On Aug. 12 the Seven Lakes Kiwanis Club was treated to a presentation by three representatives from Progress Energy -- Andy Honeycutt, community relations manager, Kim Crawford, communications specialist from the Harris Nuclear Plant, and Gary Andrews, specialist, research energy and efficiency.

The three brought club members up-to-date on the world of electricity generation and transmission. Progress Energy celebrated its 100th birthday in July and is still working hard to produce and transport electricity to its customers in the most efficient ways possible.

Andrews commented on several programs aimed at residential conservation of energy, including the offering of monetary incentives to customers who meet requirements established to conserve electrical energy.

Crawford addressed current means of power generation and what the future holds in this critical area of supplying power to all of America in the years to come, especially in view of the concern about the future of oil supplies. Although she foresees coal-fired generation plants to carry the load for the immediate future, the long-term future will be in the hands of alternative energy sources, especially nuclear power. Progress Energy has applied for the construction of two new nuclear plants. The approvals for these plants take approximately three years to be obtained. The plants are planned for the Harris area, which can handle up to four nuclear facilities. There is only one there now. There is also an ongoing program to address the challenge of what to do with spent fuel rods, including reconstitution, a process not yet in operation in the U.S.

The Seven Lakes Kiwanis meets every Tuesday at noon at the Seven Lakes CC. Visitors are always welcome.