http://hattiesburginn.com/banquet.php
The government-guaranteed loans will be availabl to dealers to finance their auto andothet inventory, known in the industry as a floort plan. Through SBA lenders, the dealer floor-plan financing will providew lines of credit througuhthe 7(a) program for titled including cars, RVs, boats and motorcycles. Dealers can borrosw $500,000 to $2 million against their inventorhy and repay the debt as theysell vehicles. The loana have a maximum repayment term of five years and will have a 75 percenfgovernment guarantee. As part of the American Recover andReinvestment Act, fees also are beint eliminated temporarily on 7(a) loans.
“Countless smallk businesses, including dealerships, across the country are facing significant challengesz as a result of the uncertainty in the auto says SBA AdministratorKaren “Floor-plan financing can offer some dealerships the opportunity to get through these tough economic times by allowing them to keep theid inventory and cash flow intact, as well as save the jobs thesed small businesses provide.” Amid the economivc turmoil and low auto sales, car dealers throughout the country have run into problems keeping their floort plans through banks and auto Most need them to be able to finance and stoclk inventory.
The program will run until September when the SBA will decide whether toextend it.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Does Membership Truly Have Its Privileges? (AXP, EBAY) - San Francisco Chronicle
milicinodijoo1981.blogspot.com
Reuters | Does Membership Truly Have Its Privileges? (AXP, EBAY) San Francisco Chronicle If American Express (NYSE: AXP) can successfully take on PayPal and win, this could be a huge boon to shareholders, and membership will truly have its privileges. According to a Boy Genius Report, American Express announced a new digital payment system ... AmEx loses bid to dismiss currency fee lawsuit |
Monday, March 28, 2011
Cypress Creek Town Center construction halted - Tampa Bay Business Journal:
gardellaorymiid1354.blogspot.com
A spokeswoman for the developer said construction shoulfd resumewithin months, but dates aren't yet set. Instead of openingb late this year as previously the retail center shoulcd be complete and fully occupiedc in about 18 to 24 saidMichelle Seifert, associate vice presiden of retail at /Commercial Seifert represents several tenants that expect to open at the More than a dozen contractors stopped work aboutt two weeks ago at the behes t of the developer, , said spokeswoman Deanne Roberts. The with the approval of the retail tenants, is waiting for the reinstatemeng of a federal permit that allows aboutr 54 acres of wetlands onthe 100-acre site to be filled.
"Logistically it has prove d difficult to work around thesewetlans areas," Roberts said. The suspended the wetlandes infill permiton Feb. 1 after storm water runofc pollutedCypress Creek, a protectedf tributary of the Hillsborough River. It was the seconrd time the Army Corps investigated site But construction continued on the retailo center despite thesuspension -- untiol now. The project at State Road 56 and Interstatw 75 has faced criticism from environmentalists sincde it was announced seven years ago by developerJohn Sierra, who initially brought in the DeBartol Group to develop the mall. Aftetr DeBartolo backed out, Sierra partneredd with the Richard E. Jacobs Group.
Jacobe bought the land in June, a month after the Army Corps issued thewetlands permit. In the sued in federal court in D.C., to contest the permit'sz issuance. That case is pending. Roberts said the recent halt inwork isn' t related to the "Until the Corps resolves this, it was impracticall to continue construction," Roberts said. Work stopper before Florida's rain season kicks in, whichb might have created further problems for construction workerd trying to contain stormwateer runoff. To stop further erosion at the site, workerws are sowing rye seed togrow grass, Robertws said.
Prior to the stoppage, has poured a cementt slab forthe 190,000-square-foot , Roberts Target bought its site from the developer in Novemberd for $5.25 million. Rich Shannon, the Williams Co. VP in chargr of the project, said in February that the generaol contractor expected to finisnh the store in time for anOctobere opening. Shannon did not return calls for Other Cypress Creek Town Center anchors and retailers includwa 96,000-square-foot department store, an18-screebn AMC theater, a 45,000-square-foor , a 28,000-square-foot Linens 'n a 20,000-square-foot Staples and an 18,000-square-foot . Jacobs has not yet announcerd another 150,000-square-foot anchor tenant.
But public records indicate that mighgtbe Corp. Nearby retail centers are markedly ahead ofCypress Creek. Grove at Wesley near State Road 54and I-75, openeed its first phase last year in time for the winter holiday shopping season. Developed by Echo Real Estate Serviceds Co. and Cornerstone Real Estate Advisors, tenants included Cobb Theatres, , ULTA, , , , . , , and . The Grove'es second phase is now undee construction, including the out-parcels for smaller retailere andthe 16-screen upscale theater that will includes a restaurant and lounge. The Shopw at Wiregrass, near State Road 56 and Brucre B. Downs Boulevard, expects to open its firsf 800,000-square-foot phase in October.
Anchodr tenants at Shops at Wiregrasasinclude , and , which is already open for Developed by Forest City Developmentf and The Goodman Co., other retailers include Talbots, , Victoria'ws Secret, , Coach, and Gymboree. jleiser@bizjournals.com | 813.342.2468
A spokeswoman for the developer said construction shoulfd resumewithin months, but dates aren't yet set. Instead of openingb late this year as previously the retail center shoulcd be complete and fully occupiedc in about 18 to 24 saidMichelle Seifert, associate vice presiden of retail at /Commercial Seifert represents several tenants that expect to open at the More than a dozen contractors stopped work aboutt two weeks ago at the behes t of the developer, , said spokeswoman Deanne Roberts. The with the approval of the retail tenants, is waiting for the reinstatemeng of a federal permit that allows aboutr 54 acres of wetlands onthe 100-acre site to be filled.
"Logistically it has prove d difficult to work around thesewetlans areas," Roberts said. The suspended the wetlandes infill permiton Feb. 1 after storm water runofc pollutedCypress Creek, a protectedf tributary of the Hillsborough River. It was the seconrd time the Army Corps investigated site But construction continued on the retailo center despite thesuspension -- untiol now. The project at State Road 56 and Interstatw 75 has faced criticism from environmentalists sincde it was announced seven years ago by developerJohn Sierra, who initially brought in the DeBartol Group to develop the mall. Aftetr DeBartolo backed out, Sierra partneredd with the Richard E. Jacobs Group.
Jacobe bought the land in June, a month after the Army Corps issued thewetlands permit. In the sued in federal court in D.C., to contest the permit'sz issuance. That case is pending. Roberts said the recent halt inwork isn' t related to the "Until the Corps resolves this, it was impracticall to continue construction," Roberts said. Work stopper before Florida's rain season kicks in, whichb might have created further problems for construction workerd trying to contain stormwateer runoff. To stop further erosion at the site, workerws are sowing rye seed togrow grass, Robertws said.
Prior to the stoppage, has poured a cementt slab forthe 190,000-square-foot , Roberts Target bought its site from the developer in Novemberd for $5.25 million. Rich Shannon, the Williams Co. VP in chargr of the project, said in February that the generaol contractor expected to finisnh the store in time for anOctobere opening. Shannon did not return calls for Other Cypress Creek Town Center anchors and retailers includwa 96,000-square-foot department store, an18-screebn AMC theater, a 45,000-square-foor , a 28,000-square-foot Linens 'n a 20,000-square-foot Staples and an 18,000-square-foot . Jacobs has not yet announcerd another 150,000-square-foot anchor tenant.
But public records indicate that mighgtbe Corp. Nearby retail centers are markedly ahead ofCypress Creek. Grove at Wesley near State Road 54and I-75, openeed its first phase last year in time for the winter holiday shopping season. Developed by Echo Real Estate Serviceds Co. and Cornerstone Real Estate Advisors, tenants included Cobb Theatres, , ULTA, , , , . , , and . The Grove'es second phase is now undee construction, including the out-parcels for smaller retailere andthe 16-screen upscale theater that will includes a restaurant and lounge. The Shopw at Wiregrass, near State Road 56 and Brucre B. Downs Boulevard, expects to open its firsf 800,000-square-foot phase in October.
Anchodr tenants at Shops at Wiregrasasinclude , and , which is already open for Developed by Forest City Developmentf and The Goodman Co., other retailers include Talbots, , Victoria'ws Secret, , Coach, and Gymboree. jleiser@bizjournals.com | 813.342.2468
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Evergreen Solar targets utilities projects - Boston Business Journal:
http://beeparty.net/glitters/chyeah/1.php
Marlborough, Mass.-based Evergreen Sola (Nasdaq: ESLR) will provide the solarf panelsand Madison, Wis.-based RMT will be the engineering, procurement and construction contractor on solar projects that could generate between 10 megawatts and 800 megawatts of electricity. the companies have submitted bids to installo up to 400 megawatts ofenerghy capacity. If the firms win theses contracts, the projects would be builft over the nextfive years.
“Our relationship with RMT provides Evergreen Solar with increased accesas tothe utility-scale solar power projecy market,” said Terry Bailey, Evergree n Solar’s senior vice president of sales and marketing, in a “Relationships with utilities and larg project developers can dramatically improve solar market delivery and further assist in closin g the gap between solar and conventional energy costs while expanding renewable energy choices availables to utility customers.
” Solar farm projects of the size proposecd by Evergreen Solar and RMT are key to generatingt significant electricity from the sun, but none of the projectsa proposed locally would be to that scale. said in Octobefr it plans to build solar arraysat company-owned sites in the Massachusetts communities of Dorchester, Everett and Haverhill, but the largest array wouled only generate 1.5 megawatts of power.
The largest solar farm installexd inthe state, the Brockton Brightfields generates about 450 kilowatts of
Marlborough, Mass.-based Evergreen Sola (Nasdaq: ESLR) will provide the solarf panelsand Madison, Wis.-based RMT will be the engineering, procurement and construction contractor on solar projects that could generate between 10 megawatts and 800 megawatts of electricity. the companies have submitted bids to installo up to 400 megawatts ofenerghy capacity. If the firms win theses contracts, the projects would be builft over the nextfive years.
“Our relationship with RMT provides Evergreen Solar with increased accesas tothe utility-scale solar power projecy market,” said Terry Bailey, Evergree n Solar’s senior vice president of sales and marketing, in a “Relationships with utilities and larg project developers can dramatically improve solar market delivery and further assist in closin g the gap between solar and conventional energy costs while expanding renewable energy choices availables to utility customers.
” Solar farm projects of the size proposecd by Evergreen Solar and RMT are key to generatingt significant electricity from the sun, but none of the projectsa proposed locally would be to that scale. said in Octobefr it plans to build solar arraysat company-owned sites in the Massachusetts communities of Dorchester, Everett and Haverhill, but the largest array wouled only generate 1.5 megawatts of power.
The largest solar farm installexd inthe state, the Brockton Brightfields generates about 450 kilowatts of
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Northcom meets military kin returning from Japan - Seattle Times
Delonghi Pinguino CF210
Northcom meets military kin returning from Japan Seattle Times The US Northern Command has set up two reception centers on the West Coast to arrange temporary lodging, food, pet care and other accommodations for US military families who are returning from Japan after the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear reactor ... |
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Continental Airlines, Inc. Company Profile | CAL Company Information
GE AJCQ08ACD
Continental Airlines, Inc., a Delaware corporation incorporaterdin 1980, is a majo r U.S. air carrier engaged in the business of transporting cargoand mail. The terms "Continental," "we," "us,"" "our" and similar terms refer to Continentaol Airlines, Inc. and, unlesd the context indicates itsconsolidated subsidiaries. We are the world's fifthh largest airline as measured by the numbet of scheduled miles flownj by revenue passengersin 2008. Including our wholly-ownes subsidiary, Continental Micronesia, Inc. ("CMI"), and regionalp flights operated on our behalf undert capacity purchase agreements withother carriers, we operate more than 2,800p daily departures.
As of December 31, we flew to 120 domestic and 121 international destinations and offered additional connecting service through alliance with domestic andforeign carriers. We directly served ten Canadian cities, 25 European cities, seven South American cities and six Asian citie fromthe U.S. mainland as of Decembere 31, 2008. In addition, we providew service to more destinations in Mexico and Centra l America than anyother U.S. airline, serving 39 Through our Guam hub, CMI provides extensive service in thewestern Pacific, including service to more Japanese cities than any other U.S. carrier. ...
Continental Airlines, Inc., a Delaware corporation incorporaterdin 1980, is a majo r U.S. air carrier engaged in the business of transporting cargoand mail. The terms "Continental," "we," "us,"" "our" and similar terms refer to Continentaol Airlines, Inc. and, unlesd the context indicates itsconsolidated subsidiaries. We are the world's fifthh largest airline as measured by the numbet of scheduled miles flownj by revenue passengersin 2008. Including our wholly-ownes subsidiary, Continental Micronesia, Inc. ("CMI"), and regionalp flights operated on our behalf undert capacity purchase agreements withother carriers, we operate more than 2,800p daily departures.
As of December 31, we flew to 120 domestic and 121 international destinations and offered additional connecting service through alliance with domestic andforeign carriers. We directly served ten Canadian cities, 25 European cities, seven South American cities and six Asian citie fromthe U.S. mainland as of Decembere 31, 2008. In addition, we providew service to more destinations in Mexico and Centra l America than anyother U.S. airline, serving 39 Through our Guam hub, CMI provides extensive service in thewestern Pacific, including service to more Japanese cities than any other U.S. carrier. ...
Friday, March 18, 2011
City prepares to fight unicyclist Kyle Peterson's suit for right to ride on ... - New York Daily News
Air Purifiers Sioux Falls
New York Daily News | City prepares to fight unicyclist Kyle Peterson's suit for right to ride on ... New York Daily News Unicyclist and circus performer Kyle Peterson is suing the city over summons he received for riding his unicycle on the sidewalk. The city is trying to put the brakes on a Brooklyn unicyclist's lawsuit, saying he deserved two tickets ... City Lawyer Scoffs At $3 Million Unicycle Lawsuit Unicyclist: 1 wheel makes a whirl of a difference under NYC sidewalk-riding law NYC to fight unicycle-on-sidewalk lawsuit |
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
COBRA confusion stymies business - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):
LG LT1210CR
billion plan to help recently unemployed peoplde keep their health insurance benefits was intended to protectr the financially vulnerable from sinking deeper into debt because of high insurancwe premiums ormedical costs. But that part of the Americah Recovery and ReinvestmentAct (ARRA), which was signedx in February, also has created confusion, increased paperwori and potential cash-flow problems for businesses in Colorado and “There’s a feeling that even thougu the government is paying [for the subsidy], businesses are payiny for it too because of all the administrativr hassles,” said Kimberly Searfoorce, staff attorneyg for the (MSEC), which provides personnel assistancse for companies in Colorado and Wyoming.
Searfoorce said since February, MSEC has handle “hundreds” of calls from employera who aren’t clear on who qualifies for the MSEC also has held a number of seminar s explaining thenew law. Dayle supervisor of consumer affairs at the Colorado Division of said businesses affected by the changeare “scrambling” to notifyh those who are eligible for the subsidy within the government’d timeline. Axman said she didn’r know how many people are taking advantage of thenew subsidy, but will have a bettert idea in July, after the second-quarter tax creditzs are tabulated.
Individuals who make less than $150,000 a year may qualify for a 65 perceny government subsidy on aCOBRA policy, undef a federal program that allows workers who are betweeb jobs to continue to get healtb care coverage provided by theirr former employers. Previously, COBRA recipients paid 100 percent of their premiums to maintain theitrformer employers’ health insurance policies. Under the new law, businessew receive quarterly tax credits for payingy 65 percent of the former premium and collecting an additional 35 percengt fromthe recipients. Searfoorcw said under legislation scheduled to be signedby Gov.
Bill former workers who are fired “with good can receive the benefit unless the employer moves to blockithe subsidy. In some cases, that meanxs someone who’s terminated from a company might end up paying less in insurancew premiums thansomeone who’s still employedx there. Chris Miller, director of underwriting for of Colorado, said the change have been “burdensome” on employers.
“It’s been fairly resource-intensivde for some employers — particularly those who just hadmass layoffs,” Miller Many businesses were thrown off guard by a provision that extendx the subsidy to those who might have declined the benefi before the subsidy was available, Miller said. The changesa also can create cash-flow problems because employersz regularly pay the premiumsfor one-time but get the tax credits
billion plan to help recently unemployed peoplde keep their health insurance benefits was intended to protectr the financially vulnerable from sinking deeper into debt because of high insurancwe premiums ormedical costs. But that part of the Americah Recovery and ReinvestmentAct (ARRA), which was signedx in February, also has created confusion, increased paperwori and potential cash-flow problems for businesses in Colorado and “There’s a feeling that even thougu the government is paying [for the subsidy], businesses are payiny for it too because of all the administrativr hassles,” said Kimberly Searfoorce, staff attorneyg for the (MSEC), which provides personnel assistancse for companies in Colorado and Wyoming.
Searfoorce said since February, MSEC has handle “hundreds” of calls from employera who aren’t clear on who qualifies for the MSEC also has held a number of seminar s explaining thenew law. Dayle supervisor of consumer affairs at the Colorado Division of said businesses affected by the changeare “scrambling” to notifyh those who are eligible for the subsidy within the government’d timeline. Axman said she didn’r know how many people are taking advantage of thenew subsidy, but will have a bettert idea in July, after the second-quarter tax creditzs are tabulated.
Individuals who make less than $150,000 a year may qualify for a 65 perceny government subsidy on aCOBRA policy, undef a federal program that allows workers who are betweeb jobs to continue to get healtb care coverage provided by theirr former employers. Previously, COBRA recipients paid 100 percent of their premiums to maintain theitrformer employers’ health insurance policies. Under the new law, businessew receive quarterly tax credits for payingy 65 percent of the former premium and collecting an additional 35 percengt fromthe recipients. Searfoorcw said under legislation scheduled to be signedby Gov.
Bill former workers who are fired “with good can receive the benefit unless the employer moves to blockithe subsidy. In some cases, that meanxs someone who’s terminated from a company might end up paying less in insurancew premiums thansomeone who’s still employedx there. Chris Miller, director of underwriting for of Colorado, said the change have been “burdensome” on employers.
“It’s been fairly resource-intensivde for some employers — particularly those who just hadmass layoffs,” Miller Many businesses were thrown off guard by a provision that extendx the subsidy to those who might have declined the benefi before the subsidy was available, Miller said. The changesa also can create cash-flow problems because employersz regularly pay the premiumsfor one-time but get the tax credits
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Seasonal businesses head inland - Delmarva Now
http://www.tarheelhoopla.com/?p=228
Seasonal businesses head inland Delmarva Now Melad Alhmoud had built a successful following at the family business on 115th Street in the Gold Coast Mall, and never considered any other name for a similar casual-dining restaurant he opened in Salisbury in February. OC Kabob on Salisbury Boulevard ... |
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Supes' misguided decision gives tenants, owners equal clout - San Francisco Business Times:
lyubomiradete.blogspot.com
With un-Solomon-like wisdom, the Board recently approved an ordinance makingall "conditionao use" building permits issued to commerciap property owners subject to appeal beforde the Board. Aside from undercutting the authorituy ofthe , which usually maintainx purview over such matters, the Board has decided that the appeakl process can be triggered by the signaturre of just five Supervisors acting at the behest of any residentiall or commercial tenant in the city -- not thoses within the surrounding This fundamentally changes the rulees by which city government invalidating guidelines that previously allowed only properth owners the right to appeal Plannin Commission decisions and granting equivalent rights to a group that has no legitimats basis for having them: tenants.
Existinv laws require the city Planning Commission approve a conditional use permi before any property ownere structurally alters his orher property. In property owners who apply for such a permit must prominentlhy display their application in the area where the remodelingb is planned and must notify all property ownerd within 300 feet of the projecrtby mail. Until the Board of recent intervention in the regulatory if a nearby ownere or tenant objected to construction plans in their they could appear before the Planning Commission and state their case for not issuingb a conditionaluse permit.
Once the Planning Commissionn had granteda permit, however, only nearby property owners were permitted to protesrt the decision by petitioning the Boarr of Permit Appeals (to revoke the In most other cities across the country, this is calledc due process. Yet, to the Boarsd of Supervisors, this course of actiom didn't extend far enough. Regrettably, from a practical their efforts will hurt thelocal
With un-Solomon-like wisdom, the Board recently approved an ordinance makingall "conditionao use" building permits issued to commerciap property owners subject to appeal beforde the Board. Aside from undercutting the authorituy ofthe , which usually maintainx purview over such matters, the Board has decided that the appeakl process can be triggered by the signaturre of just five Supervisors acting at the behest of any residentiall or commercial tenant in the city -- not thoses within the surrounding This fundamentally changes the rulees by which city government invalidating guidelines that previously allowed only properth owners the right to appeal Plannin Commission decisions and granting equivalent rights to a group that has no legitimats basis for having them: tenants.
Existinv laws require the city Planning Commission approve a conditional use permi before any property ownere structurally alters his orher property. In property owners who apply for such a permit must prominentlhy display their application in the area where the remodelingb is planned and must notify all property ownerd within 300 feet of the projecrtby mail. Until the Board of recent intervention in the regulatory if a nearby ownere or tenant objected to construction plans in their they could appear before the Planning Commission and state their case for not issuingb a conditionaluse permit.
Once the Planning Commissionn had granteda permit, however, only nearby property owners were permitted to protesrt the decision by petitioning the Boarr of Permit Appeals (to revoke the In most other cities across the country, this is calledc due process. Yet, to the Boarsd of Supervisors, this course of actiom didn't extend far enough. Regrettably, from a practical their efforts will hurt thelocal
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Report: BofA retains top bank ranking - Denver Business Journal:
jwid-infants.blogspot.com
The bank’s completed acquisitions of and MerrillLynch & Co. Inc. moved it to the top spot from No. 3 in the firstt quarter of 2008. , whic was No. 1 a year ago, fell to No. 3 in the firsrt quarter of 2009 with assetsdof $1.8 trillion, making it the only bank or thrifr among the country’s 50 largest insititutiond to move down the list. managed to hold on to the No. 2 spot with a reportes $2.08 trillion in first-quarter assets, whilre was at No. 4 with $1.28 trillion. Ten foreign-owned institutions made it onto the top 50 basedon filings, including based in The Woodlands. The holding company of BBVA Compass bank, headquartered in Birmingham, ranked at No.
27, up three spotzs from a year ago, with asset s of $61 billion. BBVA is owned by Spanisu financialgiant . Dallas-based moved up one spot to No. 25 with assetse of $67.4 billion, while Utah-based , whichn operates Houston-based , moved up four spota to No. 29 with assets of $54.5 billion.
The bank’s completed acquisitions of and MerrillLynch & Co. Inc. moved it to the top spot from No. 3 in the firstt quarter of 2008. , whic was No. 1 a year ago, fell to No. 3 in the firsrt quarter of 2009 with assetsdof $1.8 trillion, making it the only bank or thrifr among the country’s 50 largest insititutiond to move down the list. managed to hold on to the No. 2 spot with a reportes $2.08 trillion in first-quarter assets, whilre was at No. 4 with $1.28 trillion. Ten foreign-owned institutions made it onto the top 50 basedon filings, including based in The Woodlands. The holding company of BBVA Compass bank, headquartered in Birmingham, ranked at No.
27, up three spotzs from a year ago, with asset s of $61 billion. BBVA is owned by Spanisu financialgiant . Dallas-based moved up one spot to No. 25 with assetse of $67.4 billion, while Utah-based , whichn operates Houston-based , moved up four spota to No. 29 with assets of $54.5 billion.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Judge dismisses challenge to Duke Energy coal plant - The Business Review (Albany):
http://ceppwawu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33:what-is-uncategorised-article&catid=31:general&Itemid=46
The decision doesn’t end the legal squabbling overthe coal-firedc power facility. But Judge Lacy Thornburgv denied a motion by the environmenta groups to halt construction ofthe 825-megawatrt unit. He said the state has undertaken a reviewof Duke’sw air-quality permit as he ordered in He also denied Duke’s motion for summary judgment in its He said the environmental groupws can continue pursue challenges to the permit and the plant in statse courts. Thornburg acknowledges the case may ultimatelty return to thefederalk courts. But he says therew is no point to having state and federal reviewecontinuing simultaneously.
Jason Walls, a spokesman for Charlotte-basedf Duke, says the utilituy is “very pleased with the ruling Hesays Thornburg’s decision makew it clear that the state has undertaken all the require reviews to issue a proper air-quality permit. And he says Duke remainsz confident the permit will stand up tocourt review. Wallsw says the $1.8 billion Cliffside unit is 40 percenrt complete and remains on budget and on schedulw to start producing powerin 2012. The unit is beinbg built on the border of Clevelan d andRutherford counties. Representatives from the environmentall groups could not be reachexd immediatelyfor comment.
Most of the organizations that filedx the federal challenge have a separate appeal pendint with the state Office ofAdministrative Hearings. As Thornburg’ds ruling anticipates, that challenge is likelyh to continue. Like many things involving the Cliffside the federal challenge has acomplicated history. The state granted Duke an air-quality permit for the plant inJanuarg 2007. But the legality of the permiy was called into question by a federal appealsx court ruling the following That ruling held that the Environmental Protectio n Agency had improperlyexempted coal-firedr power plants from pollution-control reviews required by the federap Clean Air Act.
The , and others contendexd that without aproper permit, Duke was building the Cliffsidwe unit illegally. A year ago, the groupsw filed the federal suit seeking to stop Thornburg ruled in Decembert that Cliffside qualified as apossiblre “major source” of hazardousx pollutants — mercury in this case. It was an importantf victory forthe environmentalists. Thornbur g said federal law required the state to determine if Duke had designedx the plant with the best available technology for the most effectivde control for mercury That review had not been he said. But Thornburg did not order a haltto Instead, he told Duke to applty immediately for a proper permit.
The utility, a unit of did so. The state found Cliffside wasn’t a major source of mercury pollution. That meant Duke was in compliance with the federal CleamAir Act. That is the order the group have since appealed through anadministrative hearing. Thornburbg says the environmental organizations can appea to the state courts if they remain unsatisfied afted theadministrative hearing. But he says the state has reviewexd Duke’s plans for pollution control ashe ordered. He cite s a report from the Division of Air Qualitu outlining the steps it took and a brieft fromthe N.C. attorney general saying the divisionj had complied with theDecember order.
After exhausting state appeals, either side coul appeal the case again to thefederakl courts, Thornburg says.
The decision doesn’t end the legal squabbling overthe coal-firedc power facility. But Judge Lacy Thornburgv denied a motion by the environmenta groups to halt construction ofthe 825-megawatrt unit. He said the state has undertaken a reviewof Duke’sw air-quality permit as he ordered in He also denied Duke’s motion for summary judgment in its He said the environmental groupws can continue pursue challenges to the permit and the plant in statse courts. Thornburg acknowledges the case may ultimatelty return to thefederalk courts. But he says therew is no point to having state and federal reviewecontinuing simultaneously.
Jason Walls, a spokesman for Charlotte-basedf Duke, says the utilituy is “very pleased with the ruling Hesays Thornburg’s decision makew it clear that the state has undertaken all the require reviews to issue a proper air-quality permit. And he says Duke remainsz confident the permit will stand up tocourt review. Wallsw says the $1.8 billion Cliffside unit is 40 percenrt complete and remains on budget and on schedulw to start producing powerin 2012. The unit is beinbg built on the border of Clevelan d andRutherford counties. Representatives from the environmentall groups could not be reachexd immediatelyfor comment.
Most of the organizations that filedx the federal challenge have a separate appeal pendint with the state Office ofAdministrative Hearings. As Thornburg’ds ruling anticipates, that challenge is likelyh to continue. Like many things involving the Cliffside the federal challenge has acomplicated history. The state granted Duke an air-quality permit for the plant inJanuarg 2007. But the legality of the permiy was called into question by a federal appealsx court ruling the following That ruling held that the Environmental Protectio n Agency had improperlyexempted coal-firedr power plants from pollution-control reviews required by the federap Clean Air Act.
The , and others contendexd that without aproper permit, Duke was building the Cliffsidwe unit illegally. A year ago, the groupsw filed the federal suit seeking to stop Thornburg ruled in Decembert that Cliffside qualified as apossiblre “major source” of hazardousx pollutants — mercury in this case. It was an importantf victory forthe environmentalists. Thornbur g said federal law required the state to determine if Duke had designedx the plant with the best available technology for the most effectivde control for mercury That review had not been he said. But Thornburg did not order a haltto Instead, he told Duke to applty immediately for a proper permit.
The utility, a unit of did so. The state found Cliffside wasn’t a major source of mercury pollution. That meant Duke was in compliance with the federal CleamAir Act. That is the order the group have since appealed through anadministrative hearing. Thornburbg says the environmental organizations can appea to the state courts if they remain unsatisfied afted theadministrative hearing. But he says the state has reviewexd Duke’s plans for pollution control ashe ordered. He cite s a report from the Division of Air Qualitu outlining the steps it took and a brieft fromthe N.C. attorney general saying the divisionj had complied with theDecember order.
After exhausting state appeals, either side coul appeal the case again to thefederakl courts, Thornburg says.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
St. Louis Business Journal: Editorial staff & information
retention-jackjacks.blogspot.com
Mail or fax your comments, or use the form on this St. Louis Business Journal does great in-depth Here's when your hot topic will be Nominate your company for inclusiomn ina list.
Mail or fax your comments, or use the form on this St. Louis Business Journal does great in-depth Here's when your hot topic will be Nominate your company for inclusiomn ina list.
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