Kaine Amends Hogan Bill

From Staff and Wire Reports
Del. Clarke Hogan, R-Halifax, said yesterday that he intends to support amendments proposed to his bill that will regulates the state’s untility industry.
“Gov. Kaine was kind enough to confer with me in the several weeks leading up to his making the amendments and while I haven’t had the opportunity to study them in detail, at this point I plan to support the amendments,” he said.
Kaine has recommended only marginal changes to legislation sponsored by Hogan and backed by the state’s dominant power company that ends the state’s failed experiment with electrical deregulation by putting utilities under nominal regulatory control.
In a 60-page edit of legislation strongly supported by Dominion Resources, Kaine provides incentives for companies to explore renewable, environmentally friendly power sources such as hydroelectric dams, windmills and solar power.
But the amendments give the State Corporation Commission little say over the rates Dominion and other power companies set beginning in 2010, leaving the legislation’s “hybrid” regulatory blueprint unchanged.
But a spokesman for Dominion was pleased with Kaine’s actions.
“We understand and appreciate the governor’s commitment to environmental and consumer protections as reflected in his amendments,” company spokesman David Botkins said.
Kaine said his intent was to keep “appropriate consumer protection measures” in place and entice power companies to produce cleaner power.
Consumer advocate Irene Leech praised Kaine’s environmental alterations, but said his revisions do little to avert higher bills for Virginia ratepayers, particularly residential customers.
“There’s no change in that initial structure that I believe is flawed for consumers because it automatically means consumers pay more and because there is still no way for consumers to access competition when prices go up,” said Leech, president of the Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, an advocacy group.
“It’s still very short of being fair to consumers and still very balanced in favor of the utilities,” she said.
Hogan said the move represents a change in the way legislators are looking at the future of the state’s utility system and the associated costs to consumers.
In a bill packed with incentives, Kaine calls for increasing a nonbinding goal for energy savings from 5 percent to 10 percent through public programs that, for example, provide customers with incentives for buying more efficient air conditioning or heating systems.
He would expand the SCC’s ability to reward companies that do a good job that run reliable generating and transmission systems and punish those that don’t. The governor’s amendments give the commission the ability to adjust a utility’s return on its investment by a full percentage point rather than 0.5 percent as the legislature recommended.
When utilities pile up excess profits, Kaine’s amendments shorten the time the companies have to rebate the money to customers from two years, as the bill originally prescribed, to a minimum of six months or up to a year.
It allows environmentally conscious customers to purchase “100 percent green power” either from their current utilities or competitors where they’re available.
Environmental groups, however, were not impressed.
A statement released jointly by seven Virginia environmental groups said the amended bill is a victory for Dominion and power generation over energy efficiency and power conservation.
“Virginia will continue to lag as one of the worst in the nation in terms of achieving substantial energy conservation and smarter management of electricity demand. Under this legislation consumers and the environment still lose,” the statement said.
Kaine’s amendments spare large industrial power customers from charges utilities incur in producing low-polluting renewable energy. Residential and smaller commercial customers do have to pay for it.
Factories and other big clients need the break to prevent harm to “their competitive position” in the global marketplace, according to a summary sheet the Kaine administration prepared. Besides, it continued, many large industrial power customers already produce much renewable power, including paper factories in Covington and West Point.
“In Virginia, when business wants something, we are so proud of being the most business-friendly state in the nation that we go overboard in favor of business in the marketplace,” said Leech, a Virginia Tech professor of consumer issues who also researches energy issues.
The legislation passed both the House and Senate overwhelmingly despite claims from consumer groups and others that the measure leaves the state almost powerless to protect consumers from shocking rate increases.
Dominion countered with assurances that it would have minimal effect on residential ratepayers, ensures the SCC a regulatory role and assures stable electricity rates.
“The critics should be pleased because it does protect consumers from rate shock and codified, for the first time ever, significant conservation programs,’’ Botkins said.

Obituaries

Connie Nunn Crowder

Connie Nunn Crowder, 64, wife of Richard William ‘Billy’ Crowder, died March 28, 2007, at her home.
Mrs. Crowder was the daughter of the late Chalmers Morton ‘Coon’ Nunn Sr. and Reba Palmer Nunn. She was a graduate of West Hampton College at the University of Richmond, a teacher at Bluestone High School and was a founder of Clarksville Baptist Church Preschool.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today, March 30 at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Clarksville with the Rev. Susan Grimm officiating.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Crowder is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Kipley C. and Russell Killen of Knightdale, N.C. and Kendal C. and Bret Bowman of Raleigh, N.C.; a sister, Sandra N. Wallace of South Boston; a brother, Dr. Chalmers Morton Nunn Jr. of Lynchburg; and her grandchildren, Ryan Killen, Rachel Killen, Audrey Bowman, Jake Bowman and Taylor Bowman.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the National MS Society, 3101 Industrial Drive, Suite 210, Raleigh, N.C. 27609.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.wclfh.com.

Kenneth Poindexter

Kenneth Poindexter, 80, of 2002 Paul James Trail, Scottsburg died March 29, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Poindexter was born February 2, 1927, son of the late Willie Waller and Bessie Poindexter, and was married to Edna Buster Poindexter. He was a member of New Hope CME Church, the “Do Drop Boys” Hunt Club, and was a 38-year employee of Powell Funeral Home.
Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Wanda P. Canada and husband, Harry, of Halifax, Vickie Poindexter and Laura P. Harding and husband, William, all of Richmond, and Renorma Marle P. Majors and husband, Kenneth, of Virginia Beach; two sons, Edward Poindexter of Scottsburg and Kent Poindexter and wife, Annie, of Richmond; five sisters, Ada Bailey and Kathleen Bailey, both of Halifax, Pat Waller, Jenny Waller and Jane Waller, all of Richmond; three brothers, Raymond Poindexter of Halifax, Harry Waller and Willie Waller, both of Richmond; 15 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a devoted nephew, Walter Bailey of Halifax; and honorary friends, Spence Smith, Wilbert Buster and Roosevelt Garrett, and the staff of Powell Funeral Home. One son, Albert Oliver Poindexter; and five brothers and sisters, preceded Mr. Poindexter in death.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tomorrow evening, March 31, from 7 until 9, and other times at his home.
Funeral services will be held April 1, at 3 p.m. at New Hope CME Church at Clays Mill with the Rev. Dr. Betty A. Boston and the Rev. Kent Poindexter officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider New Hope CME Church Cemetery Fund, 4046 Clays Mill Road, Halifax.

Iris Hash Edwards

Iris Hash Edwards, 91, of 3080 Cherry Hill Church Road, South Boston died March 28, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Edwards was born in Ferrum on January 25, 1916, the daughter of the late William Pyrant Hash and Roxie Ann Edwards Hash, and was married to John Thomas Edwards Jr. She was a member of Cherry Hill United Methodist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Carrie E. Conner of South Boston and Charlotte E. Trent and husband, Marvis, of Halifax; one granddaughter, Charlotte Ann ‘Angel’ Trent of South Boston; two grandsons, Marvis Trent Jr. of Lynchburg and Morgan Scott Conner of South Boston; and one great-grandson, Blake Thomas Trent of Lynchburg. Five sisters and four brothers also preceded Mrs. Edwards in death.
Funeral services will be held today, March 30 at 11 a.m. at Cherry Hill United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jason Bryant officiating. Burial will follow in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Cherry Hill United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, c/o Rebecca Puryear, Treasurer, P.O. Box 159, South Boston 24592, or Halifax County Humane Society, P.O. Box 969, South Boston or a charity of choice.

Bissell Vernon ‘Buck’ Rogers

Bissell Vernon ‘Buck’ Rogers, 81, of Farmville died March 27,2 007, at Duke University Medical Center.
Mr. Rogers was born in Pittsburg, Pa. April 3, 1925, son of the late George Willard Rogers. Sr. and Cecilia Helena Schoenberger Rogers, and was married to Betty Jo Sams Rogers. He was a member of Farmville United Methodist Church, a WWII Navy Veteran and a retired banker with Sovran Bank.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Chris Rogers and wife, Jan, of Farmville; two daughters, Debbie Taylor and husband, Mike, of Altavista, and Suzie Powell and husband, Robert, of South Boston; five grandchildren, Thomas and Joe Rogers of Farmville, Sarah Taylor of Richmond, Matt Taylor of Altavista, and Holt Powell of South Boston.
A memorial service for Mr. Rogers will be held tomorrow, March 31, at 11 a.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. George Henley officiating.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Farmville United Methodist Church, 204 High Street, Farmville 23901, or the American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen.

Alma Link Shutts

Alma Link Shutts, 91, of Parkersburg, W.Va. died March 9, 2007, at Sunbridge Care and Rehab Center.
Mrs. Shutts was born in Halifax County, a daughter of the late Norman and Annie Wilborn Link, and was married to the late Ken Shutts. She was a member of Camden Avenue Church of Christ where she taught Sunday school, was a patron life member of the OVU Stepping Stones, and she and her late husband were owner/operators of Shutts Grocery.
Survivors include three daughters, Hope Shutts Hawkins and her husband, Glenn, of Massillon, Ohio, Judy Shutts Hughes and husband, Ronnie, of Waverly, Tenn., and Melva Shutts Farris and husband, Gary, of Parkersburg; two sisters, Lucille Turner and Virginia Dunn, both of Alton; a brother, Earl Link, of Alton; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Dorcas Stanley. Mrs. Shutts was also preceded in death by seven brothers and sisters.
Funeral services were held March 12 at 11 a.m. at Camden Avenue Church of Christ with Evangelist Glen Hawkins officiating. Burial followed at Evergreen South Cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent to www.LeavittFuneralHome.com

Joseph Sydnor Sr.

Joseph Sydnor Sr., 71, of Hunting Creek Road, Clover died March 23, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Sydnor was born in Halifax County on October 22, 1935, the son of the late Edward Lee Sydnor and Catherine Mosley Sydnor.
Survivors include five daughters, Katie Frances Sydnor of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla, Katie Frances Penick of Halifax, Sharon Sydnor, Annette Sydnor and Vanessa Sydnor, all of Md.; six sons, Herman Womack of Nathalie, Joseph Sydnor Jr. of South Boston, Edward Sydnor of Calif, Leon Sydnor, Clayton Sydnor and Barry Sydnor, all of Baltimore, Md.; two sisters,Katie Coleman of Clover and Sally Coleman of Nathalie; three brothers-in-law, Charles Coleman of Clover, Jimmie Coleman and Charlie Jennings, both of Nathalie; three sisters-in-law, Nettie Sydnor and Olivia Sydnor, both of Nathalie and Ruby Sydnor of Hartford, Conn.; 19 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
One sister, Martha L. Jennings, and five brothers, Perry, Mark, Charles, George and Fred Sydnor, preceded Mr. Sydnor in death.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, March 31 at 11 a.m. at Crawford House Chapel with the Rev. William E. Mosby Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in Ellis Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home of Joseph Sydnor Jr., 1303 Fenton Street, South Boston, and at the home of Charles and Katie Coleman, 1127 Neal’s Corner Road, Clover.
Public viewing will be at Jeffress Funeral Home Chapel, South Boston.