Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 10, 1995                   TAG: 9503100085
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN BUSINESS

CHARLESTON, S.C. - In the end, it seems South Carolina's electric rate package diverted a $500 million Nucor Corp. steel mill from Virginia, a South Carolina state official said.

``I think the Santee Cooper power rates proved the difference,'' said T. Graham Edwards, the president and chief executive officer of Santee Cooper, the state-owned electric utility. The plant's power bill is expected to be about $2 million a month.

State and local officials confirmed Nucor has picked a site in Berkeley County for the new mill, which will bring with it 600 jobs averaging $55,000-a-year salaries. Charlotte, N.C.-based Nucor had narrowed its choices to West Point, Va., and the site at Cainhoy outside Charleston for the mill, which will make flat-rolled sheet steel for cars and appliances.

Virginia Gov. George Allen congratulated South Carolina, noting the advantage of that state's comprehensive, long-term economic development program.

- Associated Press

15 states vie for Solarex plant

FREDERICK, Md. - Solarex doesn't care if the sky is filled with clouds. Its business of harnessing the sun's energy has a bright future - so bright that 15 states, including Virginia, are competing to become the site of its new $25 million plant.

Solarex, a Frederick, Md., solar panel manufacturer, has started a $7.7 million expansion project at its Frederick plant. It also is looking for a place to build another plant that would employ about 70 people making a new solar panel for converting sunlight to electricity.

Twenty-nine states have tried to lure Solarex, but only 15 still are in the running. Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania still are contenders. Company officials say a decision is expected by the end of the month.

Solarex's owners, Chicago-based Amoco Corp. and Enron Corp., a natural gas company in Houston, say the new plant would produce about 200,000 panels a year.

- Associated Press