Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Keely Brewer

'One down, and more to go' as polluter closes in South Memphis

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Mon, 6 May 2024 18:17:40 -0500

South Memphis residents were celebrating Tuesday as Sterilization Services of Tennessee left its home of nearly 50 years.

Data centers will gobble more energy. Powering them can be a problem

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Sun, 5 May 2024 04:00:02 -0500

As more data centers are built in the U.S., they’re consuming more energy. And in Shelby County, RWE’s Graceland Solar project unwittingly became a case study for how new facilities might be powered.

Despite county vote, Millington-area solar farm will move forward

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 05:51:38 -0500

The developers and Shelby County reached an out-of-court settlement to allow the 1,500-acre solar farm to be built.

Keep the power on or keep it green? The paradox of tree trimming

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 08:39:04 -0500

Foliage has historically caused about 40% of power outages in Memphis, but thick canopies shelter residents from the sun and harsh winds, meaning tree trimming is a balancing act for MLGW.

North Memphis tree project withdrawn for 5 years; confusion lingers

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 05:51:19 -0500

The developers shouldn’t be able to pursue any similar projects for five years, but a representative of the project said otherwise.

Industrial polluter moving out, but community still has questions

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 04:00:03 -0500

After decades of toxic emissions and nearly two years of community pressure on the company, Sterilization Services of Tennessee is leaving its South Memphis facility.

MLGW board agrees to give suburban members a vote

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 19:16:34 -0500

Since 2017, the MLGW board has allowed for two members who live outside the Memphis city limits, but they don’t get a vote. That could soon change if the City Council and residents agree.

What new limits on 'forever chemicals' mean for Memphis' drinking water

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 04:00:01 -0500

Because Tennessee has never regulated PFAS, it’s unknown how much of the forever chemicals are in Memphis’ drinking water.

More MLGW salaries, contracts will have to go before City Council

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 20:12:14 -0500

The Memphis City Council will have more direct control over Memphis Light, Gas and Water’s spending for at least six months.

Contentious North Memphis project comes to a head — again

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 09:19:45 -0500

The developers “withdrew” their application but say they only meant to postpone the vote. Council member Easter-Thomas doesn’t buy it.

EPA issues stricter rules on companies like Sterilization Services in South Memphis

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Tue, 9 Apr 2024 18:09:24 -0500

Under new federal guidelines, one Memphis company will have to slash emissions and another seems to be in the process of shutting down.

Memphis bridges designed for 'barge impact'

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 18:48:20 -0500

There are a litany of things that can cause a ship or barge to collide with a bridge, with “Mother Nature being a primary one,” according to a waterways management chief with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Decades into Velsicol cleanup, community remains skeptical

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 13:05:33 -0500

At a rare community meeting Thursday evening, tensions between about 30 community members and a couple company representatives boiled over. One message was clear: The community doesn’t trust Velsicol.

MLGW’s smart meter saga continues

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 06:13:45 -0500

Nearly a year and a half after Memphis Light, Gas and Water’s smart meters started breaking — and just as the utility thought it was almost done repairing them — another issue has arisen.

MLGW pushes back on council proposal for more say-so on contracts, salaries

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 07:00:35 -0500

Had the proposed limits been in place last year, the Memphis City Council would have needed to approve about a tenth of MLGW’s new external hires, or 23 employees.

Memphis City Council approves $200K salary for Ursula Madden, MLGW's newest VP

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 19:34:03 -0500

The former TV journalist was supposed to start work at the utility in early March, but a month-long delay by the City Council left her in limbo.

MLGW pushes back on council proposal for more say-so on contracts, salaries

Contentious North Memphis tree upcycling project scrapped

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 18:16:25 -0500

Memphis Urban Wood planned to turn a vacant 10-acre property on North Watkins Street into a facility that transforms wood waste into lumber and wood compost.

Fenced-off area of Overton Park to reopen

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 16:41:58 -0500

For decades, a dozen acres of old-growth forest have been separated from Overton Park by a chain-link fence, but the area could reconnect to the park’s existing trail system by the end of the year.

Proposed federal legislation targets TVA

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Fri, 8 Mar 2024 18:14:23 -0600

A new federal bill could require the Tennessee Valley Authority to consider more public input in its long-term planning process.

Clash about Tennessee wetlands ends with 'summer study'

kbrewer@dailymemphian.com (Keely Brewer) — Fri, 8 Mar 2024 10:31:25 -0600

A bill that would have allowed more development on certain types of Tennessee wetlands stalled Wednesday, March 6.