Environment

Hurricane season begins in the eastern Pacific

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 1:33pm

Hurricane season begins in the eastern Pacific

While hurricane season is still two weeks away in the Atlantic, Wednesday is the start of hurricane season in the eastern Pacific.

On average, more storms will form in the Pacific basin, but rarely make landfall. The ocean waters off the west coast are far to cold to sustain a hurricane, which requires sea surface temperatures of at least 80 degrees.

Additionally, the trade winds usually carry the storms westward, away from the coast. Rarely, storms can recurve back toward the coastline and make landfall along Baja California. Occasionally, they can bring heavy rain to southern California, but by then have lost their tropical characteristics.

Forecasters expect an average to below-normal year in terms of cyclone activity in the eastern Pacific.

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Kings Mountain to use smart meter tech on natural gas, electric, and water meters

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Thursday, March 21st, 2013, 2:54pm

Kings Mountain to use smart meter tech on natural gas, electric, and water meters

Electric smart meters are utilized in many utilities across America, but few utilities have applied smart meter technology to water and natural gas along with electric under one communications technology. The City of Kings Mountain recently awarded a contract to Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to assist City staff in delivering a smart grid infrastructure solution for electric, water, and natural gas to a selected pilot area.

The pilot area consists of 1,200 meter applications.

“We are the first municipal utility in the Carolinas to utilize smart meter technology on natural gas, electric and water meters,” said Kings Mountain Mayor, Rick Murphrey. “Smart meter technology will help us continue to maintain some of the lowest utility rates in the Carolinas.

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AAA Carolinas hosts annual Great Fall Battery Roundup

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Monday, October 15th, 2012, 2:07pm

AAA Carolinas hosts annual Great Fall Battery Roundup

AAA Carolinas will host its annual Great Fall Battery Roundup, a used battery collection and recycling program, as part of Car Care Month in October. It is available to the general public, as well as AAA members.

North Carolina motorists can receive $5 for every auto or marine battery they bring in to any one of 24 AAA Car Care Centers, or 34 Approved Auto Repair shops from October 16 through the 31.

“Improperly disposed batteries do serious harm to our environment,” said David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas. “This program is a win-win for everyone including motorists, AAA, battery recycle centers and the environment at large.”

AAA encourages residents to help fight stream and ground pollution and raise awareness by recycling batteries at one of 58 convenient North Carolina locations.

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Smoke from wildfire no longer producing elevated levels of air pollution

Submitted by Chris Dyches

Monday, June 25th, 2012, 11:27am

NORTH CAROLINA - State air quality officials say smoke from a wildfire in eastern North Carolina is no longer generating elevated concentrations of air pollution, thanks to firefighting efforts and heavy rainfall during the weekend.

For the past seven days, monitors had detected elevated concentrations of particle pollution in parts of eastern North Carolina due to smoke from the Dad Fire, which began June 17 in the Croatan National Forest. Smoke from wildfires can create extremely small particles and liquid droplets that can be harmful to breathe and contribute to haze and other air quality problems.

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One of North Carolina’s largest solar farms debuts in Kings Mountain

Submitted by Chris Dyches

Thursday, January 12th, 2012, 4:17pm

KINGS MOUNTAIN - A total of 22,000 new solar panels in Cleveland County are pointed at the sun, generating enough power for 616 average-sized homes in the region.

The facility, named Kings Mountain Solar, was developed by Chapel Hill-based Strata Solar. It joins a growing list of projects in North Carolina, and is one of the largest in the state. Under a 20-year contract, Duke Energy Carolinas will purchase all of the energy and renewable energy credits generated from the site.

“North Carolina is a leader in solar energy, and Kings Mountain Solar demonstrates our company’s commitment to using solar energy to meet general renewable energy compliance requirements,” said Brett Carter, president, Duke Energy North Carolina. “We remain focused on delivering cost-effective renewable energy to our customers.”

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Carolina Thread Trail Open House

Submitted by Nick Needham on Monday, December 19th, 6:26 pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - The City of Shelby is providing its residents and the public with an informal opportunity to learn about and provide input on how it can best implement the Carolina Thread Trail (The Thread) along the First Broad River.

A community open house will be held on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012, from 4:30-7 p.m. in the Aquatics Conference Room at Shelby City Park. The park is located at 850 West Sumter St. in Shelby.

With funding from the Carolina Thread Trail, the city is contracting with LandDesign, Inc. to conduct a trail corridor study. The study will help determine the best trail alignment along the First Broad River corridor from the historic railroad trestle off of West Grover St.

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