Graham Says New Carbon Bill Will Have More Money for Nukes

Graham: More money for nukes in energy bill - CharlotteObserver.com:

Bruce Henderson

"The measure by Graham and Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., allows oil and gas drilling off the Atlantic coast if states approve, Graham said, and overrides Environmental Protection Agency regulation of carbon dioxide. He appeared at an energy conference hosted by the Charlotte Business Journal.

Graham declared dead the carbon legislation the U.S. House passed last year, which limited emissions of the greenhouse gas and allowed utilities and other carbon sources to trade emission allowances, called credits.

The new bill takes a hybrid approach that Graham said will reduce speculation in carbon credits that could drive up their price. Utilities like Charlotte-based Duke Energy would get free allowances."

NRC Gives Robinson Plant the "Green Light"

NRC finds no safety issues at Robinson plant in 2009 | SCNow:

Jim Faile

"Overall, the NRC staff concluded that the Robinson plant operated safely in 2009, NRC officials said. Inspectors found no performance indicators or safety issues that would cause the NRC to increase its level of oversight and inspection and the plant met all basic objectives for the safe and secure operation of a nuclear plant, said James Hickey, NRC senior resident inspector at Robinson."

Generating Electricity by Going With the Flow - Interactive Feature - NYTimes.com

Generating Electricity by Going With the Flow - Interactive Feature - NYTimes.com: [visit link for graphics]

"Generating Electricity by Going With the Flow

Several start-up companies in the United States are developing technology to produce electricity from strong tidal currents. Ocean Renewable Power’s system uses a cross-flow turbine that spins as the water flows through it, turning a generator."

Business of Green - Nuclear Energy Is Coming Back, but Slowly - NYTimes.com

Business of Green - Nuclear Energy Is Coming Back, but Slowly - NYTimes.com:

Matthew L. Wald

"With 17 applications in hand from companies that want to build 26 reactors, the agency is likely to name a lot more inspectors; it also expects five more applicants in the next few years.

Is this the long-awaited renaissance of the nuclear construction business, after years of being moribund"

Lake Wylie residents asked to share problems about water provider | Lake Wylie Pilot - Lake Wylie, SC

Lake Wylie residents asked to share problems about water provider | Lake Wylie Pilot - Lake Wylie, SC:

John Marks - jmarks@lakewyliepilot.com

"Carolina Water Service, according to one state agency, is not providing adequate water and sewer service to many of its South Carolina customers. Now that agency wants to know if it can count River Hills customers among that group.

Last week the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff filed a petition with the state Public Service Commission alleging that Carolina Water violated numerous regulations including failure to bill customers promptly, comply with customer bill forms, properly apply late payment charges, render bills, follow approved rate schedules, refund or credit overcharges and properly notify customers of termination of service.

C. Dukes Scott, executive director of the Office of Regulatory Staff, said customer complaints leading to the inquiry into Carolina Water came from the Midlands area near Columbia. Yet he wanted to know whether local customers face the same problems.

“River Hills is very active,” Scott said of past public participation regarding Carolina Water, particularly hearings several years ago on a proposed rate hike. “I don’t know whether they’re having these same issues there or not.”"

EERE News: DOE Announces New Opportunities to Improve Commercial Building Energy Efficiency

EERE News: DOE Announces New Opportunities to Improve Commercial Building Energy Efficiency

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced support for energy-saving commercial building projects as part of an ongoing effort by DOE to improve the energy efficiency of buildings in the United States. With money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, DOE's national laboratories will select and fund technical experts to provide technical guidance to commercial building owners and operators. The goal of this Commercial Building Partnerships (CBP) initiative is to increase the energy efficiency of selected new and existing buildings.

DOE's CBP initiative will foster collaborative relationships among the owners and operators of commercial buildings, researchers from DOE national laboratories and private-sector technical experts. Building owners receive technical expertise on how to design, build and maintain low-energy buildings that can reduce energy use and lower energy bills across their building portfolios. These collaborations help to move energy-saving strategies into the marketplace quickly and cost-effectively. Each of the CBP building projects will be documented in publicly available case studies that will provide detailed energy use data and best practices to other building operators across the country.

Legislators to discuss trash to power legislation - S.C. Politics - TheState.com

Legislators to discuss trash to power legislation - S.C. Politics - TheState.com:

Associated Press

"A Senate Medical Affairs subcommittee is scheduled to discuss on Wednesday changing the state's waste management law to include waste-to-energy facilities.
New Jersey-based Covanta Energy Corp. wants to build an incinerator in Chester County."

Legislators to discuss offshore drilling - S.C. Politics - TheState.com

Legislators to discuss offshore drilling - S.C. Politics - TheState.com:

Associated Press

"COLUMBIA, S.C. -- A bill directing South Carolina's environmental agency to expedite offshore drilling applications after federal restrictions are removed is scheduled for debate.
A Senate subcommittee is set to discuss the measure on Wednesday.
It would direct the state Department of Health and Environmental Control to speedily revi"

Concern About Global Warming Wanes

Energy Update - Rasmussen Reports™: "But 43% now say global warming is not serious, including 21% who say it is not at all serious. The number who say global warming is not serious at all is at its highest level measured in regular tracking in over a year. The overall number of voters who question the seriousness of global warming crossed into the 40s for the first time in January."

Pee Dee Electric energy efficiency study application deadline extended to May 14th | SCNow

Pee Dee Electric energy efficiency study application deadline extended | SCNow:

"DARLINGTON — Members of Pee Dee Electric Cooperative may be eligible to receive a free solar thermal water heater or a power monitor as part of a statewide energy efficiency research study."

New Intel Sensor Could Cut Electricity Bill | LiveScience

New Intel Sensor Could Cut Electricity Bill | LiveScience:

Leslie Meredith, April 17, 2010

"During its presentation, Intel unveiled a single sensor that plugs into a wall outlet. The sensor is not much bigger than a night light.

Once connected, the sensor will wirelessly connect to all electrical devices in the house and self configure to record the voltages from each source in real time.

During the demonstration, the sensor detected the unique signal from three ordinary appliances: a toaster, a microwave and a refrigerator. The sensor sent the information to a PC, which displayed icons associated with the appliances and their energy consumption."

Greenville leading in Google Fiber vote - Business - TheState.com

Greenville leading in Google Fiber vote - Business - TheState.com:

Ron Barnett - The Greenville News

"Greenville has garnered more than 356,000 votes in city 'most deserves' the network. Asheville, N.C., was running second, with more than 309,000 votes. Duluth, Minn., was a distant third, with just over 12,400 votes among the more than 40 cities in the running."

Duke Upgrading Oconee Nuclear Station

Duke bringing aging reactors up to speed with by spending billions | greenvilleonline.com | The Greenville News:

Anna Simon

"Welders, pipe setters, engineers and schedulers employed by local contractors are at work at the aging nuclear power plant as Duke spends as much as $2 billion to upgrade the massive three-reactor facility. It’s the largest of three nuclear stations that together create half of the electricity Duke provides in the Carolinas."