Saturday, October 23, 2010

Local students learn saving energy can be fun, helpful | Aiken Standard | Aiken, SC


"'The Lever Lion third-grade teachers are receiving these classroom kits to help you learn about co-ops, energy efficiency, renewable energy and electric safety,' said Aiken Electric Cooperative CEO Gary Stooksbury as he presented the kits to Principal Renee Mack."

S.C. offers new way to track sewage spills | Fort Mill Times - Fort Mill, SC

 -  jmarks@lakewyliepilot.com
"An expert with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Bureau of Water believes momentum gained in the Legislature led to a new sewage spill notification feature launching this month. Glenn Trofatter, director of the water pollution and control division, said the new online feature at scdhec.gov is just the beginning.

“It’s been up maybe a week or so,” Trofatter said Thursday. “It is new. It’s something that we said we’d get out, and that’s the first phase.”

The new online link lists wastewater spills by county throughout the state for six months, including the responsible utility, amount of wastewater spilled and, when available, the reason for the spill. The listing includes both municipal- and private-service providers."

Friday, October 22, 2010

Progress Energy announces leadership change at Robinson plant | SCNOW


"Robert J. “Bob” Duncan II will return to Robinson from his current role as vice president-nuclear operations. He replaces Eric McCartney, who has served as Robinson’s site vice president since 2008."

Chapin residents tiring of water woes - WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina |

A Chapin neighborhood is under a boil-water advisory, and has been bone-dry for two days. Residents say they're not pleased with their utility service for having to go without water for so long.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Top 5 Companies in the Gas Utilities Industry With the Highest Sales Growth (CPK, OKE, PNY, FGP, SJI) | Comtex SmarTrend

Chip Bryan, 10/20/10
"Piedmont Natural Gas (NYSE:PNY) had sales growth of 17.4% during the last fiscal year. The company has reported $1.6 billion in sales over the past 12 months and is expected to report $1.7 billion in sales in the next fiscal year."

FCC wants broadcasters' unused spectrum to help meet growing wireless demand

Cecilia Kang
"In an interview Wednesday, Genachowski said he planned to introduce a proposal at the agency's Nov. 30 meeting that would lay the groundwork for broadcasters to voluntarily release airwaves for sale to mobile carriers, which have been struggling to keep up with consumer demand for Internet-capable wireless devices."

Study Warns of Bond Risk as Water Becomes Scarce - NYTimes.com


The municipal bonds that help finance a major portion of the nation’s water supply may be riskier than investors realize because their credit ratings do not adequately reflect the growing risks of water shortages and legal battles over water supplies, according to a new study."

Global Warning Skepticism in Tea Party - NYTimes.com


"Skepticism and outright denial of global warming are among the articles of faith of the Tea Party movement, here in Indiana and across the country. For some, it is a matter of religious conviction; for others, it is driven by distrust of those they call the elites. And for others still, efforts to address climate change are seen as a conspiracy to impose world government and a sweeping redistribution of wealth. But all are wary of the Obama administration’s plans to regulate carbon dioxide, a ubiquitous gas, which will require the expansion of government authority into nearly every corner of the economy."

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

South Carolina-Clemson going green | WCBD-TV 2

By Brendan Clark
"Clemson University has teamed up with Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and Santee Cooper to ensure that all the electricity needs of the Big Game will be met with Green Power. Santee Cooper produces Green Power from clean, renewable, South Carolina resources across the state."
"I guess they will hook up the "green power lines" for the night]

Study indicates wind could generate SC energy - State & Regional - Wire - TheState.com


The Post and Courier of Charleston reported a panel discussed wind energy potential at a forum in North Charleston on Tuesday. The forum comes after a yearlong study of wind at six buoys off the coast of Myrtle Beach and Georgetown.

Elizabeth Kress with the state-owned utility Santee Cooper says a wind turbine farm could generate enough electricity to serve hundreds of thousands of homes. But Kress says the wind would not be available full time.



Natural gas outlook: Cheap and plentiful - Business - TheState.com

Associated Press, October 10, 2010


Natural gas, which had traded at about $2 per 1,000 cubic feet in the 1990s, hit nearly $15 in 2005. It is now about $3.50, driven lower by reduced industrial power demand and rising production by drillers who are learning to make a profit from shale gas at ever lower prices.


Tuesday, October 19, 2010

ECT.coop CFL Charlie Tours South Carolina

[No, it's not Charlie Terreni, although, playing CFL Charlie looks like a lot of fun!]
"CFL Charlie is having a busy October in South Carolina, marking both Co-op Month and Energy Efficiency Awareness Month. Seventeen co-ops have teamed up with the statewide to take the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives mascot on a three-week tour of third-grade classes."

In Kansas, Climate Skeptics Embrace Green Energy - Series - NYTimes.com

“Don’t mention global warming,” warned Nancy Jackson, chairwoman of the Climate and Energy Project, a small nonprofit group that aims to get people to rein in the fossil fuel emissions that contribute to climate change. “And don’t mention Al Gore. People out here just hate him.”

Saving energy, though, is another matter."

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