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Archive for January, 2009

TVA Ordered to Clean Up Coal Fired Power Plants

(CNN) — A federal judge has ordered the Tennessee Valley Authority to clean up four coal-fired plants that he said were engulfing parts of North Carolina with air pollution — emissions that fouled the region’s health, economy and natural resources.

Properties near ground zero of the December 22 Tennessee spill are covered in sludge.

“I’m pleased that the court ordered the TVA to clean up the air pollution coming from its plants closest to North Carolina,” said North Carolina Attorney General Ray Cooper. “This will help our air, our health, and our travel and tourism industry.”

The Tuesday ruling from U.S. District Judge Lacy Thornburg of North Carolina calls for TVA, the federally-sponsored utility, to meet specific time limits for pollution reduction at the plants closest to the state — three in eastern Tennessee and one in Alabama. Thornburg also ordered the agency to clean up faster and reduce pollution more than required under federal law.

The court concluded “that TVA’s generation of power at low cost to the consuming public has a high social utility” and says “the vast extent of the harms caused in North Carolina by the secondary pollutants emitted by these plants outweighs any utility that may exist from leaving their pollution untreated.”

Michigan Outbound Migration Hits Record Levels

Michigan saw the nation’s most outbound migration in 2008, with 67.1 percent of interstate moves heading out, according to a migration study released Wednesday.

It marked the third straight year that Michigan, hard hit by the economy and layoffs in the auto industry, has seen the highest percentage of outbound migration.

Americans continue to head west — and to the Mid-Atlantic states — while many are leaving the Great Lakes region behind.

The 2008 study looked at 198,962 interstate household moves in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia.

In fact, the District of Columbia tops the list for inbound migration, with 62.1 percent of interstate moves going in. Nevada was second (59.2 percent), followed by North Carolina (58.2 percent), Alabama (58.1 percent) and Wyoming (57.8 percent).

China Losing Appetite for U.S. Debt

China has bought more than $1 trillion in American debt, but as the global downturn has intensified, Beijing is starting to keep more of its money at home – a shift that could pose some challenges to the U.S. government in the near future but eventually may even produce salutary effects on the world economy.

At first glance, the declining Chinese appetite for U.S. debt – apparent in a series of hints from Chinese policy makers over the past two weeks, with official statistics due for release in the next few days – comes at an inopportune time. On Tuesday, the U.S. president-elect, Barack Obama, said Americans should get used to the prospect of “trillion-dollar deficits for years to come” as he seeks to finance an $800 billion economic stimulus package.

Normally, China would be the most avid taker of the debt required to pay for those deficits, mainly short-term Treasury securities. In the past five years, China has spent as much as one-seventh of its entire economic output on the purchase of foreign debt – largely U.S. Treasury bonds and American mortgage-backed securities.

Started a new job in Masontown, Pennsylvania today.

A little background information for those of you not associated with the IBEW,  (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers).

I was able to secure this job because I am a proud member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

During these times of economic upheaval and uncertainty, I’m very grateful to be a member of the IBEW.

We are the people that help keep the power flowing to this great country of ours.

I picked up a call in Masontown, PA,  IBEW Local 5 Belle Vernon’s Jurisdiction of the Pittsburgh area.

IBEW Local 5 provides Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas with the most highly trained and qualified electricians in the U.S.

I’m working at the Hatfield Powerhouse in Masontown, PA.

We are currently working for Chapman Electric on the wastewater clarification process of the scrubber project.

Casteel Electric has the the bulk of the scrubber project and have been working 5-10′s.  They are still erecting steel and duct work on their side of the job.  That would be the call to pick up in my opinion.