. Low fiber American diet and rise in colon cancer? Beans. Fertilizer shortage? Beans. Antibiotic resistance, animal welfare, pandemic risk? BEANS. Truly the magical fruit.

A crowd of over 100 Chicagoans gathered in the cold on Wednesday night to protest a requested Peoples Gas rate hike. @maggiedough.bsky.social has more. buff.ly/Nea0j8I

“Maryland deserves an energy system where affordability, accountability and the public interest come before corporate PR. Until our regulatory framework demands that alignment, Marylanders will be overpaying for power so that corporate shareholder profit targets are achieved.”

Happy Trans Day of Visibility ❤️🏳️‍⚧️❤️

Peoples Gas is doubling down on its expensive, unworkable pipe replcaement plan. Join us tomorrow to rally against the rate hike and for safer cleaner energy. pirg.org/illinois/edf...

Here's my tactical deep dive on the first half: That was a really fucking awesome and fun 45 minutes of soccer, and I think everybody should feel happy about it.

Climate change is fueling a surge in Illinois home insurance premiums chicago.suntimes.com/environment/...

I have only been watching oil markets closely for like 25 years, so I could be wrong, but I very much doubt there has ever been a gap this big between reality and the markets. Brent at $101 right now is ABSURD. It could easily double from here. Listen in and find out why!

Some recalls are more deserving of your attention than others

Energy supplies are increasingly strained. Many Americans want to help by adding solar panels to their roofs, but red tape for permitting often makes that difficult. Our new scorecard with Environment America grades states on their efforts to cut red tape. Link in replies

Mbokazi wins the header, then when his clearance is deflected he immediately wins the loose ball and gets the Fire into safe possession. *Then* he plays a third-line pass to put the Fire into the attack. Excellent stuff from the Fire CB.

OH. MY. GAWD.

Happy Election Day!

"'This car is the bane of my existence,' said Ms. Greene, 24, who lives in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 'Probably the worst decision I’ve ever made, like, financially speaking.'" nytimes.com/2026/03/16/business/car-ownership-prices-interest-rates.html

Preach! "Chicago residents are being asked to fund billions of dollars in pipeline infrastructure through higher delivery charges, even when less expensive safety solutions exist." www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/11/l...

Perhaps the most important observation: "Many regulated utilities have an incentive to overstate load growth and interconnection success rates to justify additional rate-based investments in generation and other infrastructure."

Packed room for hearing on the Break STRIDE Act - to end utility bill surcharges fueling wasteful gas utility spending. @emilyscarr.bsky.social on the proponents panel on behalf of Maryland PIRG

Good to see detailed Trib reporting on the resilience benefits of clean energy and storage www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/07/p...

The Trump administration’s first oil and gas lease sale in Alaska’s Cook Inlet received no bids, according to the US Interior Department, indicating tepid interest from drillers in that region

A Sun Times write-up of yesterday's City Council hearing on the Peoples Gas rate hike and pipe retirment program chicago.suntimes.com/news/2026/03...

Chicago Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy kicking off after 35 minute delay (featuring narration by George Blakemore). Holding a hearing on Peoples Gas rate hike and pipe retirement program

LNG trade through Hormuz halted for now. 20% of the global trade passes through the strait. many LNG contracts linked to crude oil prices, which are also set to spike www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

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

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...

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...

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.

"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 Gas www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/c...

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...

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 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, by Maryland PIRG Associate Sofia Gilroy www.baltimoresun.com/2026/01/14/b...

Kentucky River

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.

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 www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/09/n...

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...