ProvEnergy mergers approved by Massachusetts
PROVIDENCE – Providence Energy Corporation announced that the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy had approved the merger of a subsidiary, North Attleboro Gas Company into its parent company, Providence Energy Corporation. Also approved by MBTE is a merger of ProvEnergy (Providence Energy Corporation) into Southern Union Company of Austin. Texas. James Dodge, chairman, president and chief executive officer of ProvEnergy predicted the merger would now be completed by the end of this month. ProvEnergy, a distributor and marketer of natural gas, heating oil, and petroleum products as well as a marketer of electricity and energy services. Its principal subsidiaries include ProvGas and North Attleboro Gas, Providence Energy Services, ProvEnergy Fuels and ProvEnergy Power.
DEM cuts scup limit
PROVIDENCE – The division of fish and wildlife of the Department of Environmental Management announced that it had reduced the limit for daily scup possession by each vessel from 300 pounds to 100 pounds. The limit had been raised temporarily at the end of August to permit harvest of the underutilized floating fish trap allocations by other methods. However, landing reports since then have shown unexpectedly high catch levels. As a result, DEM expects the quota for scup to be reached before the end of the allocations period and hopes the reduction in possession limits will extend the season as long as possible. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission set an annual scup allocation for Rhode Island, as well as other states. It is DEM’s job then to balance the amount permitted for harvest by commercial fishers so that it extends over the allocation season, satisfying both fishers and consumers.
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DEM also announced that it had adopted new regulations regarding the landing, shipping, and transfer and reporting of scup and was distributing these regulations to all dealers licensed by the state.
RI still at full employment, growth continues to slow
KINGSTON – Rhode Island continues at virtual full employment, according to the Jobless Improvement Index of the University of Rhode Island’s Leonard Lardaro, an economics professor at the university. The state’s jobless rate is listed at 3.9 percent in July, slightly below the national index of 4.0. This marks the 18th consecutive month that Rhode Island has maintained its level of employment considered by experts to be full employment. Still, Rhode Island’s jobless rate continues to be the highest in the New England region. Connecticut at 2.4 is lowest in the region, followed by Vermont, 2.7; Massachusetts, 2.9; New Hampshire, 3.1 and Maine, 3.4.
Meanwhile, Professor Lardaro noted that the state reflects national growth tendencies by showing a reduction in retail sales and sales of existing homes, as well as the issuance of fewer permits for new single unit homes as the third quarter begins.
Energy and water bill passed, $1 million for dredging study
WASHINGTON D.C.- Senators Jack Reed and Lincoln Chafee jointly announced that $1 million has been approved for an Environmental Impact Statement by the Army Corps of Engineers of the environmental feasibility of a dredge sediment disposal site either in Rhode Island Sound or Block Island Sound. The allocation is included in the Fiscal Year 2001 Energy and Water Appropriations bill approved by the U.S. Senate. A similar bill was passed by the House of Representatives in June, and the two bills must be reconciled in conference. A proposal to dredge the Providence River channel (last dredged nearly 30 years ago) has been on hold pending approval of a location for disposal of the dredge spoil. Rhode Island is the only southern New England state without a designated disposal site for sediment from navigational dredging projects.
Phoenix Media buys WWRX, switches format
PROVIDENCE – Phoenix Media/Communications Group announced it had completed its purchase of WWRX, 103.7 FM and is switching the station’s format from classic rock to alternative. WWRX, a 50,000 watt station, joins Phoenix Media’s FNX Radio Network, which includes stations in New London, Conn., Portland, Maine, Greater Boston and Portsmouth, N.H.
State gets $950,000 grant for school-to-work programs
WASHINGTON D.C. – The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded Rhode Island $950,000 under the department’s school-to-work program. Rhode Island is one of 10 states receiving the awards because they have had school-to-work initiatives under way for four years. Grant funds are designed to ensure that states’ school-to-work programs can be continued after their five years of federal funding ends.
The grant money is intended to finance linkage between businesses and educational organizations to help prepare disadvantaged youth for work and offer them career opportunities. Announcement of the awards was made by the office of Sen. Jack Reed.
Cox announces delay in phone installations
WEST WARWICK – Cox Communications, which is bidding to be a major player in telephone service in this state, announced that it is halting installations of new telephone service at least until October 20. The company said the demand exceeds its ability to provide the service, noting that it has been unable to get the linkage service it needs from Verizon Communications, formerly Bell Atlantic. After an intense promotion campaign and lengthy preparations, Cox offered telephone service last February.
