Ten people protesting the 550-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline project were charged after blocking the entrance to Dominion Virginia Power’s Richmond headquarters last week.
About 50 protestors said they object to the proposed pipeline that would supply customers in North Carolina with shale gas from West Virginia. “This proposal would be a dangerous investment in fossil fuel infrastructure at a time when the scientific consensus is clear that we must invest in renewables, such as wind and solar, to avoid further warming of our planet,” said Whitney Whiting, a protester from Newport News, Va.
Nine were charged with traffic obstruction, and another was given a misdemeanor citation for disorderly conduct.
More: TheBayNet.com
Exelon Seeks More Water for Limerick Plant
The Delaware River Basin Commission will consider at its March 10 meeting whether to allow Exelon to increase the amount of water the Limerick nuclear plant may draw from the Schuylkill River on days when the air temperature is 87 F or higher.
Exelon’s request seeks to make permanent the temporary permission it was given Aug. 19 to boost the amount of water it can use on hot days by 3.3 million gallons, from 44 million. The company said recent repairs that increased the efficiency of its closed circuit cooling water system led to the loss of more water through evaporation.
Exelon addressed concerns about taking too much water out of the river during heat waves, when river levels are at their lowest, by seeking permission to add water upstream. That would ensure against higher water temperatures dissolving oxygen and harming aquatic life downstream, according to the company.
The plant’s Unit 1 was out of service for three days last week after a main steam isolation valve closed unexpectedly. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said the unit shut down without any further problems. Unit 2 was not affected by the event.
More: The Mercury; The Express-Times
Ameren Illinois President Named One of Top Business Leaders by Magazine
Richard J. Mark, president of Ameren Illinois, was named one of the top business leaders by African-American Career World magazine.
“The executives on our inaugural list of top African-American business leaders were selected for their business acumen, leadership and vision to drive their company’s success, often during difficult times,” said Joann Whitcher, editorial director of Equal Opportunity Publications.
Mark oversees utility distribution operations to more than 1.2 million electric customers and 812,000 natural gas customers. He has led the company on a 10-year, $3.5 billion upgrade program.
More: Ameren
SunEdison’s Maine Wind Energy Project Gets Environmental Staff Approval
The staff of a Maine environmental permitting appeals panel recommended upholding approval of SunEdison’s Bingham Wind project.
Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection in September granted a permit for the 62-turbine, $398 million project in western Maine, but activists appealed the decision. The staff of the Board of Environmental Protection, which hears appeals of the regulatory agency’s actions, said that the company’s plan was financially sound and recommended approval.
The board could rule on the final permit application March 5.
More: Bangor Daily News
Clean Line Energy’s Rock Island Project Faces Appeal of ICC Ruling
Landowners and Commonwealth Edison are appealing the Illinois Commerce Commission’s approval of Clean Line Energy’s $2 billion Rock Island Line transmission project.
The proposed 3,500-MW direct-current line would deliver wind-generated power to Illinois from Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. The 500-mile line is the first merchant-owned transmission project approved by the ICC.
More: The Times
Heavy Snowfall in Carolina Causes 200,000 Duke Energy Outages
A rare heavy snowfall in North Carolina last week left more than 200,000 Duke Energy customers without power.
Up to 10 inches of thick, heavy snow caused outages in the upper third of the state. The lack of sunlight and weight of the snow on trees caused limbs to break and fall on power lines. The company worked into the weekend to restore service.
More: News & Observer
NRG Home Solar Expands into North Carolina
NRG Home Solar, fast becoming one of the largest residential solar companies in the U.S., is moving into the North Carolina market.
“North Carolina is an ideal market for solar and specifically for residential solar where we see significant untapped market potential throughout the state,” said Kelcy Pegler Jr., president of NRG Home Solar. The company is offering homeowners solar systems with zero-money down financing. It will open an office in Charlotte this spring.
More: NRG Home Solar
Compiled by Ted Caddell