You can find more tips for covering energy and utility in databases, stories, tips and publications available from IRE and NICAR.
Don't forget that IRE maintains a Web page with resources for covering blackouts and updates the information when power outages make headlines. The listings include online resources from a variety of sources. See www.ire.org/inthenews_archive/blackout.html.
Database Library
The National Inventory of Dams (www.ire.org/datalibrary/databases/viewdatabase.php?dbaseindex=44) includes dam maintenance records, structure, composition and owner, including power-generating dams. This update includes records for almost 80,000 dams. This update includes data through 2002. (In the past, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers updated the database biannually, but the two-year reporting system is currently delayed.)
Federal Assistance Award Data System
Follow federal funding for state and local energy and water programs with FAADS (www.ire.org/datalibrary/databases/viewdatabase.php?dbaseindex=38), compiled by the General Service Administration. It shows major categories of federal spending, including grants, loans and direct payments. Entries include references to program codes used in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (http://12.46.245.173/cfda/cfda.html). The data is not a perfect picture of the government's payouts, but it does provide an overview of spending programs and money flowing to the state, county or city level.
Check the Database Library's federal contracts collection (http://www.ire.org/datalibrary/databases/viewdatabase.php?dbaseindex=17) to find information on companies involved in energy-related projects or provision of services to the government. IRE and NICAR's data covers 1979-2006, plus portions of the current fiscal year 2007. It includes the company, contact information, the agency, type of work performed and where the work was performed.
Resource Center
• "The Investigative Reporter's Handbook" covers "Investigating Energy and Communications Utilities" in Chapter 17.
• The IRE Journal (July/Aug. 2004) covered energy issues, including how to respond to power blackouts.
• Nigel Jaquiss of Portland's Willamette Week provides a list of tips for journalists who are covering utility companies and explains how to find sources and appropriate documents. He also gives information on potential conflicts between consumers and shareholders. Tipsheet No. 2706
• Ken Ward, The Charleston (W. Va.) Gazette, lists and discusses 10 sources of data for journalists investigating water and air quality, pollution, energy usage and other environmental issues. Tipsheet No. 1369
• Ron Nixon, IRE and NICAR, and Tom McGinty, Newsday, compiled a list of Web sites helpful in covering the electric utility industry for the annual computer-assisted reporting conference in 2002. Tipsheet No. 1505
• Arthur O'Donnell, California Energy Markets, provides a list of Web sites about energy information and electric and gas business news. This is from the 2002 annual IRE conference. Tipsheet No. 1620
• Mike Taugher, Contra Costa Times, compiled a list of Web sites about energy, environment related issues and companies having energy for a presentation at the 2002 annual IRE conference. Tipsheet No. 1631
To order databases, contact the Database Library at 573-884-7332 or 573-884-7711. For a complete listing of the databases available from NICAR, visit www.ire.org/datalibrary/databases/databases.php.
For copies of stories or tipsheets, contact the Resource Center at 573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org. IRE members can download free PDF copies of most tipsheets at www.ire.org/resourcecenter.
Read more about Energy and Utilities in The IRE Journal (Jan./Feb. 2006) IRE Members can view archived issues at www.ire.org/membersonly/resourcecenter/irejournal