"America’s dairy farmers could soon find themselves in the computer business, with the manure from their cows possibly powering the vast data centers of companies like Google and Microsoft. While not immediately intuitive, the idea plays on two trends: the building of computing centers in more rural locales, and dairy farmers’ efforts to deal with cattle waste by turning it into fuel."
SC Utility News Digest - a Service of the Terreni Law Firm, LLC
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
A Data Center Power Supply That Moos - NYTimes.com
A Data Center Power Supply That Moos - NYTimes.com:
Columbia budget deal would nix utility fee hike - Local / Metro - TheState.com
Columbia budget deal would nix utility fee hike - Local / Metro - TheState.com:
"Columbia City Council members have agreed on a tentative budget compromise that would not raise property taxes or power bills but could strip funding from some community groups and cut into the city’s reserves."
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Duke Awarded $204 for Smart Grid
Smart Grids Score $204 Million in Stimulus Funds | EarthTechling:
"The latest to be stimulated: Duke Energy received a $204 million boost. Intended to support smart grid projects throughout Duke Energy’s five-state turf, the Energy Department’s stimulus funding will be put toward two particular projects: “$200 million will assist in modernizing Duke Energy’s power distribution system; $4 million will support the installation of digital equipment on the transmission system in the Carolinas,” according to Duke. As an added benefit, both projects will create approximately 1,000 new jobs as Duke works to modernize its grid systems in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and North and South Carolina."
Monday, May 17, 2010
Santee Cooper settles multi-million dollar lawsuit - Breaking News - TheSunNews.com
Santee Cooper settles multi-million dollar lawsuit - Breaking News - TheSunNews.com:
Bo Petersen - The Post and Courrier
"The Moncks Corner-based utility was sued in 2007 because of an electric rate increase in the mid-1990s that plaintiffs alleged was approved as a temporary increase to pay for a building program, but continued after the project was paid for. The suit affected 6,000 residential and business customers in Berkeley County. Most customers were in Georgetown and Horry counties.
The suit affected the utility’s own customers, not electric cooperative customers using Santee Cooper power."
The suit affected the utility’s own customers, not electric cooperative customers using Santee Cooper power."
World Cup could strain power supply in SAfrica - World Soccer - Yahoo! Sports
World Cup could strain power supply in SAfrica - World Soccer - Yahoo! Sports:
"JOHANNESBURG (AP)—South Africa’s electricity company expects to be under pressure during the World Cup.
State-owned Eskom says it will regularly update South Africans on supply during the tournament, which starts June 11, and ask them to turn off some appliances if power runs low.
Under the worst circumstances, South Africans will be asked to turn off everything but one TV—so they can continue to get updates—and one light.
The utility says “although electricity supply is expected to be sufficient over this period, cold winter temperatures combined with high electricity demand is likely to place Eskom under additional pressure."
State-owned Eskom says it will regularly update South Africans on supply during the tournament, which starts June 11, and ask them to turn off some appliances if power runs low.
Under the worst circumstances, South Africans will be asked to turn off everything but one TV—so they can continue to get updates—and one light.
The utility says “although electricity supply is expected to be sufficient over this period, cold winter temperatures combined with high electricity demand is likely to place Eskom under additional pressure."
Lawmaker says water, sewer control better | The Augusta Chronicle
Lawmaker says water, sewer control better | The Augusta Chronicle:
Smith said although the rates have remained high, the outlook for consumers is improving with the shift in oversight to the local authority board and away from the state PSC."
Smith said although the rates have remained high, the outlook for consumers is improving with the shift in oversight to the local authority board and away from the state PSC."
'A little solar farm' causes stops and stares - CharlotteObserver.com
'A little solar farm' causes stops and stares - CharlotteObserver.com:
The panels, each 5 feet wide and 2.5 feet high, convert sunlight into electricity. The system can create enough energy to power five homes for one year, according to Duke.
That power can be stored on a large battery on site and released during times of high demand - reducing the need for Duke to buy extra power, Layne sai"
"The bank of solar panels was unveiled about a year ago as part of a pilot project involving homes in the McAlpine area, bordered by Carmel and Rea Roads and N.C. 51.
The panels, each 5 feet wide and 2.5 feet high, convert sunlight into electricity. The system can create enough energy to power five homes for one year, according to Duke.
That power can be stored on a large battery on site and released during times of high demand - reducing the need for Duke to buy extra power, Layne sai"
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