Duke Energy agrees to accept punishment on nine misdemeanor charges in coal ash probe

Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE:DUK) has reached a proposed plea agreement with federal prosecutors on nine misdemeanor violations of the Clean Water Act to settle a federal grand jury investigation spurred by last year’s massive coal ash spill.

Charlotte-based Duke would be sentenced to five years of probation, under the terms of the agreement, with a court-appointed monitor assigned to make sure the company complies with requirements in the settlement.

The company also would pay $68.2 million in fines…

NextEra Energy plans to build Hawaii's largest wind farm on Maui

A subsidiary of NextEra Energy, the Florida-based company that is buying Hawaiian Electric Co. for $4.3 billion, has plans to build the largest wind energy farm in Hawaii on the southern coast of Maui, a company spokesman confirmed to PBN.

The more than 120-megawatt project, which would be located on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands at the Kahikinui homestead on the southern slopes of Haleakala, would be built, owned and operated by NextEra Energy Resources LLC, according to documents filed with…

Oil train wrecks raise red flags about new railcar safety

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden says a series of rail-disasters involving oil trains raises red flags about the safety of newer rail cars, called CPC-1232s.

The Oregon Democrat urged the Obama administration to consider recent accidents involving the new cars in oil train as it develops new safety rules.

“This week’s disastrous oil train accidents raise red flags about whether the newer, supposedly safer, rail cars are doing the best job protecting our communities,” Wyden said in a press release.

“I’m going…

Layoffs at McLean-based Bart & Associates

McLean-based Bart & Associates Inc. warned 73 employees that they will likely be out of a job by April, thanks to a contract loss, the company confirmed.

B&A, an enterprise software solutions integrator for federal agencies, most prominently the Homeland Security Department, touts between 200 and 500 employees on its LinkedIn profile.

Executives would not confirm the company’s exact workforce count, nor would they specify which contract loss spurred the layoffs.

That said, the layoff warning came…

Celebrating the 2015 Minority Business Leader Award recipients

The Washington Business Journal honored its class of 2015 Minority Business Leader Award honorees Thursday evening with a reception at the Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C.

Twenty-five local business leaders were honored for their contributions to Greater Washington’s business community. You can check out profiles of each recipient here.

For photos from Thursday’s reception, take a look at the gallery on the right.