Virginia's Public Square
Virginia's Public Square
One way to store a significant amount of potential hydroelectric energy is to have one large body of water located relatively near, but as high above as possible, a second body of water. Projects in which both reservoirs are artificial are referred to as closed-loop systems, which are economical because they flatten out load variations on the power grid, permitting thermal power stations such as coal-fired and nuclear power plants to continuously operate at peak efficiency.
Multiple reports are claiming that “explosive devices” have been sent to the residences of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama Wednesday morning. While the packages were addressed to both former government officials, they were intercepted by the Secret Service early this morning.
Reports of an additional suspicious package sent to the White House have been unconfirmed.
In a statement released by the Secret Service, “The packages were immediately identified during routine mail screening procedures as potential explosive devices and were appropriately handled as such. Both packages were intercepted prior to being delivered to their intended location. The protectees did not receive the packages nor were they at risk of receiving them.”
“The Secret Service has initiated a full scope criminal investigation that will leverage all available federal, state, and local resources to determine the source of the packages and identify those responsible,” the statement added.
Furthermore, CNN’s New York City headquarters has also been evacuated after a similar situation involving a potential explosive device. Reportedly, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) has been called to the Time Warner Center in midtown Manhattan to investigate the situation as alarms were going off in the building. It is not immediately clear if the package was an explosive, or whether it was connected to the packages addressed to the Clintons, Obama, and potentially the White House.
In a report from CNBC, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the Trump Administration condemns the “terrorizing acts” against Obama, the Clintons, and “other public figures.”
“We condemn the attempted violent attacks recently made against President Obama, President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and other public figures. These terrorizing acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The United States Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies are investigating and will take all appropriate actions to protect anyone threatened by these cowards,” a statement read.
The incidents Wednesday morning follow an explosive device sent to the home of billionaire Democratic mega-donor George Soros earlier this week.
After some of the best economic indicators since the Great Recession of 2008, Virginia’s unemployment rate dropped to 2.9 percent in September, with job gains in every single metropolitan area.
Environmental regulators have approved engineering plans for Richmond-based Dominion Energy’s Atlantic Coast Pipeline in a move that means the project has the state’s permission to begin construction.
“This deprived Virginia of a high-ranking member of Congress, who was in line to sit on the House Armed Services Committee, to represent the Norfolk region that relies heavily on federal military presence to support its local economy,” House GOP lawyers wrote referring to the court-appointed “special master” that was used for redistricting in 2016 – who is now charged with redrawing the Commonwealth’s legislative districts.
Less than three weeks before Election Day, Vice President Mike Pence will appear at a rally and headline a fundraising event for Fourth Congressional District Republican nominee Ryan McAdams in Richmond, Virginia, along with former Governor Bob McDonnell.
Dominion Energy has announced that it will file paperwork to renew its operating licenses for its two Surry County, Virginia, nuclear power stations, the first in the Commonwealth to seek a second license renewal with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) beyond the original 40-year license term that was granted in the early 1970s.
The power station operates two nuclear units capable of producing clean electricity for approximately 419,000 homes in Virginia. Under its current licenses, Surry Units “1” and “2” can continue to generate electricity through 2032 and 2033, respectively. With the renewal, the 1,676 net megawatt units may operate until 2052 and 2053, individually.
“Our application to renew Surry Power Station’s licenses for another 20-year period is good news for our customers, the regional economy and the environment,” said Dominion Energy’s Chief Nuclear Officer Dan Stoddard in a news release. “Our customers will benefit from continuing to receive safe, reliable, affordable, and clean electricity from the station through 2053.
Stoddard added, “Renewing the operation of Surry also positions Virginia for economic growth and will help the Commonwealth remain a leader in the production of clean energy among other states in the mid-Atlantic and South. It supports more than 900 high-paying jobs at the station and produces additional economic and tax benefits.”
Earlier this year, Dominion Energy announced that it also will file a similar application to renew the licenses of the two North Anna Power Station units in Louisa County in 2020. The Surry and North Anna generators currently produce 31 percent of the electricity sent to the company’s 2.5 million customers, combined.
In May of last year, the NRC approved construction of a third nuclear reactor at North Anna which would allow for even more safe, reliable, affordable, and clean energy for Dominion’s customers.
As much as $4 billion over the next decade could be spent on the Surry-North Anna relicensing program, which has bipartisan support in the General Assembly.
This year’s rising insurance rates have proved to be a challenge for Virginians as year-over-year increases were compacted by a majority of localities throughout the Commonwealth having only one provider.
As the U.S. jobless rate remains at a half-century low at 3.7 percent, the total number of job openings – 7,136,000 – dominates the actual number of people still looking for a job – 6,230,000.
“The President is very much aware of the realities presented by our national debt,” said Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney. “America’s booming economy will create increased government revenues – an important step toward long-term fiscal sustainability. But this fiscal picture is a blunt warning to Congress of the dire consequences of irresponsible and unnecessary spending.”