Utility seeks wind power OK

Idaho Power Co. officials are asking state regulators to let the company invest in wind power, using money earned by curbing air pollution.

In the past the pollution credit has been used to offset power costs, reducing rates for customers. Company officials say that while the change may cost customers more initially, investing in wind power has the potential to save money in the long term.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gives companies “allowances” for how much sulfur dioxide they can emit into the air each year. Companies can sell their unused allowances to other businesses, and in 2007 Idaho Power sold 35,000 sulfur dioxide emissions for $19.6 million, according to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. After accounting for brokerage fees, income taxes and the share that goes to Idaho Power’s Oregon customers, the share of the pollution credit allocated to Idaho is about $10.1 million.

Instead of using the credit to offset power costs, Idaho Power is suggesting it could be used to buy a wind power project.

– Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

Album sales continue decline

U.S. album sales plunged 9.5 percent last year from 2006, continuing a downward trend for the recording industry, despite a 45 percent surge in the sale of digital tracks, according to figures released Thursday.

A total of 500.5 million albums sold as CDs, cassettes, LPs and other formats were purchased last year, down 15 percent from 2006’s unit total, said Nielsen SoundScan, which tracks point-of-purchase sales.

The shortfall in album sales drops to 9.5 percent when sales of digital singles are counted as 10-track equivalent albums. About 844.2 million digital tracks sold in 2007, compared with 588.2 million in 2006, and digital album sales accounted for 10 percent of total album purchases.

Last year, Apple Inc.’s iTunes Music Store became the third-largest music retailer in the U.S.

Nielsen does not provide revenue figures.

– Associated Press

Tampa, Fla.

Citrus crop escapes damage

Flurries fell across the Sunshine State on Thursday, but it appeared that growers were spared the deep freeze they feared would devastate the nation’s citrus supply.

A serious freeze in Florida would have meant more damage to the nation’s biggest citrus industry, already struggling from years of diseases and hurricanes. Most orange and grapefruit groves are in Central and South Florida, where temperatures hovered in the high 20s and low 30s. Trees can be ruined when temperatures fall to 28 degrees for four hours.

“Mother Nature cut us a break this time and now we can continue to produce the quality citrus crop Florida is known for,” said Michael W. Sparks, executive vice president and CEO of grower group Florida Citrus Mutual.

Temperatures were not below freezing for long enough to cause widespread damage to Florida’s citrus trees, the group said. In fact, the cold could benefit some growers because it slows down growth and hardens up citrus trees.

– Associated Press