Mercury study to be pared down

State health officials are poised to begin a long-awaited study of the effects of mercury pollution in South Carolina, and whether some groups of people are suffering mercury- related illnesses. Read More

S.C. has swelling carbon footprint

Carbon dioxide emissions put state in middle of energy debate

South Carolina is generating more hot air than ever, fueled largely by gases from coal-fired power plants and vehicles a Post and Courier analysis shows. Read More

Coal-fired power plant shelved

Co-op's decision to buy electricity from Duke Energy among reasons

Three years' worth of controversy surrounding Santee Cooper's planned Pee Dee coal plant all but died when the public utility's board voted to suspend the project. Read More

Study reinforces mercury pollution alarm

Contamination in Lowcountry rivers found to be among worst in nation

The Edisto River and other Lowcountry freshwater rivers have some of the worst levels of mercury contamination in fish in the country. Read More

Mercury warnings affect 28 waterways

State health officials are warning people not to eat a single bite of certain kinds of fish in 28 South Carolina waterways because of mercury and other kinds of contamination, a new roster shows. Read More

Doctors to test Pee Dee residents for mercury

A group of physicians in Florence plans to start testing Pee Dee residents today for mercury because state health officials have not launched a promised statewide effort to find out if the toxic pollutant in the state's rivers poses a health hazard. Read More

Mercury plan shot down

Appeal of emissions credit ruling rejected

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday effectively snuffed an industry-backed effort to allow the buying and selling of mercury emission credits, a plan critics derided as a multimillion-dollar giveaway to polluters. Read More

Power plant gets DHEC permit

Coal-fired facility in Florence County still faces opposition from environmental groups

Santee Cooper's proposed coal-fired power plant in Florence County will be allowed to release more than 90 pounds of poisonous mercury a year and other air pollutants under an air quality permit granted Tuesday by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control. Read More

Incinerator operator says clerical error made emissions appear higher than they are

Not so much mercury after all?

The company that operates Charleston County's trash incinerator said Monday that it's not one of the top five mercury polluters in the state. It attributed its poor ranking in the past to a typographical error made by a clerk. Read More

Young activists fired up in fight against coal

JOHNSONVILLE - Outside the high school here Tuesday night, as people gathered for a public hearing, three young women wrestled with a big black inflatable coal plant that looked similar to a jump castle - except for the words "CLEAN UP DIRTY COAL PLANTS NOW" on the side. Read More

DHEC proposes power plant mercury standard

Santee Cooper's proposed coal-fired power plant in the Pee Dee would be allowed to release about 93 pounds of mercury a year into the air, according to a new proposal by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control. The limit is 45 pounds less than DHEC's earlier standard and about 21 pounds less than what Santee Cooper said in July was technically feasible. Read More

SCE&G utility bills might go up by $13

Utility cites coal prices as it plans hike in 2 stages

Customers of South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. could see their monthly power bills rise by $13 or more by early next year. The utility, blaming rising prices for coal, is seeking to increase the fuel portion of its rates in two phases, according to a request filed with state regulators Tuesday. Read More

State plans mercury testing

Program will investigate chemical's effect on people

State health officials hope to begin a major study this fall or winter into how mercury affects South Carolinians, and whether the state has clusters of people suffering from mercury-related illnesses. So far, state officials have tested only fish for mercury contamination, often finding that certain species in the Edisto, Great Pee Dee and other rivers have such high levels that people shouldn't eat a single bite. Read More

Study points to cement plants

Findings indicate mercury pollution worse than thought

Cement factories, including one near Harleyville, are much bigger mercury polluters than previously thought - worse in some cases than coal-fired power plants, a study by two environmental groups found. Using new data collected by the Environmental Protection Agency, the analysis by Earthjustice and the Environmental Integrity Project also found "mercury accounting gaps" that raise questions about whether cement companies properly report pollutants from their plants. Read More

Utility hears from fans, foes of proposed coal-fired plant

PAMPLICO - The 100 people who met here Tuesday were equally passionate but evenly split in their opinions of a proposed coal-fired, $1.25 billion power plant on the banks of the Great Pee Dee River. Read More