Group offers to-do list for cruise biz

The Preservation Society of Charleston offered its official take on the growing cruise ship industry in Charleston in a 13-page paper with a list of recommendations.

The group wants an annual limit on the number of ships calling the downtown passenger terminal and a ban of ships with more than 500 passengers. It advocates remote parking near the intersection of Interstate 26 and I-526, an advisory committee to oversee the industry and a fee of $5 or so per passenger to go toward infrastructure and tourism projects related to traffic generated by large pleasure ships.

The group also hopes to see cruise passengers routed away from historic Ansonborough and educated about the historic city they're visiting and the laws to protect and preserve it.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce recently launched an outreach effort to encourage support for bringing leisure boats to dock downtown and for redevelopment of the passenger facility at Union Pier.

A study by College of Charleston researchers found that cruises generate a $37 million ripple effect annually on the local economy.

Where are they now?

A nightly newscast in Charlotte will have a distinct Charleston favor starting today.

When Blair Miller takes over primary anchor duties at Channel 9 Eyewitness News on WSOC-TV, he will be paired with a former colleague behind the desk: Erica Bryant.

If those two names ring a bell it's because both hunted down leads and dug up scoops at Media General's WCBD-TV Channel 2 in the not-so-distant past.

Miller was a reporter and part-time anchor at the Mount Pleasant-based NBC affiliate between the late 1990s and May 2002, when his contract expired. He then went to Charlotte to become the weekend anchor at Cox Enterprises' WSOC.

Known for her medical reports, Bryant juggled similar duties at Channel 2 from about 1998 to 2004, when she, too, left for the Queen City's bigger ratings market.

They will share camera time during the 5, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts for WSOC, which is Charlotte's ABC-TV affiliate.

Robotic moves

A Daniel Island moving and storage company with more than 30 nationwide franchises has a secret business weapon: a robot.

UNITS Portable Storage, which operates its corporate headquarters on Seven Farms Drive, recently unveiled the forklift-like machine at its Charleston location. Movers use a remote control to make the robot guide the company's boxy white storage containers into place. The device is particularly helpful for maneuvering the oversize storage containers into tight quarters, such as crowded city streets, UNITS says.

The robot can handle up to 10,000 pounds.

The company says the technology doesn't exist anywhere else in the industry. Several branches have bought the robot, and the company said all locations will eventually offer the technology.

Powering down

South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. is offering tips to save energy in light of the marathon summer heat wave. At a minimum, the measures could help offset the utility's recent 2.5 percent rate increase. Cutting back on kilowatt hours used also reduces the need to build costly new power plants, which in turns drive up bills.

So what can SCE&G's 660,000 customers do to ease their financial pain as well as help the environment?

--Take a home energy audit, which makes it easy to improve a home's energy efficiency. See how much energy appliances use, and learn what measures can be taken to enhance efficiency.

--Analyze energy usage and costs on a monthly basis. Review average usage, typical energy costs and factors that may affect the power bill. The company's Energy Analyzer allows customers to review consumption history, temperature impact and typical energy costs.

--Learn how to weatherize the home. SCE&G's video clips offer information on everything from proper insulation to managing the thermostat.

--Get interactive with the utility's EnergyWise blog, a place to gain insights into energy efficiency and have specific questions answered by the company's Energy Team.

--Sign up for an in-home energy consultation. This free feature is designed for residential customers who want to be proactive in managing their energy consumption.

--Register for energy saving tips via e-mail.

--Learn how to save money by installing natural gas appliances. Customers can receive a $300 bill credit by switching to a natural gas water heater through the company's program.

Log on to www.sceg.com/myenergy for more details.

Green greens

With an assist from Moncks Corner-based Santee Cooper, golfers representing 20 nations and all 50 states will descend on Myrtle Beach this month for the 27th annual GOLF.com World Amateur Handicap Championship. As players fix on the green, the world's largest amateur golf tournament will be powered by the state-owed utility's Green Power initiative.

From Aug. 30-Sept. 3, the World Amateur Handicap Championship hosts 3,600 golfers who compete on 60 Myrtle Beach area golf courses. The tournament is open to all golfers with a handicap certified by the U.S. Golf Association and is played under USGA rules. Players are allowed to use a cart.