Free Republic

WASHINGTON - A consortium of utilities narrowed the potential locations for what could be the first nuclear power plant built in the United States in more than three decades. The group chose sites of existing nuclear power plants in Mississippi and Alabama. The consortium emphasized that no decision had yet been made on whether to seek a license for a new plant from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The group is developing an application for advanced approval of the two sites, which would allow for quicker completion of the project if a go ahead is given. The group decided the new...

...The Kyoto idea is 10 years old now, and no better for its age. The U.S. wisely chose to forgo the pact, as the long- term costs add up to hundreds of billions a year across the world economy, not to mention untold lost economic opportunities. The energy industry has heretofore backed this U.S. decision, noting that even Kyoto's defenders have admitted the pact wouldn't slow climate change.... What's changed the industry's tune at the broadest level may be the Bush Administration's Clear Skies program, a smart pollution-reduction proposal that may pass Congress next year. That program, about to be...

The drugs now available to treat the memory and thinking problems of Alzheimer's disease have not lived up to the public's high expectations for them and offer such modest benefits on average that many doctors are unsure about whether to prescribe them. Although the drugs have their advocates, grateful for any sign of improvement, others express disappointment in light of earlier hopes that the drugs approved in the last decade would stop the disease or markedly slow it. At a meeting in late March at Johns Hopkins University, doctors and other health professionals heard Alzheimer's researchers debate the usefulness of...

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 26, 2003--Dynegy Inc. (NYSE:DYN) today announced that it is engaged in exclusive discussions with Exelon Corp. (NYSE:EXC) related to a possible sale of Illinois Power Company, Dynegy's regulated energy delivery business. Any transaction between the parties would be subject to satisfactory completion of Exelon's due diligence, negotiation of final terms and structure, negotiation and execution of definitive agreements, receipt of board of directors and required regulatory approvals and other conditions. Dynegy does not anticipate making any further announcement about this potential transaction until a definitive agreement is reached or discussions are terminated. Dynegy Inc. provides electricity, natural gas...

Some of the country's biggest corporations, concerned about their ability to recruit women and minority applicants, are supporting the University of Michigan in its court battle to preserve affirmative action in opposition to the Bush administration. Dozens of companies, including 3M, Microsoft, Bank One, Steelcase, PepsiCo and Exelon, plan to tell the Supreme Court that universities should be allowed to consider race as a factor in admissions. In the lower court cases against the university, more than 30 companies argued that diversity in college was essential because future employees need the experience of working with people from different backgrounds. Though...