http://www.msnbc.com/local/KYTV/100484.asp

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CU piles up extra tons of coal DEC. 7  Getting ready for 2000 means more than testing computers. Lots of people  and lots of businesses  are picking up extra supplies in case the Y2K glitch causes unexpected trouble. That strategy is being applied at a lot of different levels, from ordinary people to the most vital industries like electric companies.

Past KY3 Bytes and Bits reports

Its hard not to notice the big pile of coal next to Springfield City Utilities Southwest Power Plant. CU has 270,000 tons more than this time last year. One of the reasons, the main reason, behind it is Y2K concerns. We think the problems associated with getting coal here from Wyoming where its mined is low, but on the other hand you need to be ready, said CUs Bryan Feemster. If there are problems with railroads, or if the nations power grid fails, CU can still run for 115 days. Its a confidence factor, I guess, Feemster said. CU even planned for this buildup. So its no surprise and the money was already there and waiting, he said. Making sure theres enough fuel  for the body is why some people are also stocking up on groceries. With the scare out, theres going to be a need for it, said Gary Fursman, a manager at Food 4 Less. I think they are (stocking up), said Cassie Miller, a cashier at Food 4 Less. Lots of water, lots of canned food. And even though its sometimes hard to find the people who are stocking up (They wont admit it! They dont want anyone to know, Miller said.), their impact is being felt. We havent gone overboard, but weve brought in some extra trucks of vegetables, said Fursman. The basic needs like tomatoes, beans and bottled water are whats selling now - slowly. A slight increase, Fursman said. It hasnt been selling as much as wed been expecting. I trust in the Lord and hes carried me through a lot worse than that, said one shopper on Tuesday. But even as calmness and routine prevail, sales at this store are expected to pick up in the next couple of weeks. All that stocking-up is good for business for now. Everyone down the line, including trucking companies, has seen a little surge in business. Some banks are also stocking up, taking advantage of the Federal Reserves decision to print extra money before New Years. But one bank that had planned to stock more than money has actually changed its plans. Last February, managers at Great Southern Bank were planning to store enough food and water in its basement to make its headquarters building self-sufficient for several days. But managers changed those plans because their confidence has grown tremendously over the last few months. Great Southern even decided not to spend $150,000 to rent a generator. They say theyre confident CU can come back from even a total failure in 24 hours. And if it needs to do so, Great Southern can even transfer operations to a center in another part of the country. 

-- Homer Beanfang (Bats@inbellfry.com), December 08, 1999

Answers

WOW -- 270,000 tons of additional coal...they are serious...I just wish all of the utilities were this prepared.

-- snooze button (alarmclock_2000@yahoo.com), December 08, 1999.

270,000 tons. That's about 500,000,000 kilowatts or less since it is that Wyoming "dirt" and not Pennsylvania real stuff.

$150,000 to RENT a generator?!? You can BUY one heck of a generator for $150,000. That has got to include rewiring, fuel, fuel tanks, genset, etc.

-- Ken Seger (kenseger@earthlink.net), December 08, 1999.

Maybe kilowatt HOURS?

-- W (me@home.now), December 08, 1999.

OT?-Guess who owns all that "clean coal"? Raiddy, the same Raiddy that financed Bubba C., that plans to front the (new) Chinese Canal with legit. looking businesses, the same that had his puppet gobble up half of Utah where the other 50% of coal reserves lie.

Yep, Y2k's about computers alright-NOT.

-- maid upname (noid@ihope.com), December 08, 1999.