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Green Articles

05/07/2008

Where does your storm water fee go in Mecklenburg County?
If you live in Mecklenburg County, you pay a storm water service fee every month.

05/08/2008

Duke Energy gets flak on Cliffside, environment
Shareholders pleaded with Duke Energy's chief executive to re-evaluate the company's environmental initiatives at the utility's annual meeting in Charlotte.

05/05/2008

Duke Energy plans to use river water for new nuclear plant
Water might be the biggest obstacle to Duke Energy's plan to build a new nuclear power plant in South Carolina. The facility near Gaffney would be Duke's first nuclear power plant in 20 years and its first not built on a large reservoir.

05/02/2008

Blog: When going green goes wrong
I was about two miles away from work when my bike seat exploded.

Duke Energy profit up 30 pct in 1Q
Duke Energy Corp., one of the nation's largest electric power companies, said Friday its first-quarter profit rose 30 percent, boosted by the company's three largest business units.

05/01/2008

Yard waste and protecting creeks, streams
The warmer weather is enticing many of us to spending time outdoors. There are some things you need to know when it comes to mowing your grass.

04/24/2008

Earth Day Charlotte: Showing people how to make a difference
Earth day Charlotte turned out to be quite a success at Ray’s Splash Planet last Saturday. There were games, crafts and plenty of giveaways.

04/10/2008 Interactive Map | Who can water lawns, and when? Between the recent rains and residents' conservation areas, the drought is improving and some areas are easing water restrictions.

04/17/2008

Taking care of our earth and how you can help
Earth day is April 22. It is a day designated to bring awareness to environmental issues. There are several events taking place this weekend.

Some NC farmers appear unaffected by frost
Some farmers in western North Carolina said they don't expect extensive damage from the frost and freezing temperatures that moved into the region this week.

Park rangers crackdown on plant poachers
Rangers on the Blue Ridge Parkway hope the arrest of 10 people accused of harvesting galax leaves will help deter the illegal practice.

Catawba named most endangered US river 12:12 PM
A river that flows between North and South Carolina has been named the most endangered waterway in the nation by an environmental advocacy group that considers it threatened by potential overuse and the region's persistent drought.

04/14/2008

Once-a-week watering now allowed in Rock Hill 10:26 PM [MAP]
The Rock Hill City Council voted unanimously Monday night to allow residents to water their lawns once a week.

04/10/2008

Drought improves, but Mecklenburg still extreme
Roughly 30 percent of North Carolina is no longer in a drought, according to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Agriculture Cost Share Program helps farms keep water clean
The oldest farm in Gaston County is implementing some of the newest technology on their farm.

Lincoln other counties in lifting lawn watering ban
Following in the footsteps of several surrounding counties, Lincoln County officials revised their water restrictions today to allow lawn watering beginning this weekend.

04/09/2008

Union County lifts lawn watering ban 9:53 AM
Union County water customers can begin watering their lawns again this weekend.

Navy will prepare impact statements for five landing field sites
The fight over the Navy's desire to build a practice landing field for its jet fighters will continue.

04/08/2008

Concord, Kannapolis modify water restrictions
Restrictions on watering using a spring-loaded nozzle have been revised to allow limited use.

04/03/2008

Picking up after your pet is 'Water Wise'
If you’re a dog owner, you know very well your furry friend needs a lot of love. But there is some work involved that could directly affect the water we drink.

Hickory, Catawba River communities modify water restrictions
Residents in Hickory and other communities along the Catawba River can now water their lawns once a week.

Duke Energy customers to see higher bills amid record coal prices
Duke Energy customers in North Carolina will likely see their power bills increase this fall as the utility faces soaring coal prices.

04/02/2008

Starting Saturday, you can water your lawn again
It has rained enough, and people have conserved enough, that utilities officials are easing water restrictions by allowing residents to water their lawns once a week.

New power plant aims to improve air quality 7:15 AM
A $2.4 billion construction project in this community 60 miles west of Charlotte has drawn both criticism and praise for its potential impact on Mecklenburg County’s air quality.

Protesters chain themselves to construction equipment, arrested
Duke Energy said Wednesday it will help state regulators defend an air quality permit that allows the utility to build a coal-fired power generator in western North Carolina.

03/27/2008

Storm water fees: Where does your money go?
Most cities and towns in the Carolinas have a set amount of money they allocate to fulfill their storm water requirement. Some of the money is funded by you, the taxpayer.

03/26/2008

Duke Energy has tour of new, controversial coal-fired power plant
Duke Energy Corp. provided tours Tuesday at the construction site of a coal-fired power plant in western North Carolina that environmental groups are trying to keep from coming online.

03/20/2008

Protecting your home from floods
The National Flood Insurance Program offers communities flood insurance and flood protection.

03/19/2008

Environmental group says Duke Energy's air quality permit illegal
An environmental group plans to appeal a state air quality permit granting Duke Energy permission to build a coal-fired power generator in western North Carolina.

03/18/2008

Poll: NC expects water conservation to be a long-term issue
More than two-thirds of North Carolina residents expect water conservation to stick around long term as the state recovers from its worst drought on record.

03/24/2008

International study of coral ecosystem centered at UNC-Wilmington
The University of North Carolina at Wilmington is at the center of an international program studying cold-water coral ecosystems in the Atlantic Ocean.

03/18/2008

Family agrees to $7 million deal to protect wilderness area
A family has agreed to sell almost 650 acres of pristine wilderness in Caldwell County to the public.

03/13/2008

Storm water fees: Where does the money go?
Many cities in the Carolinas have chosen a storm water fee to pay for all or part of the storm water program.

04/02/2008

Protesters chain themselves to construction equipment, arrested
Eight protesters have been arrested after chaining themselves to construction equipment at Duke Energy's coal-fired power plant in western North Carolina.

03/12/2008

State reverses policy to allow recycled water for flowers, trees
State officials now say it's OK to water plants with used water.

03/11/2008

No sign of scale back on Charlotte water restrictions
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities Department officials say there are no immediate plans to ease water restrictions in the county.

Greensboro relaxes water restrictions
Officials in Greensboro are relaxing some restrictions on water use due to improving supply conditions.

03/06/2008

You may have to pay more for water
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities customers were asked to conserve water. They did and now might have to pay the price for making that sacrifice. CMUD wants a rate hike.

Cracking down on erosion control
Sediment is the No. 1 pollutant in our rivers and streams. Gaston County Natural Resource Department is cracking down on construction sites to make sure mud and dirt don’t taint our water quality.

Environmental attorney: Duke Energy's air permit illegal
Environmental groups are fighting an air quality permit awarded to Duke Energy for a 2.4 billion dollar coal-fired power plant in southern Rutherford County.

03/05/2008

Grand Canyon scrub
An unusual experiment is taking place today at the Grand Canyon.

Environmentalists seek to halt nuclear reactor financing
An environmental group has formally asked South Carolina regulators to halt Duke Energy's request to include planning costs for two new nuclear reactors in its rates.

03/04/2008

Corps cuts water flow from lake to help Raleigh
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to cut nearly in half the amount of water that flows out of drought-ravaged Falls Lake to extend water supplies for the city of Raleigh.

02/29/2008 Good streams and bad streams in Indian Trail The town of Indian Trail is growing fast. In fact, the actual population has doubled since the year 2000. This growth and development has town officials concerned about water quality in Indian Trail.

02/28/2008

Recent rainfall eases drought across NC
Drought observers say a portion of North Carolina has pulled out of drought conditions.

Environmentalists look at mercury emissions to derail coal plants
Duke Energy's newest coal-fired power generator will pump more than five million tons of carbon dioxide into the North Carolina sky every year.

02/22/2008 New requirements if you plan to develop in one local town If you plan on developing in the town of Harrisburg, there are new requirements. A storm water ordinance went into effect on Jan. 1. This is federally and state mandated and it’s up to the individual towns to pay for it.

02/19/2008

SC program tries to raise bait shrimp year-round
A program in the Lowcountry is trying to raise shrimp for fishermen to use as bait year-round.

02/14/2008

How growth can affect our water quality
There’s no denying it -- the Carolinas are growing fast. With the rapid growth, many trees and grassy lots are being replaced with buildings and parking lots. This could pose a problem with the quality of our water.

02/13/2008

Pesticide Board to reconsider Ag-Mart charges
The Pesticide Board has decided to reconsider 271 serious charges against Ag-Mart, the tomato grower accused of illegally forcing workers to stay in fields freshly sprayed with chemicals.

02/12/2008

N.C. State seeks partners for research hub to study plug-in cars
North Carolina State University plans to launch a research hub for the development of plug-in cars, a project that has attracted the interest of both energy and automobile companies.

02/07/2008

All about watersheds and how you can protect them
Water is one of our most important natural resources and we are all responsible for protecting it. This year our Water Wise program is expanding to Gaston County, the city of Concord and several other towns along with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services.

01/29/2008

8 attorneys general sign letter against SC power plant permit
Attorneys general from eight states have signed a letter asking South Carolina environmental officials to deny a permit to build a coal-fired power plant.

01/23/2008

Drought could force nuclear plants to shut down
Nuclear reactors across the Southeast could be forced to throttle back or temporarily shut down later this year because drought is drying up the rivers and lakes that supply power plants with the awesome amounts of cooling water they need to operate.

Environmental, anti-poverty groups question use of $300,000 state fund
Environmental groups and poverty-prevention advocates are criticizing a $740,000 project to run a two-mile waterline to four homes in western North Carolina.

Navy won't build practice landing field near wildlife reserve
The Navy says it won't build a practice jet landing field near a wildlife reserve in eastern North Carolina.

01/21/2008

10 times as many birds counted in SC wilderness area
Volunteers counted nearly 400,000 birds in a protected wilderness area along South Carolina's coast -- ten times more than the previous year.

01/18/2008

NC awards contract to replace pontoon bridge at Sunset Beach
The state has awarded a $31 million contract to replace the single-lane, wooden pontoon bridge at Sunset Beach.

01/09/2008

NC biofuels center begins work to develop fuel alternatives
The Biofuels Center of North Carolina has started working toward new sources of energy that can be grown in the state.

01/08/2008

Landscapers pushing for changes to water rules
Employees of one industry in particular say they feel targeted by drought-imposed water restrictions and they’re now calling for more equal treatment.

Pesticide Board to review Ag-Mart fine
A tomato grower accused of exposing North Carolina employees to toxic pesticides may not have to pay what was the largest fine in state history.

01/04/2008

Some NC shorebird nesting on the decline
Provisional tallies for 2007 show that nesting for some shorebirds is down significantly from the last count in 2004.

01/02/2008

State to lift burning ban, hoping to fight fire with fire 10:57 AM
State officials plan to temporarily lift the ban on open burning to allow people time to burn off forest debris that can fuel wildfires.

State to lift burning ban, hoping to fight fire with fire
State officials plan to temporarily lift the ban on open burning to allow people time to burn off forest debris that can fuel wildfires.

Recent rain helped drought-parched N.C., but water levels remain far below average
Rainfall in late-December helped Asheville narrowly avoid its driest year on record and increased water supplies in Raleigh and Durham by several weeks.

01/01/2008

Businesses serving alcohol must recycle
Under a new state law, all businesses in North Carolina that serve alcohol must recycle their glass bottles and aluminum cans.

12/27/2007

Protecting the Catawba watershed
The majority of water we use every day comes from rivers. The Catawba River alone provides clean water to more than a million people.

Deadline for federal agricultural aid extended to include drought 9:07 AM
A deadline for federal disaster relief assistance has been extended, giving North Carolina farmers hit hard by the drought more time to apply for aid.

12/26/2007

Drought's future: Will N.C. get rations or rain?
The record-setting drought that has forced the governor to plead for conservation, homeowners to shelve their lawn sprinklers and farmers to drain their ponds for irrigation is only forecast to get worse in the new year.

12/20/2007

Rain barrels being sold at reduced rate
Mandatory water restrictions are in place for nearly every county in our region. But there is a way to water your plants without ever turning on the faucet. It’s a water conserving measure that can make us all ‘water wise.’

12/14/2007

NC leaders seek long-term solutions to growing water problem
Unless North Carolina seeks new water conservation methods, the ongoing population boom will make it difficult for state officials to prevent long-term water shortages, experts told hundreds of state and local leaders Friday.

Ideas for Christmas gifts that are 'green'
How not to throw out the environment with all that wrapping paper: We’ve got ideas for green giving.

Water conservation problems extend beyond drought
North Carolina leaders are looking at technology for ways to use the state's water more efficiently.

12/13/2007

Water Wise: Clearing the leaves
After a beautiful show of fall colors, all of the leaves are on the ground. This pile up could cause problems once we get a heavy rain.

12/10/2007

Red flag fire alert lifted for SC
The South Carolina Forestry Commission has lifted a red flag fire alert that recommended no burning outside.

Progress Energy plans to cut 50,000 trees in NC, SC
Progress Energy plans to cut about 50,000 trees in the path of transmission lines in North Carolina and South Carolina.

12/06/2007

Water Wise: Reaching out to schools
Storm Water Services reaches out to schools many times during the school year. Their goal is to make people aware of what happens to rain water once it touches the ground.

12/05/2007

Families hit hard by tougher water restrictions
With only about 100 days worth of water supply left, everyone in Monroe will pay the price beginning Monday. A 15 percent water rate increase will kick in to encourage further conservation.

Intense fire season expected in South Carolina
Forestry officials say a red flag alert continues for all of South Carolina because of wildfire danger.

Project attempts to put value on NC farmland
What's farmland really worth? Ask a farmer raising a crop, and you'll get one answer.

RTI to get up to $2 million for biofuels research and development
North Carolina Senators Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr have announced that Research Triangle Institute will receive an investment of up to $2 million from the Department of Energy.

12/03/2007

State agency criticized for not publicizing contamination
Some environmentalists are criticizing state regulators for failing to publicly reveal potentially toxic contamination at an electronic parts plant in Myrtle Beach.

11/29/2007

Where your storm water fees go
If you live in Mecklenburg County, you pay a storm water service fee along with your water bill every month.

11/21/2007

Holiday grease and keeping our water ways clean
As you prepare your holiday meal, there is another holiday tradition that isn’t very pleasant. We’re talking about holiday grease.

11/29/2007

State could allow building closer to the water on N.C.'s Atlantic coast
Towns along the North Carolina coast would be able to build closer to the ocean under a policy shift under consideration by state regulators.

11/27/2007

S.C. homeowners receive grants to make homes hurricane resistant
The South Carolina Insurance Department has awarded $70,000 in grants to help coastal residents make their homes more hurricane resistant.

11/26/2007

NC tobacco farms struggle to profit
Burley tobacco farmers in North Carolina's mountain counties have had a rough year. The costs of fuel, fertilizer and labor are high, while the selling price of burley is lower than what it once was.

11/21/2007

Company wants to import Italian nuclear waste through Charleston port
A company that stores radioactive nuclear waste wants to ship 20,000 tons of the dangerous material from overseas through ports in Charleston and New Orleans.

11/15/2007

Water Wise: History of our waterways
Our creeks and streams have a long history in Mecklenburg County. Early settlers built their homes along 3,000 miles of streams and 190 miles of shoreline.

Environmentalists seek more protection for loggerhead turtles
Two environmental groups are asking the Interior Department to declare loggerhead sea turtles that inhabit the Atlantic coast officially endangered, maintaining that tens of thousands of the turtles are killed annually by commercial fishing and because of coastal development.

11/12/2007

SC lawmaker says state not using purchased land
Pickens Senator Larry Martin says the state needs to make better use of the 33,000 acres of pristine wilderness it bought in the northwestern corner of the state ten years ago.

11/09/2007

McMaster: Officials should have released Chem-Nuclear information
South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster says the state's environmental agency should have publicly released records about pollution levels at a nuclear waste landfill in Barnwell County.

Santee Cooper defends proposed coal-burning power plant
Santee Cooper's president and CEO told a crowd of hundreds at a public meeting that the utility wants to make sure a coal-burning power plant it is trying to build in Florence County will provide affordable power while being environmentally responsible.

11/08/2007

WaterWise: Be aware of floodplains
o you live in a floodplain? If you don’t know, now is the time to get educated.

11/06/2007

Landfill closing prompts federal changes
The federal agency that oversees low-level radioactive waste says it will update its long-term storage guidelines and require tighter security.

11/02/2007

SC mayors urge presidential candidates to address climate change
A group of more than 100 mayors in South Carolina has released an open letter to presidential candidates urging them to make climate change solutions a priority in their campaigns.

Nuclear landfill in S.C. is closing; 36 states must store their own
Power plants, hospitals, universities and companies in 36 states are looking for a new dumping option, with the imminent closure of a low-level radioactive waste landfill in South Carolina.

11/01/2007

Water Wise: Sediment control
Sediment is one of the top pollutants found in a creek or lake. There is erosion control on every construction site in the city of Charlotte.

Possible pollution crimes at wastewater plant
The FBI and the federal EPA are investigating possible pollution crimes committed by Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities, WCNC has learned. Federal agents have already interviewed current and former workers at the Carolinas’ largest wastewater treatment plant on McAlpine Creek.

10/31/2007

School district producing bio-diesel fuel
Gaston County Schools are expanding their production of bio-diesel, with the hopes of saving the district thousands of dollars.

Duke Energy: Drought crisis possible in March
Duke Energy, for the first time, put a date Tuesday on when Catawba River communities could begin to gasp for water: mid-March.

10/26/2007

SC, Georgia to make plans to keep salt water out of aquifer
Officials from South Carolina and Georgia say they have an agreement to try to keep salt water out of an underground source of water for both states.

10/25/2007

Most don't know where water goes
When it rains, do you know where the water goes once it hits the ground? We talked with many people in Mecklenburg County and some of you didn’t know where the water goes.

Easley urges federal panel to seek grants for drought-hit farms
Gov. Mike Easley is making a personal appeal to Congress to send money to drought-ravaged farms in North Carolina.

10/23/2007

A garden filled with rocks
When you think of a southern landscape, you probably think of a green lawn, or a brown one, given the water restrictions. There is one man in Huntersville who is bringing a part of Arizona to the South.

With NC facing ongoing drought, water saving tips offered
Water supplies are reaching critically low levels in more North Carolina communities, and Gov. Mike Easley has asked residents to cut their water use in half between now and Halloween to see how they can cope with the shortage.

10/18/2007

Water Wise | Where does the water go?
Water is one of our most precious resources. We use it for practically everything, every single day.

10/17/2007

Panel makes recommendations to fight global warming
A panel advising the state Legislature on ways to develop a global warming plan to reduce greenhouse gases has made more than 50 recommendations.

10/11/2007

Eight tons of trash collected from our local creeks
Imagine seeing 16,000 pounds of trash. That’s exactly what volunteers pulled out of our local creeks and streams at last weekend’s Big Sweep cleanup.

10/09/2007

$2.8 million war against worms declared
Charlotte city leaders are taking the fight against cankerworms to the air.

10/08/2007

Ways you can save water
How much water are you using? You may be surprised just how much everyday activities can have an impact.

10/05/2007

Water restrictions tightened for much of York Co.
The City of Rock Hill announced Friday they are imposing stage 3 drought restrictions on all citizens who get their water from the city's public utility.

10/04/2007

Disposing of your yard waste
Yard work is something many of us do on the weekends. Did you know there is a proper way to take care of our yard waste?

09/27/2007

WaterWise: Help clean up our creeks
If you’re looking for a way to give back to our community, the Big Sweep Cleanup may be for you.

10/04/2007

Drought conditions worsen across N.C.
More than half of North Carolina is now is the most severe category of drought.

10/03/2007

Boat ramps closing because of low lake levels
Lake water levels continue to decline, and with no significant widespread rain in sight, like 2-4 inches, more ramp closings will occur this week.

09/28/2007

Dry weather brings fire danger
The fire danger in North Carolina is at a 10 year high, according to the State Forestry Service. Crews there say they can’t remember the last time a drought persisted this long throughout the summer.

09/26/2007

Saving your lawn and sticking to the rules
The North Carolina cooperative extension service held a demonstration Wednesday to show homeowners how they can rejuvenate their lawns and still follow the watering rules.

No more water for thirsty yards
As of midnight Wednesday sprinklers need to be turned off or you could face a fine for keeping a green lawn.

09/25/2007

Watering facts | Q&A on the rules
With stage three mandatory water restrictions in place, some Mecklenburg County residents have raised questions.

No lawn watering under new restrictions Nearly a month after ordering mandatory restrictions on outdoor watering, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities Department said Monday it was banning all watering of lawns. Raw video of CMUD news conference

09/24/2007

Green MBAs seek to balance profit and planet
Business professor John Stayton remembers when eyes would start rolling at the idea of a "green MBA."

NC companies call for national carbon emissions policy
Some banking and utility executives in North Carolina say a strong national policy on carbon emissions would reduce financial risk and spur investment in response to global climate change.

09/20/2007

Group, landowners agree to protect 3,000 acres in Henderson Co.
Two landowners and a conservation group have agreed to protect more than 3,000 acres of forested land in southwest Henderson County at a cost of about $10 million.

09/19/2007

Storm Water Services needs your help
Did you know Charlotte Mecklenburg Storm Water Services responds to hundreds of calls a year? That’s because of people like you who keep their eyes and ears out for any problems in our creeks and streams.

09/14/2007

Easley says USDA declares disaster area in NC counties
Farmers across North Carolina are now eligible for low-interest emergency loans from the federal government to help them recover from sizable crop losses sustained in the state's ongoing drought, Gov. Mike Easley said Friday.

09/13/2007

Reducing storm water runoff
It’s no secret, Mecklenburg County is growing fast. With all the construction comes a lot more storm water runoff. Right now, towns in Mecklenburg County are enforcing a new ordinance to make sure our water stays clean.

09/12/2007

Yards can still bloom with drought-resistant plants
Many of you are probably thinking about planting for the fall. With the drought here in the Carolinas, it’s a good idea to think about planting flowers and shrubs that don’t require a lot of water.

09/10/2007

Biologists say minnow rebounding in Deep River
Biologists say an endangered minnow is rebounding in central North Carolina, thanks largely to demolition of an old dam.

09/07/2007

Conservationists call for investigation into nuclear waste leak
Some conservation groups and lawmakers called Thursday for an investigation of South Carolina's environmental agency because of concerns that information about a nuclear waste leak at a Barnwell County facility was not properly disclosed.

09/06/2007

Lawsuits filed over proposed bio-diesel plant
A bio-diesel battle now includes allegations that Iredell County and County Commissioners violated the law and their own policies.

Chemical leak kills thousands of fish in creek
Last weekend’s chemical leak into Little Sugar Creek killed 10,000-15,000 fish.