S.C. first in U.S. for co-op loan program | | Central Electric Power Cooperative receives USDA loan. Statewide CEO Mike Couick,Vernita Dore of USDA and Jim Lamb of Central. |
The role electric cooperatives play in rural economic development was highlighted Monday in Myrtle Beach at the S.C. Association of Community Development Corporations. Statewide CEO Mike Couick was the keynote speaker at the association's annual meeting. As part of his presentation, Couick featured a number of economic development projects where local cooperatives are working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's office of Rural Development on job-creating construction projects. To underscore those relationships, Vernita Dore, state director of USDA's Rural Development office, presented a $740,000 REDLG loan to Central Electric Power Cooperative, which will help underwrite the study of energy efficiency in 100 homes over the next 12 months. The loan is the first of its kind in the nation going strictly to study energy efficiency. Related Story:First in U.S. co-op loan program
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S.C. group fights biomass pollution The Coastal Conservation League is calling for the federal government to tighten emissions regulations for plants that burn wood to generate power. In August, a number of Eastern environmental groups, including the Coastal Conservation League, challenged the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to exempt biomass plants from tougher carbon standards for the next three years. South Carolina has 28 facilities that burn wood and at least seven more biomass facilities are proposed in the state. Related Story: S.C. group fighting biomass pollution
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Aiken helps land Bridgestone facility Aiken Electric Cooperative collaborated with state agencies and economic development groups to land the largest initial capital investment in the state's history. Bridgestone Corporation announced plans this week to put $1.5 billion into constructing a plant and expanding an existing plant at two sites in Aiken County. These new projects will add more than 850 full-time and contractor positions. The new plant will manufacture off-road radial tires. The first tire is scheduled to be produced first quarter of 2014. Bridgestone, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. Related Story: Bridgestone Americas announces new facility, expansion in Aiken County
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Helping consumers "stretch a dollar" | Mark Quinn giving energy saving tips on "Stretch a Dollar," with WIS-TV's
Dawndy Mercer. |
Statewide's Mark Quinn, former host of ETV's "The Big Picture," has returned to television, this time to promote South Carolina's electric cooperatives. Quinn appeared this week on Columbia's WIS-TV 4 p.m. newscast in a segment called "Stretch a Dollar."
Quinn talked about the impact lighting has on the average residential electric bill and answered viewers' questions through the station's website chat room. Quinn will be making regular contributions to "Stretch a Dollar," providing a wide variety of energy saving ideas. His next appearance is set for Monday.
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