Nuclear inspection team sent to SC plant | Lake Wylie Pilot - Lake Wylie, SC

Nuclear inspection team sent to SC plant | Lake Wylie Pilot - Lake Wylie, SC:

Associated Press

"The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission will send a team of inspectors to a South Carolina plant to review events that led to a shutdown."

SCANA drops in rankings - Business - TheState.com

SCANA drops in rankings - Business - TheState.com

By ANDREW SHAIN - ashain@thestate.com

SCANA chief financial officer Jimmy Addison said it was nice to be included in the Fortune 500 but being added to the Standard & Poor's 500 index last year was "a better reflection of our financial stability."

Gov. Charlie Crist's PSC nominees pass first Senate hurdle - Florida - MiamiHerald.com

Gov. Charlie Crist's PSC nominees pass first Senate hurdle -

BY MARY ELLEN KLAS

HERALD/TIMES TALLAHASSEE BUREAU

Florida - MiamiHerald.com: "TALLAHASSEE -- After a personal appeal by Gov. Charlie Crist, a Senate committee approved his two appointees to the Public Service Commission -- but not until after committee members grilled both nominees and complained about a lack of racial diversity in their choices."

EPA Wants You for Earth Day!

Pick 5 for the Environment | US EPA

Pick 5 for the Environment - International Earth Day Edition
"¡Hola! Alii! Hej! Commit to at least 5 actions you'll take to protect the environment with Pick 5. We've worked with the U.S. Department of State to expand the list of actions; now you can Pick 5 all over the Earth. One by one, five by five, our actions multiply to make the difference."

Seneca Switches to Southern Company

Seneca approves Southern Company deal Anderson Independent Mail:

"“The reason for the change was cost savings,” said Seneca Mayor Dan Alexander. “When the current power contract neared its expiration date we began shopping around for the best possible power rates we could get.”"

Train cars derail at pasta plant; no injuries - Local / Metro - TheState.com

Train cars derail at pasta plant; no injuries - Local / Metro - TheState.com:

"The cars were being maneuvered about 9 a.m. Tuesday by plant employees on a rail spur alongside the plant when they were pushed into the track's derailer. The derailer is a safety feature that intentionally removes train cars from tracks so they cannot enter a main rail line, a corporate spokeswoman said."

U.S. Tightens Rules for Energy Star Label - NYTimes.com

U.S. Tightens Rules for Energy Star Label - NYTimes.com:

By MATTHEW L. WALD and LESLIE KAUFMAN

Published: April 14, 2010

"After critical audits, the federal government said Wednesday that it would substantially tighten the certification process for products bearing the Energy Star label, its stamp of approval for an energy-efficient product."

F.C.C. Says It Will Move Forward on Broadband Plan - NYTimes.com

F.C.C. Says It Will Move Forward on Broadband Plan - NYTimes.com: "But the chairman refused to say if the commission would try to reclassify Internet service as a utility similar to telephone service to overcome the court decision, a move that some Democratic senators supported but that several Republican senators strongly warned against.

Julius Genachowski, the F.C.C. chairman, said in testimony before the Senate Commerce Committee, that the agency’s lawyers were still considering the effect of the court case, Comcast v. F.C.C., on the commission’s effort, known as the National Broadband Plan."

Five Percent of Duke's Non-Union Work Force Opts for Buyout Offer

Duke Energy says 900 employees will take buyouts: bizjournals.com Business News - MSN Money:

John Downey

"About 8,700 non-union workers among Duke’s 18,700 employees were eligible for the buyouts, says Duke spokesman Tom Williams. So roughly 10 percent of the eligible workers took buyouts. That’s close to 5 percent of Duke’s total work force."

China is First in Clean Energy Investment

China Leads G-20 Members in Clean Energy Finance and Investment - The Pew Charitable Trust:

"Washington, DC - 03/24/2010 - For the first time, China led the United States and other G-20 members in 2009 clean energy investments and finance, according to data released today by The Pew Charitable Trusts. Last year, China invested $34.6 billion in the clean energy economy – nearly double the United States’ total of $18.6 billion. Over the last five years, the United States also trailed five G-20 members (Turkey, Brazil, China, the United Kingdom, and Italy) in the rate of clean energy investment growth."

DOE Awards Clemson 750k for New Certificate Program

The Department of Energy has awarded Clemson University about $750,000 to Develop a Power Industry Essentials Certificate Program.  Details below:
Power Industry Essentials Certificate Program - Train the power engineering sector on the fundamentals of power systems and the advanced applications on power systems operation, control and protection. The project will develop three certificate programs (Power Systems Engineering; Renewable Energy; and Advanced Power Systems) and a Masters of Engineering program.

Lightsey joins McAngus Goudelock & Courie

At law firm, Lightsey plans 'to innovate' - Business - TheState.com:

"Harry Lightsey III, a former telecommunications executive with strong ties in the state, has joined the McAngus Goudelock & Courie law firm to head its revamped business practice and lobbying arm.
Lightsey, 54, was AT&T's president in South Carolina for seven years until 2007, when he took a job overseeing its Southeast operations. He retired from AT&T in July after his job was eliminated."

ORS v CWS

Agency wants action at Carolina Water Service - Local / Metro - TheState.com:
By TIM FLACH - tflach@thestate.com
"State officials rapped Carolina Water Service Tuesday for poor service to its nearly 11,000 customers in the Ballentine, Lexington and Oak Grove areas.
The S.C. Office of Regulatory Staff - the voice of consumers when it comes to utilities - asked for a crackdown on what its says are problems that have persisted for months.
Complaints include homeowners getting disconnected after paying water bills or never being sent a bill, inaccurate bills and failure to refund overcharges."

Here is ORS's Rule to Show Cause

Study: Thousands of jobs available to S.C. with energy efficiency

SCBIZ: "COLUMBIA -- South Carolina could lower utility bills statewide by $1.8 billion and create more than 13,400 new jobs by 2020 if it aggressively pursues energy efficiency programs, according to a new study."

Europe Finds Cleaner Energy Source by Burning Trash - NYTimes.com

Europe Finds Cleaner Energy Source by Burning Trash - NYTimes.com:

Elizabeth Rosenthal

April 12, 2010

"In that time, such plants have become both the mainstay of garbage disposal and a crucial fuel source across Denmark, from wealthy exurbs like Horsholm to Copenhagen’s downtown area. Their use has not only reduced the country’s energy costs and reliance on oil and gas, but also benefited the environment, diminishing the use of landfills and cutting carbon dioxide emissions. The plants run so cleanly that many times more dioxin is now released from home fireplaces and backyard barbecues than from incineratio"

SC family on makeover TV show coping with bills - State & Regional - Wire - TheState.com

SC family on makeover TV show coping with bills - State & Regional - Wire - TheState.com:

Associated Press

"Amanda and Derrick Suggs told The Sun News of Myrtle Beach that their new house, built by the show in January, is about three times larger than their old one. That means higher taxes, insurance and utility bills.
'They were significantly higher ... than what we're used to, but we're bringing it down,' Derrick Suggs said.
LINK: http://www.thesunnews.com/
The family has swapped out lightbulbs the show put in for ones that are more energy efficient and the couple no longer has to pay for expensive repairs that their old home required.
The couple was chosen for the show because they took in Amanda Suggs' two siblings who otherwise would have had to go to foster homes."