Duke Energy to Seek Relicensing for 6 Nuclear Plants in Support of Carbon Goal

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McGuire Nuclear Station via Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) announced it will seek to renew the operating licenses of the 11 reactors it operates at six nuclear stations in the Carolinas for an additional 20 years.

“Our nuclear power plants have safely and reliably provided electricity to our Carolinas customers for decades,” said Preston Gillespie, Duke Energy’s chief nuclear officer. “These plants generate clean and cost-effective power, provide thousands of well-paying jobs, and produce substantial economic benefits for the Carolinas. Renewing the licenses of these plants is important for our customers, communities and environment.”

The first Duke Energy nuclear power plants will approach the end of their current operating licenses in the early 2030s. Rigorous, ongoing preventive maintenance programs across the nuclear fleet and technology upgrades and investments over the years at all stations have contributed to their continuing strong operating performance. In 2018, Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet marked its 20th consecutive year with a fleet capacity factor – a measure of reliability – greater than 90%.

The company expects to submit the license renewal application for Oconee Nuclear Station in 2021, followed by its other nuclear stations. Oconee is the company’s largest nuclear station, with three generating units that produce more than 2,500 megawatts (MW).

Critical component in reducing carbon emissions

Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet plays an important role in the company’s efforts to lower carbon emissions. In 2018, the Duke Energy nuclear fleet generated more than 72 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and avoided the release of about 54 million tons of carbon dioxide – equivalent to keeping more than 10 million passenger cars off the road. The company has set aggressive carbon reduction goals of at least 50% by 2030 and net-zero by 2050, and keeping its nuclear fleet operating is key to achieving these goals.

Significant economic benefits

Renewing the nuclear licenses will provide significant value to Duke Energy customers, as well as continue to support Carolinas communities through jobs, tax revenues and partnerships. Duke Energy employs about 5,000 workers in its nuclear group, with additional contract workers supporting refueling outages and project work.

In 2018, the company also paid more than $300 million in property and payroll taxes associated with the nuclear stations, benefiting local governments and school districts. In addition, nuclear employees support the communities where they live and work by donating time and funds through sponsorships and volunteer activities.

License renewal process

U.S. nuclear facilities are licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and were originally licensed to operate for 40 years based on economic considerations, not technology limitations. Regulations allow nuclear licensees to renew their licenses for up to 20 years at a time. All Duke Energy-operated nuclear units have received one renewed license for an additional 20 years. The process to renew licenses for a second 20 years requires a comprehensive analysis and evaluation to ensure the units can safely operate for the extended operation period. The review process begins with an acceptance review of the application once received, with a goal to complete the subsequent license renewal application review within 18 months of docketing.

Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet

Station Location Capacity
Brunswick Southport, N.C. – Brunswick County   1,870 MW
Catawba * York, S.C. – York County   2,310 MW
Harris New Hill, N.C. – Wake County      964 MW
McGuire Huntersville, N.C. – Mecklenburg County   2,316 MW
Oconee Seneca, S.C. – Oconee County   2,554 MW
Robinson Hartsville, S.C. – Darlington County      741 MW

* Catawba is jointly owned by North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number One, North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, Piedmont Municipal Power Agency and Duke Energy

Concord Airline Offering New Non-Stop Flight To Emerald Coast For $37.50

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Allegiant Air, a low-cost airline operating out of the Concord Regional Airport, recently added their first nonstop flight to Destin, Florida. To celebrate, they’re offering a limited time flight special of $37.50 for a one-way ticket (round-trip as low as $83.50).

“Allegiant is thrilled to launch the only ultra-low-cost, nonstop option to Florida’s Emerald Coast from Charlotte,” commented Drew Wells, vice president of planning and revenue for Allegiant. “We’re positive that area residents will take advantage of this convenient, nonstop service to enjoy the beautiful sugar-white sand beaches, fresh seafood and stunning golf courses that Destin and the surrounding areas have to offer.”

The new flight route will fly out of Concord twice each week, with the lowest cost flight on Sunday, and the lowest coast return flight on Thursday.

Allegiant now offers a total of 6 nonstop flight services out of the Concord Regional Airport.

Flight days, times and the lowest fares can be found at allegiant.com.

Risks of Using E-Cigs and Vape Pens

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E-smoking and vaping have been all the buzz for the last couple of years. The new way to consume nicotine has changed the tobacco and marijuana industry completely. Over 30 million people are now vaping. 

At first, many people believed that vaping or using e-cigs was a safer way to ingest nicotine, but due to several recent tragedies, this idea has changed. Many people, especially teenagers, are ending up in the hospital because of issues caused by vaping. 

We are going to go over the risks one should consider before picking up a vape pen or e-cig as an alternative to tobacco.

Risk of Stronger Addiction 

When vaping, it is possible to make these liquids super potent. It is said that some liquids are 3 to 4 times stronger than regular tobacco products. This could create a stronger addiction to a more intense product.

Another reason why it is more addictive is that the vapor does not smell like traditional smoke. Vape liquid comes in different fruity and pleasant flavors, which make the vape smoke smell more appealing, and this is why many businesses allow vaping inside their premises. 

Also, people often do not mind people vaping in their houses because it will not smell like a stale cigarette or cigar smoke. This leads to stronger addiction because one does not even have to move off the couch, out of the office, or leave the bar to vape. Even if it is illegal to use e-cigs inside a workplace, a person can often vape in the bathroom undetected. 

Risks of Health Problems

Research by the British Medical Association has shown that vaping is approximately 5% of the risk of traditional smoking. It still does carry risks, however. There have been claims that one can still suffer from various cancers, as a result of the misuse of vape pens.

Because of the lack of regulation, the potency and chemicals used to make the liquid could be dangerous. Any inhalation of chemicals runs the risk of respiratory and lung diseases, such as emphysema. These diseases can decrease someone’s quality of life substantially. 

Risk of Death 

In 2019, there has been a total of 33 deaths that are related to the use of vaping. This number is bound to continue to climb as more and more people are vaping. Of these deaths, most of them are under the age of 35. Of course, this is an insignificant number when compared to deaths from tobacco, but still a tragedy for those concerned.

Parents should be seriously concerned if their child is vaping as any use of nicotine is not desirable. It is not just liquid tobacco concentrations that are being vaped. Most of the deaths and illnesses are related to liquids containing high concentrations of synthetic THC.

The Bottom Line 

In many ways, e-cig use is better than conventional smoking, but it is not recommended and is in no way totally safe. Before considering ingesting your nicotine this way, one should think about the possible health risks. Only when industry regulation is imposed will the dangers of vaping be fully known.

Six New Ways to Make Money Online in 2020

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People have been making money through blogging, selling items online, and creating YouTube videos for more than ten years. And while many of these methods have been tested to work, they haven’t always worked for everyone.

Luckily, new opportunities to make money keep cropping up. From renting out your house on Airbnb to creating logos for websites, there are numerous ways to earn money online these days. Below are some of the new money-making opportunities every Charlottean should take advantage of in 2020. 

Sell Collectibles 

Selling collectibles is big business in the US, now more than ever. From sneakers to handbags, classic watches to music CDs, if you have items people would pay money for, sell them. Case and point; a lucky Nike sneakers’ collector sold shoes worth $200 for $13,500 last June.

The sneakers were sold on stockx.com, a site on which people can buy collectibles through a bidding system. The website collects 9.5% from each sale while the seller keeps the rest minus a 3% processing fee. StockX isn’t the only site where you can sell collectible, however.

There are dozens of sites that let you sell virtually anything online in the country. You’ve probably used Craiglist, Amazon, and eBay before. But there are also apps like Mercari and Oodle designed to help people sell personal stuff.

Online Gaming

If you are like many people, you probably learned people make money through gaming after a 16-year-old earned $3 million playing Fortnite last July. Truth be told, people have been living off online games since the mid-1990s.

How you ask. Online gambling has been legal in some parts of the world since the mid-1990s. Although only a small percentage of people play poker, slots, and blackjack games professionally, the rate represents millions of people.

Against that backdrop, you can also join a couple of online casinos and use them to play poker, blackjack, or slot machines for money. Most professionals prefer poker because it involves many skills. But if you are only interested in playing the games for fun, you can play as many casino games as possible.

Gambling aside, you can play video games for money on streaming sites like Twitch, YouTube, and even Facebook. Alternatively, you could become a professional video game competitor. And if you are skilled enough to defeat some of the best players in the world, you could turn eSports into your career. 

Sell e-Books

Electronic books are nothing new, but they are resurging on many online stores. On Amazon, for example, e-books make up one of the biggest categories on the giant shopping website. The beauty of e-books is that they are easy to write and can be exceedingly profitable if you target the right audience.

Marketing an e-Book isn’t exactly easy, however. But with some bit of research, you can learn great tips to promote your book through a personal blog or by hiring marketers. You can also use social media to promote your book.

But before you think of marketing your book, ensure you’ve done your research and written a stellar book. People prefer to buy books with helpful content. So, figure out what you are good at and how you can inform or educate people with the knowledge through an e-Book.

Get aboard the Gig Economy

Similar to e-Books, the gig economy didn’t start in 2019. It’s been developing as an industry for more than a decade. However, it’s been growing tremendously for the last couple of years. And if it continues at the same pace, half of the American people will be working online by 2025. 

Fortunately, the nascent industry provides jobs for nearly everyone. From programmers to designers, authors to marketers, there are plenty of jobs on the Internet. Better yet, you can find well-paying jobs.

On a gig-focused website Fiverr.com, designers charge up to $500 per logo. That means you only need ten orders to earn $5000 per month. On the same site, some people sell app-building services for $1000 or more. 

Become an Affiliate Marketer

At this point, affiliate marketing is also not new to many online users. But we are listing it because it’s consistently one of the best ways to make money online each year. At its core, affiliate marketing involves helping clients get new customers in exchange for commissions.

‘Amazon affiliates’ is the most popular affiliate marketing program online. Members choose the products they want to promote through their websites. Each product category comes with a different commission rate.

For example, you could choose to promote expensive furniture in exchange for a 5% commission on each sale. If you sell a couch worth $1000, you’ll receive $50. If you sell ten similar sofas, you’ll earn $500 from Amazon.

Outside of Amazon, most big online businesses have affiliate programs. Established online casinos, for example, can pay you up to 20% of the first deposit made by people you refer to them. Of course, you can also see new sites, evaluate them, and decide whether they offer better deals. Sometimes new casinos offer better value for your time than well-renowned sites.

Become an Influencer

Do you love social media? Do you have a way of making people follow you on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or Snapchat? Congratulations! You are on your way to being a social media celebrity.

Because social media celebrities aren’t very popular outside of their platforms, people know them by a unique name: influencers. That’s because they influencing other social media users is what influencers are most known for.

Luckily, brands love people with influence and will shell out millions of dollars to the most famous social media users. Soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, for example, earns up to $1 million per Instagram post. Singer Selena Gomez makes a near similar figure. 

Of course, Selena and Ronaldo are two of the world’s most famous Instagram users. But for people just starting, expect to earn $500 or less per post. With time, when you attract over 100,000 followers, you could command the upwards of $10,000 per post. 

UNCC Hero Riley Howell Immortalized By Lucasfilm As A New Jedi Warrior Character

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21-Year-Old Riley Howell, the UNCC student and life-long Star Wars fan who sacrificed his life to stop the school shooter in April, 2019, has been immortalized by Lucasfilm as an official Jedi Master and historian of the Jedi Order.

Matthew Westmoreland, Riley’s girlfriend’s brother, shared a photo of the letter Riley’s family received about one of their newest Jedi characters – “Ri-Lee Howell”;

via Matthew Westmoreland

After the newest Star Wars movie was released in theaters, it was revealed that Riley is listed in a companion book to The Rise of Skywalker as the Jedi Master and historian, “Ri-Lee Howell”.

Here is photo of the official entry of Ri-Lee in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Dictionary, a 2019 reference book written by Pablo Hidalgo:

via Matthew Westmoreland

In Westmoreland’s now viral Reddit post, he adds that:

“Riley was a massive Star Wars fan, and in the five-plus years I knew him he repeatedly surprised me with his encyclopedic knowledge of the Star Wars universe. The fact that his character is a historian who put together an incredibly important text for the Jedi religion, important enough for Rey and Luke to take with them on the Millenium Falcon, is beyond cool, and we have no words for this except:

Thank you, Lucasfilm. You made our Christmas, even though we’re finishing the most difficult year in memory for us all.”

Start The New Year On The Right Foot with Charlotte New Year’s Day 5K

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Charlotte New Year’s Day 5K and Fun Run will present the opportunity to run the LYNX rail line in University City on New Year’s Day. Participants of all ages are invited to complete their first walk or run of 2020. The inaugural event will take place at 10 a.m. on January 1, 2020 followed by a New Year’s Day brunch with pancakes, craft beer from Armored Cow Brewery, mimosas, hot cider, music and family fun.

“We are excited to bring this race and community holiday event to Charlotte,” said Darlene Heater, Executive Director of University City Partners. “Running the rail line down North Tryon Street with family and friends is a fun and healthy way to jump start the new year. Doing so while supporting local food pantries makes it all the better.”

The Charlotte New Year’s Day 5K race will begin at Old Concord Road Station and end at W.T. Harris and North Tryon Streets. At the finish line, participants and friends will enjoy food and drinks to celebrate their accomplishment and to ring in the new year. Race entry prices range from $30 to $45 for early, regular, same day and VIP registration. Registration includes a swag bag with race bib, timing chip, a long sleeve runner’s shirt, headband and other items. The Fun Run, designed for children, is $5 for entry and includes a train whistle. Participants will receive an all day pass to ride the LYNX, and can take the train to the starting line or park at Old Concord Road Station. Registration details can be found at https://www.cltnewyearsday5k.org/.

Charlotte New Year’s Day 5K is presented by Atrium Health and raises awareness about hunger challenges in Charlotte. The race proceeds will benefit Camino Center Food Pantry, Hope Street Food Pantry, and Jamil Niner Student Pantry, which collectively serve hundreds in need in University City. More information can be found on Facebook under “Charlotte New Year’s Day 5K” or directly here.

10 Biggest Christmas Eve Services Around The Charlotte Region

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Here are some of the biggest Christmas eve services we found in Charlotte (in alphabetical order):

#1 Calvary Church

Christmas Eve services: 4, 6, 8pm on Dec. 24. Child care for age 4 and under provided at 4 and 6 p.m. ASL interpretation available at 6 p.m. 5801 Pineville-Matthews Road. calvarychurch.com/ChristmasEve.

#2 Covenant Presbyterian

  • 3 p.m. Contemporary Worship – Music of Appalachia: The worship team and special guests will showcase the banjo, mandolin, cello, fiddle and upright bass.
  • 5 p.m. Traditional Candlelight Worship: This service features the Covenant Choir. A prelude begins 15 minutes before the service.

covenantpresby.org/services

#3 Elevation Church

They have locations all over Charlotte, To find a location near you, visit christmasatelevation.com

#4 Forest Hill

They have several locations around Charlotte, to find a location click here.

#5 Freedom House

Freedom House Church is going all out this year with multiple services and a live nativity scene. For more info, you can visit www.freedomhouse.cc/christmas

#6 Hickory Grove

Find out more information about their services on www.hgbc.org

#7 Lifepointe Church

They will have two services on Christmas Eve at 3pm and 5pm at their new location,
390 York Southern Road, Fort Mill, SC – for more info click here.

#8 Mecklenburg Community Church

They have 3 campuses around the Charlotte region with multiple services today. For more info visit www.mecklenburg.org/christmasatmeck

#9 Myers Park United Methodist

Services of carols and candlelight with children’s nativity tableau: 3 and 6 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Service led by youth and young adults: 4:30 p.m. in Jubilee Hall.

Candlelight communion services: 8 and 11 p.m. in the sanctuary. 1501 Queens Road. 704-376-8584; www.mpumc.org.

#10 Vision Church


Vizion Church is a vibrant church located in the heart of uptown Charlotte at 405 S Davidson St.

They have 3 services this Sunday for you to choose from: 9:30am, 11:15am or 6:00pm.

 Merry Christmas everyone!

How to Know If You’re Ready for Marriage

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There isn’t a single person in the whole world who can with ease answer that question. Nowadays, in this contemporary world, many ladies tend to get married much much later, some far in their thirties, and some even then say that they are not ready. 12 signs you should marry your boyfriend. So, when is the right moment? How will I know? Would I be able to read the “signs”? If you have a cherished and righteous person by our side, there is not much weighing to do, since life is short, and there is a vivid adventure in front of you, far after the marriage. Here are the most obvious ways to find out if you are ready to take the plunge.

You will feel that you couldn’t be with anyone else

Dating serves just as a means for finding an eligible husband or wife. Our organism is somehow predisposed to search for the special someone with whom we would be able to have children and spend the rest of our lives. Once you “feel” that you no longer have to “look” for that kind of a person, and you feel that you have him by your side, then that is the best time to get married. You won’t need to be with other people, neither to share a bed with anybody else. You will not notice other people around, and that is only because you will feel truly content.

You won’t have any doubts or reservations

If your future husband were to arrive with a stunning diamond ring, similar to the ones you can find on Jewelry Jealousy site, you will say “YES” without restrictions just because you feel safe and loved. One of the best ways to know that you are ready for marriage is to know that you don’t’ have any reservations, secretes, concerns or doubts about him or his life. Many people who consider divorce generally have had concerns before getting married. If you are having some doubts about entering a marriage with your partner, knowing that you can discuss it, sharing that you have clear desires and goals in life will put you on the right path. When he proposes, you don’t need to get married at that very moment, waiting for the right time may take even two years, which will prepare you mentally for the upcoming marital life.

You feel safe and mature

Once you have found a partner who is not jealous, grumpy, headstrong or, hopefully not, violent in any manner, you can say that you have found a safe haven. Jealousy is a vicious thing, and if you feel loved, supported and if you are treated like a princess by your partner without any obligations to “return” the favor, then you are ready for sure. With a loved person you will feel matured, confident and ready to take up any life challenges and succumb to difficult obstacles together.

You will honestly love yourself

Marriage represents a fairy-tale-like ending to a perfect love story. It is a wonderful commitment that binds two people who are happy together. If you are happy the way he makes you feel, if you are satisfied with your looks if you are happy with your partner no matter where you go or what you do, then there is no doubt that you are ready for the “big” step. When you feel happy with yourself, and love how he makes you feel, symbolizing your love in Holy matrimony is only a cherry on the top.

You won’t be able to imagine a day without him

The future is unpredictable. If you feel that you don’t see yourself with your partner in it, then you might as well end the relationship. However, whenever you think about the future and your partner is in it, then you can know that you are meant to be with each other. Plus, if you don’t dwell about the past and not reminisce of the days you used to have, but rather envision family vacation with your loved partner, then you know that it is the time for the “I do’s”.

Stable financial situation, job satisfaction, nice apartment are all only a plus, but not vital. For a healthy and stable marriage, you only need to respect and love one another.

U.S. Department of Labor Presents 2019 HIRE Vets Medallion Awards to North Carolina Employers

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Free Meals And Services in Charlotte on Veterans DayThe U.S. Department of Labor awarded The HIRE Vets Medallion to 15 job creators from North Carolina for recruiting, employing and retaining America’s veterans. The nationwide award recipients hired more than 52,000 veterans since 2017.

The awards were presented at a ceremony hosted by Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia at the Department’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. Job creators from North Carolina were recognized for their commitment to veterans and their families.

“The recipients of the 2019 HIRE Vets Medallion Awards demonstrated a commitment to hiring veterans and helping them to develop meaningful, long-term careers,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia. “From small-town businesses to Fortune 500 companies, these employers understand that veterans are uniquely qualified and dedicated employees who make significant contributions in the workplace.”

The following job creators were recognized for the Platinum Level Award:

Employer City Organization Size
Sodexo Government East Jacksonville Medium

 

The following job creators were recognized for the Gold Level Award:

Employer City Organization Size
Veterans Guardian Pinehurst Small
United Drug Supply Inc. Morrisville Small
The Independence Fund Charlotte Small
SERVPRO of West Forsyth County Winston Salem Small
SDV Command Source Inc. Winston Salem Small
On Time Plumbing & Air Corp Wilmington Small
John’s Precision Auto Body Marion Small
John Donoghue Automotive Inc. Whiteville Small
Elite Rescue Team LLC Holly Springs Small
The Steel Network Inc. Durham Medium
Orion ICS LLC Cary Medium
Eastern Carolina Vocational Center Inc. Greenville Medium
Mako Medical Laboratories Raleigh Medium
Duke Energy Business Services LLC Charlotte Large

 

In 2017, President Donald J. Trump signed the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act (HIRE Vets Act) of 2017. In 2018, the Department conducted a Program Demonstration and recognized 239 employers in anticipation of the official program’s launch in 2019.

Learn more about the HIRE Vets Medallion recipients, which include small businesses, community-based nonprofits, and national corporations.

Recipients of the 2019 HIRE Vets Medallion Awards attested to meeting the rigorous employment and veteran integration assistance criteria, including veteran hiring and retention percentages; availability of veteran-specific resources; leadership programming for veterans; dedicated human resource efforts; and/or compensation and tuition assistance programs for veterans.

Applications for the 2020 HIRE Vets Medallion Program will open to employers on January 31, 2020. For more information about the HIRE Vets Medallion, or assistance with applying, please visit www.HireVets.gov.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

Carolina Panthers Release Official 2020 Opponent List After 7th Disappointing Loss

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Even though the Carolina Panthers have one game left, their season is effectively over. After what might be the most disappointing loss of the season (6-38 loss to the 7-8 Colts), the Panthers organization just released their opponents list for next season, signaling that’s where their attention now lies.

Many players are also splitting their thoughts between their disappointment over this past season and what lies ahead for next season.

One of the most dependable and optimistic Panthers just let loose with his words over yesterday’s tragic loss.

Our multi-pro-bowl Tight End Greg Olsen exclaimed everyone has failed and that the fans deserved much better after the team’s 7th straight loss;

 

Yesterday’s loss solidified our placement as the worst team in the NFC South, meaning we will be playing similarly bad teams next seasons.

We’ll be hosting the Cardinals, the worst team in the NFC West, and we’ll be traveling to Washington to take on the worst team in the NFC East.

We’ll also be playing against several AFC West teams, including the Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos at home, and Kansas City and Los Angeles on their home turfs (we’ll be one of the first teams to play in LA’s new SoFi stadium in our away game against the Chargers).

via Panthers

What do you think our opponents for next season?