Will Atwater

1 month ago | northcarolinahealthnews.org | Will Atwater

On Dec. 2, 1970, with the stroke of a pen, President Richard Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency. By the end of that month — on Dec. 31 — he signed the landmark Clean Air Act into law. These actions reflected a growing federal recognition that clean air and water were vital to America’s health, economy and long-term prosperity. Nixon himself framed the moment as a turning point in national environmental responsibility.

1 month ago | benton.org | Will Atwater

When Hurricane Helene ripped through western North Carolina, tens of thousands of residents were left without electricity for days and even weeks. In Hot Springs, flooding forced the shutdown of the Marshall Substation. But Hot Springs was more fortunate than most. In 2023, Duke Energy had installed a microgrid of solar panels and lithium-ion batteries to restore power quickly in case of emergency. The system went live on Oct 2, only five days after the storm.

2 months ago | dailyyonder.com | Will Atwater

This story was originally published by North Carolina Health News. When Hurricane Helene ripped through western North Carolina, it downed power lines, leaving tens of thousands of residents without electricity for days, even weeks. Duke Energy reported “severe” infrastructure damage, including submerged substations, thousands of downed utility poles and fallen transmission towers. The company also noted that mudslides, flooding and blocked roads hampered efforts to quickly restore power.

2 months ago | northcarolinahealthnews.org | Will Atwater

The Town of Spruce Pine Wastewater Treatment Plant processes sewage from thousands of customers, including residents of the town and surrounding areas. Once cleaned, the water is returned to the North Toe River, which typically flows languidly westward.

2 months ago | northcarolinahealthnews.org | Will Atwater

When Hurricane Helene ripped through western North Carolina, it downed power lines, leaving tens of thousands of residents without electricity for days, even weeks. Duke Energy reported “severe” infrastructure damage, including submerged substations, thousands of downed utility poles and fallen transmission towers. The company also noted that mudslides, flooding and blocked roads hampered efforts to quickly restore power.