Election 2008: What’s At Stake?

Reporting from a new generation of journalists. A News21 blog.

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King Coal and the Mother Teresa of rural Appalachia

July 10th, 2008 · 1 Comment

(Photos by Frank Carlson)
Wildflowers grow along state route TN-90 in the Cumberland Mountains near the community of Eagan, Tenn.
By Frank Carlson, Medill
So we’re halfway through our week of reporting on the history and impact of the Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation’s largest public utility and arguably the original “green collar” developer. And one theme that […]

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Coal Mining Runs Deep in Appalachia, But it Only Scratches the Surface of These Mountains

July 6th, 2008 · No Comments

(Photo by Phil Taylor)
Former coal miner Pete Ramey, 79, grew up in the mountains along Virginia’s border with Kentucky. He said mountain-top removal mining has become so prevalent that his scenery changes daily.
By Phil Taylor, Medill
When you turn on your computer, do you know where the electricity lighting your screen originates? What about the […]

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The Idea of Nuclear Power? Just Peachy in This Part of South Carolina

July 3rd, 2008 · No Comments

(Photo by Phil Taylor)Gaffney, South Carolina’s one-million gallon “Peachoid.”
Did you know Cherokee County, S.C., once produced more peaches than the entire state of Georgia? A million-gallon, peach-shaped water tower built along I-85 was my first hint while driving into Gaffney, where Duke Energy plans to build a 2,234 megawatt nuclear power plant.

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Duke Energy Feud Pits Conservationists Against Carolina Coal

July 1st, 2008 · 1 Comment

Duke Energy’s Lake Wylie Hydro Station, straddling York County, South Carolina and Mecklenburg, North Carolina, generates 60 megawatts of power, enough to power almost 10,000 homes. North Carolina passed an energy mandate last year requiring utilities like Duke to have 12.5 percent of its energy come from renewable sources and energy efficiency by 2021.
By Phil […]

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