Is Scottish Gas the right organization to carry out Scotland's fuel poverty programme? Some don't think so:

Politicians and campaigners expressed dismay yesterday after a contract to carry out the Scottish Executive's fuel poverty programme was awarded to Scottish Gas - a firm whose bills have soared 22 per cent since March.

The deal, which involves the installation of thousands of energy-efficient boilers and heating systems to pensioners, had previously been contracted to Eaga Group.

And further down ...

Although energy experts were cautious about criticising the deal, insiders said the Executive's choice of contractor was "astonishing".

One said: "This means Scotland's most expensive energy supplier will be responsible for going into the homes of pensioners and giving advice about reducing their bills.

"I can only assume the Executive was hamstrung by the tendering process. The existing contractor is a social enterprise. To give it to a multinational doesn't say much about a commitment to reducing poverty."

In other energy/poverty/climate related news:

*From Big Corn country, facts and questions about Ethanol.

*Bill McKibben in the Boston Globe about people finally getting fired up about global warming.

*Ukraine to get $1 million U.S. to strengthen energy security.

*Power company in the Philippines funds social enterprise.