Officials at the formerly named Donaldson Center industrial park / airfield have secured $750,000 in federal money for Phase One of a $2 million project designed to update the field for future business.
“I’ve been talking about this for now close to 10 years”
– Peter Cevallos, airport operations manager at SCTAC
We all know it takes money to make money, and just like our neighbors on the coast have to build taller bridges and deeper trenches in the waterways (for their bigger ships), we need to ensure that our local industrial park is up to modern standards for current and foreseeable technologies.
With grand visions of a high-speed rail crossing our state to allow cheaper transport for our Atlanta and Charlotte commuters, the South East High Speed Rail (SEHSR) sounds great years down the road, but it’d be even better if we could get a smaller “pilot” project on the ground right now: commuter rail here in the Golden Strip.
Active rail lines in South Carolina
Credit: SCDOT
Which one do you think will come to the Upstate first – if ever?
Connecting Fountain Inn, Mauldin, and Simpsonville with one rail line will not only provide cheaper costs for those eager to use a commuter train, but it will also lower carbon emissions and traffic from POV’s and bring in much-needed revenue to the State over time.
It costs Fountain Inn $35,000-$40,000 a year to power the lights at their Civic Center for the Visual and Performing Arts. They could save half that with solar panels up on the roof, but so far, high installation costs have prevented them from switching to solar.
“By banding together as three cities, I think we’ll have a slightly better shot than if we were just to go at it on our own.”
– Karin Von Kaenel, the project’s coordinator.
If things go as planned, that may change soon.
The Golden Strip member cities – Fountain Inn, Mauldin and Simpsonville – have applied jointly for a “GO GREEN” energy grant – part of the federal stimulus package – that would pay for solar panels to be installed on one building in each city.
“At Michelin, we believe the electric powertrain will develop”
Credit: Michelin
At this year’s North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), Michelin detailed its view of the future of automotive transportation and the role tires will play in meeting the unique demands of more environmentally positive vehicles featuring their advanced technology.
Three important points Michelin brought up were:
- We must improve road safety
- Increase fuel efficiency and thereby reducing CO2 emissions
- We must integrate the new reality that growth markets will be in highly urbanized areas
Michelin strongly believes that their EV Concept Tire – the Michelin Active Wheel – is paving the way for Electric Vehicles around the world in one form or another. The Michelin Active Wheel features an electric drive motor, in-wheel active suspension and disc brakes and creates excellent road handling and acceleration.
One the same day that news breaks of BMW starting up Mid East exports of their SC manufactured vehicles, we also learn that Darley America, the U.S. arm of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Thoroughbred racing empire, has expanded its presence in Aiken, SC with the purchase of 360 acres in Montmorenci.
“The service is expected to load more than 5,000 vehicles annually that Hoegh previously moved across a competing South Atlantic port.”
– Jim Newsome, SPA Pres. & CEO
Of course it’s merely coincidental, but the important thing here to remember is that both bits of information could prove financially advantageous to S.C. in a big way going forward.
