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High court upholds rate increases to support nuclear plant construction

April 27, 2010 By

The South Carolina Supreme Court has upheld the a Public Service Commission decision approving the construction of two nuclear power plants 25 miles north of Columbia.

The facilities located at Jenkinsville planned by South Carolina Electric & Gas and state-owned utility Santee Cooper, were opposed by environmental group Friends of the Earth, which filed an appeal to the high court.

Friends of the Earth asserted that the Public Service Commission was mistaken when it agreed that SCE&G had clearly established a need for the new plants, especially considering the current recession and the fact that the exact design of the proposed facilities has not been tried before. The environmental organization argued that SCE&G is too small to be the first utility to construct such facilities, and also asserted that a new standard of review should be used because this is the first application the commission has ruled on that bears the names of two different utilities.

The high court said that SCE&G has established a need for the facilities and approved the proposed rate increases.

Filed Under: Business, Crime & Courts, Energy, Environment & Conservation, News

CSRA to be heard on Yucca Mountain issue

April 27, 2010 By

South Carolina and Georgia community leaders that encompass the Central Savannah River Area are heading to Washington for a meeting with their respective congressional delegations. Their message: the federal government decision to halt work on the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository represents a betrayal of trust by the department of energy with communities where high-level nuclear waste is stored.

Aiken County Administrator Clay Killian says Wednesday’s meeting is part of the yearly meeting of the Chambers of Commerce of Aiken, North Augusta, Augusta and Columbia County, Georgia which make up the CSRA Leadership Conference. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Environment & Conservation, News, Politics & Government

PSC fields public concerns over SCE&G rate increases

April 27, 2010 By

The Public Service Commission heard from some disgruntled SCE&G ratepayers in a Monday public meeting in Summerville. It’s one of two PSC hearings in the Lowcountry on this issue. SCE&G is planning a 9.52 percent rate hike, and after a year of phasing it would raise electric rates by $140 a year. However, that is too much still, according to citizens at the meeting who are on a fixed income or who already dislike the increases that have begun to take effect. Two of which are to pay for two new reactors at a plant near Columbia.

The testimony from these meetings will be combined as part of the public record, explains Jocelyn Boyd, spokesperson for the Public Service Commission. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Environment & Conservation, News

Limehouse’s bill calls for state day of prayer

April 27, 2010 By

A federal judge in Wisconsin struck down the National Day of Prayer earlier this month, claiming it was unconstitutional. In South Carolina, Charleston Representative Chip Limehouse has drafted legislation that calls for what would be known officially as a State Day of Prayer.

“It’s an assault on religion in America by the courts. My legislation speaks against that. I think this judge is anti-prayer and when you are anti-prayer in this country, I think 80 percent or 90 percent of this country is Christian, you’re against a lot of Christian folks,” says Limehouse.

Limehouse says he hopes other states will follow his attempt to stand against the opposition on the National Day of Prayer. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Legislature, News, Politics & Government

Greenville man pleads guilty in son’s death

April 27, 2010 By

A Greenville man who killed his son and hid the child’s body in a kudzu field pleaded guilty Monday to homicide by child abuse. Christopher Wilson was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the murder of Javeion Mayes. The boy was killed in August 2007. Wilson’s arrest in Javeion’s death followed a two-day search for the four year old boy, who Wilson first reported missing. The child’s body was found in a duffel bag, hidden in a field of kudzu not far from his home. Wilson later admitted that he had jerked the boy’s arm, causing Javeion to hit his head on the sink and the toilet. Wilson claimed he placed the child in a tub for a bath and found him 15 minutes later lying unconscious in the water. Police said Wilson claimed to attempt CPR. Results of an autopsy showed Javeion had drowned. The boy is survived by a twin brother.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, News
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