Angry crowd: Clamp down on sewage plant - Local / Metro - TheState.com

Alpine Utilities spill of untreated waste into river in 2008 sickened boaters, swimmers

By SAMMY FRETWELL - sfretwell@thestate.com

"An inquisitive - and at times angry crowd - urged the state Thursday to clamp down on a utility responsible for a major sewage spill that polluted the Saluda River in 2008."

Clemson gets EPA Grant to Study Carbon Sequestration

02/25/2010: Clemson University, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill and Georgia Institute of Technology receive Grants to Support Research on the Impacts of Climate Change

(ATLANTA – February 25, 2010) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded nearly $17 million in Science to Achieve Results (STAR) grants to universities across the country to study the consequences of climate change on the air we breathe and the water we drink. Three universities in the southeast, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Georgia Institute of Technology and Clemson University, are among the twenty-five universities in the nation to receive the STAR grants.

“EPA is engaging the academic research community, through these grants, to enable solutions that will both adapt to and mitigate the impact of climate change,” said Dr. Paul T. Anastas, assistant administrator for the Office of Research and Development.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was awarded $300,000 and Georgia Institute of Technology was awarded $599,963 to research climate change as it relates to air quality. Each university’s research will ultimately help to determine how weather variability, land use decisions, and industrial technology could impact ozone and fine particle pollution over the next 40 years. Findings will support the formation of new air quality management systems that effectively account for climate change and mitigation strategies for air quality.

Clemson University was awarded $891,342 for climate change and carbon sequestration research. Researchers will investigate safe and effective ways to store and sequester carbon. This research will help determine if injecting carbon dioxide (CO₂) deep into the ground threatens the environment and underground water resources.

EPA brings leading-edge science to assess the consequences of climate change on human health, ecosystems, and social well being. One of the agency’s goals is to develop information and tools to make assessments on the overall impact of climate change.

More information about the grants and the grant awardees: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/climate

DOE - Wind Powering America: South Carolina - Wind Map and Resource Potential [apparently not much]

Wind Powering America: South Carolina Wind Map and Resource Potential:
 "The Department of Energy's Wind Program and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) published a new wind resource map for the state of South Carolina."

FCC workshop highlights changing media landscape in Midlands - WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina |

FCC workshop highlights changing media landscape in Midlands - WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina |: By Dawndy Mercer Plank - bio | email

"The FCC is required to review its rules and regulations and make sure those are in the public's best interest.

FCC commissioner Mignon Clyburn addressed the public and panelists representing community or media outlets.

'Broadcasters are still an essential source of news and information for Americans,' said Clyburn. 'I'm interested to hear from our panelists how television has evolved over the past several years.'"

Progress sued over Florida Nuclear Plant from Ocala.com

Suit challenges Progress Energy's charges for proposed nuclear plant

By Fred Hiers

Staff writer

Plaintiffs Ganesh Trevor Balcharan, Suzan Franks, Elvere Thompson, Richard Chapman and Margaret Longhill claim in the Feb. 8 filing that a Florida law allowing the utility to bill its customers in advance of the power plant being built gives special privileges to Progress Energy, which runs contrary to the Florida Constitution.

One-Third of U.S. Without Broadband, F.C.C. Finds - NYTimes.com

One-Third of U.S. Without Broadband, F.C.C. Finds - NYTimes.com:

By BRIAN STELTER and JENNA WORTHAM

Published: February 22, 2010

"The F.C.C. was mandated by Congress to produce a detailed plan with specific recommendations to hasten the national adoption of broadband in the United States. The plan is expected to be unveiled by the F.C.C. on March 17. It will recommend, among other elements, an expansion of broadband adoption from the current 65 percent to more than 90 percent, Mr. Genachowski said in a blog post on an F.C.C. Web site last week."

TheTandD.com | Low-interest loans considered for energy upgrades

TheTandD.com | Low-interest loans considered for energy upgrades:

By PHIL SARATA, T&D Staff Writer Sunday, February 21, 201

"State Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, is a co-sponsor of the Senate bill along with Sen. John Matthews, D-Bowman. He feels some form of the legislation could be passed this session.

“We want to make certain that the people that do efficiency upgrades (on residential homes) are qualified,” Hutto said. “Part of the check and balance is that they don’t get paid until the utility does an final energy audit.

“The investor utilities and municipalities are all on board and realize the potential benefits of this.”

Representatives Gilda Cobb-Hunter and House Minority Leader Harry Ott are co-sponsoring the House bill. Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, says debate on the House version was suspended Thursday."

Wide variance in products that qualify for federal Energy Star program - washingtonpost.com

Wide variance in products that qualify for federal Energy Star program - washingtonpost.com:

By David A. Fahrenthold
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, February 22, 201

"In Lake Wobegon, every child is above average. Under the Energy Star program, the same can be said of appliances.

In 2008, the most recent year for which the government has data, 79 percent of all the televisions sold in the United States carried the Energy Star logo. Same with dehumidifiers (75 percent) and dishwashers (67 percent).

"

Top 10 Utility Stocks with Highest Dividend Yield: China Analyst

Top 10 Utility Stocks with Highest Dividend Yield: HGT, RGNC, EDE, BIP, PGN, UIL, POM, UTL, CPL, WES (Feb 21, 2010) - China Analyst

"Progress Energy, Inc. (NYSE:PGN) has the 5th highest dividend yield in this segment of the market. Its current dividend yield is 6.44%. Its dividend payout ratio was 81.93% for the last 12 months."

Regulators target discharges into Saluda River - Local / Metro - TheState.com

Regulators target discharges into Saluda River - Local / Metro - TheState.com:

By SAMMY FRETWELL - sfretwell@thestate.com

"Alpine Utilities Inc. faces the tougher bacteria monitoring requirements under a new federal discharge permit recommended for the company's sewer plant along the Saluda River near Bush River Road and Interstate 20."

Columbia eyes properties to annex - Local / Metro - TheState.com

Columbia eyes properties to annex - Local / Metro - TheState.com:

City wants taxes from expensive commercial land

By ADAM BEAM - abeam@thestate.com

"With no water covenants, and few options to compel an annexation available under stateaw, Columbia officials are using the city's monopolistic water system as leverage to force those property owners to petition for annexation."

SC county sues feds over nuclear waste decision

SC county sues feds over nuclear waste decision:
"THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

AIKEN, S.C. -- Aiken County has filed a lawsuit in federal court to try to keep plans on track for a nuclear waste storage facility at Yucca Mountain in Nevada"