Green energy's By Bruce Henderson
bhenderson@charlotteobserver.com pains - CharotteObserver.com:
"Advocates, however, say the state's lowest-cost energy ethos works against green energy, rewarding utilities for their huge investments in coal and nuclear plants. While consumers might pay more for solar or wind power, they argue, building new nuclear plants would also drive up electric bills."
SC Utility News Digest - a Service of the Terreni Law Firm, LLC
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Duke Energy Carolinas curtails long-range forecast - Charlotte Business Journal:
Duke Energy’s long-range forecast shows slow growth ahead - Charlotte Business Journal::
Charlotte Business Journal - by John Downey Senior staff writer
"Duke says it still will need to build plants with a total capacity of 6,700 megawatts over the next 20 years.
That includes the 825-megwatt coal unit under construction at its Cliffside Steam Station and two gas-fired plants totaling about 1,260 megawatts. Construction of one of the gas plants starts this year. The new facilities also would include the proposed Lee Nuclear Station near Gaffney, S.C. However, the company has yet to fully commit to building that plant.
Those new power facilities would account for about 4,300 megawatts of capacity among the 6,700 planned for the next 20 years.
But that figure is down significantly from the 9,010 megawatts of capacity Duke projected it would need in its previous 20-year forecast."
That includes the 825-megwatt coal unit under construction at its Cliffside Steam Station and two gas-fired plants totaling about 1,260 megawatts. Construction of one of the gas plants starts this year. The new facilities also would include the proposed Lee Nuclear Station near Gaffney, S.C. However, the company has yet to fully commit to building that plant.
Those new power facilities would account for about 4,300 megawatts of capacity among the 6,700 planned for the next 20 years.
But that figure is down significantly from the 9,010 megawatts of capacity Duke projected it would need in its previous 20-year forecast."
Rural Energy Savings Program Press Conference - VIDEO
(Washington, DC) – House Majority Whip and Sixth District Congressman James E. Clyburn joined with Senator Lindsey Graham and Congressman John Spratt today to introduce legislation establishing a nationwide Rural Energy Savings Program, modeled on the South Carolina electric cooperatives’ plan to save their consumers money on their utility bills. This bipartisan legislation provides $4.9 billion in lending authority through the Rural Utilities Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide energy efficient upgrades for participating consumers. Those improvements will be paid for through energy savings spread across monthly payments on participating consumers’ utilities bills. The federal government will be repaid its initial investment, and as many as one million electric cooperative consumers will enjoy the benefits of energy efficient homes through the program.
North Charleston Wind Turbine Facility - TheState.com
Turbine executives to meet today - Business - TheState.com:
"The group has the extraordinary task of designing a test facility that can handle mega-drive trains, which are so large they won't fit at any existing test center.
- postandcourier.com
"The group has the extraordinary task of designing a test facility that can handle mega-drive trains, which are so large they won't fit at any existing test center.
Wind turbines typically can handle between 3 and 5 megawatts of power. The Clemson facility will be designed to handle turbine parts that can process up to 15 megawatts, enough electricity to power 20,000 homes."
CERAWEEK-FPL may delay nuclear plants; seek loan guarantee | Reuters
CERAWEEK-FPL may delay nuclear plants; seek loan guarantee
| Reuters:
| Reuters:
"HOUSTON, March 11 (Reuters) - Florida Power & Light is studying a delay in construction of two proposed nuclear reactors in Florida and may reconsider seeking a federal loan guarantee, Moray Dewhurst, vice chairman of the utility's parent FPL Group (FPL.N), said on Thursday."
Progress Energy Rolls Out EE Program in Marion County
Progress Energy to help provide residential energy saving upgrades in Marion | SCNow:
"According to Progress Energy officials, the program will begin with an auditor conducting an energy assessment at each residence to identify the appropriate upgrades.
Measures include installing compact fluorescent light bulbs and programmable thermostats, changing air filters, caulking doors and windows, insulating water heaters, and other upgrades that can help homeowners save up to $95 a year on their electric bills, Birmingham-Byrd said.�"
Measures include installing compact fluorescent light bulbs and programmable thermostats, changing air filters, caulking doors and windows, insulating water heaters, and other upgrades that can help homeowners save up to $95 a year on their electric bills, Birmingham-Byrd said.�"
Thursday, March 11, 2010
SCE&G Public Hearing Schedule
SC regulators set hearings on SCE&G rate hike - BusinessWeek: "The first hearing is April 26 at Summerville Town Hall. The second is April 27 at the International Longshoreman's Association in Charleston. The last is May 24 at the Public Service Commission headquarters in Columbia."
Bill would fund energy efficiency loans for SC coop customers
Lawmakers pushing S.C. energy idea - Business - TheState.com:
- McClatchy Newspapers
"The measure would bring $70 million in low-interest loans over a decade to 700,000 households and businesses in South Carolina that use power distributed by 20 electric co-ops.
'This legislation will create jobs, save American businesses and families on their electric bill and reduce pollution,' Clyburn said.
Clyburn's aides said the measure would lead to the creation of 4,750 permanent jobs in South Carolina over a decade, 2,100 of them in the first year.
Customers would pay off the loans through monthly charges on their electric bills that the legislation's backers say would be more than offset by reduced power usage through installing insulation, double-paned windows, heat pumps and other energy-efficient products."
'This legislation will create jobs, save American businesses and families on their electric bill and reduce pollution,' Clyburn said.
Clyburn's aides said the measure would lead to the creation of 4,750 permanent jobs in South Carolina over a decade, 2,100 of them in the first year.
Customers would pay off the loans through monthly charges on their electric bills that the legislation's backers say would be more than offset by reduced power usage through installing insulation, double-paned windows, heat pumps and other energy-efficient products."
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
FCC Staff Makes Broadband Reccomendations
FCC may set aside free wireless spectrum for Internet broadband | ZDNet Government
| ZDNet.com:
"Commissioner Mignon L. Clyburn during a speech at the Digital Inclusion Summit suggested that the FCC may look at some wireless spectrum being set aside for at little or no cost for anyone’s use."
| ZDNet.com:
"Commissioner Mignon L. Clyburn during a speech at the Digital Inclusion Summit suggested that the FCC may look at some wireless spectrum being set aside for at little or no cost for anyone’s use."
More Turmoil at Florida PSC
Florida Department of Law Enforcement reviewing PSC ethics complaint:
Posted by Julie Patel on March 9, 2010 12:55 PM
"A Public Service Commission staffer's testimony about a conversation Commissioner Lisa Edgar had in private with an FPL attorney doesn’t match up with the actual version of events.
That’s what PSC Inspector General Steve Stolting concluded after a brief inquiry. He has asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate."
That’s what PSC Inspector General Steve Stolting concluded after a brief inquiry. He has asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate."
DHEC Lifts Arsenic Limits on SCE&G
Critics: DHEC arsenic limits weak - Local / Metro - TheState.com:
"The Department of Health and Environmental Control dropped arsenic limits in a new discharge permit for S.C. Electric and Gas after supporting rules to ease controls over the poisonous material two years ago. In effect, since South Carolina has an easier standard than it once did for arsenic, SCE&G doesn't need a limit on arsenic."
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
After Boom and Bust, Solar Power Has a Place in the Spanish Sun - NYTimes.com
After Boom and Bust, Solar Power Has a Place in the Spanish Sun - NYTimes.com:
By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
Published: March 8, 2010
"When it was announced in the summer of 2007, Spain’s premium payment for solar power was the most generous anywhere — 58 cents per kilowatt-hour — with few strings attached."
High bills stoke anger - Local / Metro - TheState.com
High bills stoke anger - Local / Metro - TheState.com: - tflach@thestate.com
"Nearly 230 S.C. homeowners and businesses have filed written protests to state officials opposing that increase."
Monday, March 8, 2010
Norfolk Southern will pay $4mil in fines for Graniteville Spill (EPA)
03/08/2010: Railroad Company to Pay $4 Million Penalty for 2005 Chlorine Spill in Graniteville, SC
Under the settlement filed in federal court in Columbia, S.C., Norfolk Southern will be required to pay a civil penalty of $3,967,500 for the alleged CWA violations, to be deposited in the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. The alleged CWA violations, included in an amended complaint filed in March 2009, are for the discharge of tons of chlorine, a hazardous substance, from a derailed train tank car and thousands of gallons of diesel fuel from ruptured locomotive engine fuel tanks. For the alleged Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) violation for failure to immediately notify the National Response Center of the chlorine release, Norfolk Southern will pay a penalty of $32,500, to be deposited in the Hazardous Substance Superfund.
EPA Greenversations � Question of the Week: When was the last time you fixed a leak?
Greenversations � Question of the Week: When was the last time you fixed a leak?:
"Question of the Week: When was the last time you fixed a leak?
Posted on March 8th, 2010 - 10:30 AM
An American home can waste, on average, more than 10,000 gallons of water every year due to running toilets, dripping faucets, and other household leaks. Nationwide, more than 1 trillion gallons of water leak from U.S. homes each year. That’s why WaterSense is promoting Fix a Leak Week from March 15 to 21, 2010, to remind Americans to check their plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks.
When was the last time you fixed a leak?"
"Question of the Week: When was the last time you fixed a leak?
Posted on March 8th, 2010 - 10:30 AM
An American home can waste, on average, more than 10,000 gallons of water every year due to running toilets, dripping faucets, and other household leaks. Nationwide, more than 1 trillion gallons of water leak from U.S. homes each year. That’s why WaterSense is promoting Fix a Leak Week from March 15 to 21, 2010, to remind Americans to check their plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks.
When was the last time you fixed a leak?"
FERC: News Release: FERC approves settlement on FRCC’s role in Florida Blackout
FERC: News Release: FERC approves settlement on FRCC’s role in Florida Blackout:
"The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today approved a settlement under which the Florida Reliability Coordinating Council (FRCC) will pay a $350,000 civil penalty and undertake specific reliability improvements stemming from the Feb. 26, 2008, blackout that lost power for millions of Florida consumers."
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