By Roby Brock
The CEO of the parent company for Entergy Arkansas, Wayne Leonard, says critics of a federal energy bill “will beg for Waxman-Markey” if the Environmental Protection Agency follows through with its recent pronouncement to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
Waxman-Markey is the controversial federal energy bill that has passed the House of Representatives but is pending in the U.S. Senate. The bill would structure a new direction in the nation’s energy policy through standards and penalties aimed at reducing man-made pollution and encouraging the use of renewable energy.
On Monday, the EPA issued a final ruling that greenhouse gases are dangerous to human health and the environment. The finding could pave the way for agency regulation of carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles, power plants, factories, refineries and other sources.
“Now we have the EPA breathing down everybody’s neck, and I don’t know anybody who thinks ‘command-and-control’ by the EPA is the right way to do this,” said Leonard.
Hewlett-Packard moves in
Hewlett-Packard officially moved in to its $30 million, 153,000 square-foot facility in Conway on Friday. The tech giant will initially employ 1,200 white-collar workers at the customer service and sales center. In June 2008, H-P announced it would locate the center in Conway.
Georgia Pacific closing Fordyce plant
Georgia Pacific is closing its Fordyce plywood plant permanently due to “the construction industry’s poor performance.” The company announced a temporary layoff of approximately 300 workers at the plant in late October.
While the plant shutdown in Fordyce is permanent, G-P officials are hoping that as many as one-third of the 340 workers at the plant will apply for jobs at a line at an existing plywood mill in Crossett that the company is re-starting.
Wal-Mart filing notes more stores overall, but closings in Japan
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. filed its quarterly SEC 10-Q report this week. The filing noted:
—Wal-Mart has 716 more stores as of Oct. 31 than it did a year ago.
—The world’s largest retailer has 8,222 stores, of which 3,704 are in the U.S.
—International stores account for 3,913 outlets.
—Sam’s Club accounts for 605 stores.
Wal-Mart also disclosed that its troubled Japanese division, Seiyu, closed or will close 23 stores and dispose of excess properties.
Whirlpool may add 400 jobs in Fort Smith
As many as 400 Whirlpool jobs may be returning to the company’s Fort Smith refrigerator manufacturing plant.
“Fort Smith leaders have told employees that they are evaluating the possibility of adding a shift of production in January. However, no decision has been made yet,” Jill Saletta, director of external communications for Whirlpool, noted in an e-mail. “I can tell you that if the added shift comes to pass, it would likely mean we would recall approximately 400 employees from layoff.”
Whirlpool recalled 150 workers in October to support increased production in Fort Smith.
PSC postpones White Bluff hearing on environmental concerns
Because of issues raised by various federal agencies, the Arkansas Public Service Commission has suspended proceedings that had been underway regarding installation of “scrubbers” at Entergy Arkansas’ White Bluff plant near Redfield.
The PSC granted a motion on Friday, December 4th to suspend the White Bluff ratemaking hearing slated for March 8, 2010.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have filed letters with Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality raising concerns about issuing a draft air permit for installation of sulfur dioxide scrubbers and nitrogen oxide controls at White Bluff Plant.
Entergy said the White Bluff plant will continue normal operations as requirements and timelines are revisited.
Lottery sales surpass $100 MILLION
Arkansas’ lottery sales surpassed the $100 million mark on Monday, according to state lottery officials.
Ticket sales have been taking place since the start-up of the lottery on September 28, 2009. Lottery sales have been averaging $1.4 million per day.
More than $62 million has been paid out in prizes. Approximately 25 percent of ticket sales will be earmarked for college scholarship funding.
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Roby Brock, a freelance journalist based in Little Rock, writes weekly for the Arkansas News Bureau. His weekly television program airs at 10 p.m. Sundays in Central and Northwest Arkansas. His e-mail address is roby@talkbusiness.net; his Web site address is www.talkbusiness.net.
