Environmental Groups Lose Appeal to Block Development on Charleston’s Cainhoy Peninsula

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By David Caraviello

A federal appeals court has denied an appeal from environmental groups seeking an injunction that would have halted work on a sprawling master planned development being built on Charleston’s Cainhoy peninsula.

The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals on Jan. 31 upheld the decision of a lower court denying a temporary injunction sought by the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League, along with Charleston Waterkeeper and the South Carolina Wildlife Federation.

The requested injunction would have stopped development on the Cainhoy peninsula — home to the mixed-used Point Hope community, which could eventually encompass over 9,000 residential units — while the validity of its permitting was challenged.

The environmental groups argued that the method federal authorities used to determine potential damage to endangered species in the Cainhoy tract was improper.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had violated federal laws, the plaintiffs said, by granting a development permit based on a method that gauged potential impact on endangered species by studying their habitat.

Plaintiffs wanted federal agencies to use a more exact process that detailed potential effects on the species in question — particularly the northern long-eared bat.

The northern long-eared bat has never been spotted in Cainhoy and was last documented about 8.5 miles away in the Francis Marion National Forest in 2019, according to the text of the court’s ruling.

A lower court had ruled that estimating potential effects on endangered species based on their habitat (called an “environmental assessment”) rather than employing the more rigid method (called an “environmental impact statement”) was sufficient in areas where the impact on the species in question is expected to be minor.

The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed, affirming the ruling from the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina that had initially denied the injunction, concluding that the appellants “do not have a sufficient likelihoods of success on the merits of their claims,” Judge Stephanie Thacker wrote.

Diesel Laptops Expands into Remote Vehicle Monitoring, Predictive AI with Acquisition of Preteckt

Irmo, South Carolina-based Diesel Laptops, an industry leader in diesel diagnostic tools, repair information, and technician training, announced its acquisition of Preteckt.

Officials said the move marks a defining moment in the company's pursuit of innovation, adding a powerful pillar, Remote Vehicle Monitoring & Predictive AI, to its expanding suite of solutions.

The officials said Diesel Laptops' acquisition of Preteckt strengthens its leadership position in commercial vehicle diagnostics.

They added that by integrating Preteckt's advanced AI technology, machine learning, and predictive maintenance, Diesel Laptops is poised to bring real-time monitoring and proactive repair planning to the entire commercial trucking industry.

"For years, I've said that the future of our industry is in 24/7 vehicle monitoring, with diagnostics and repair plans developed proactively," said Tyler Robertson, CEO of Diesel Laptops. "We already do this today for in-shop customers, but this acquisition allows us to expand that capability to the millions of commercial trucks on the road that keep America moving."

Andy Turnbull, CRO of Diesel Laptops, echoed the enthusiasm: "The ability to proactively identify and address potential failures before they occur is a game changer for fleet operators. We're not just reacting to issues, we're monitoring, learning, and preventing them from happening in the first place. This acquisition accelerates our mission to provide data-driven, actionable insights that maximize uptime and efficiency."

Preteckt has built its expertise in predictive maintenance for the transit and coach bus sector.

Officials said Diesel Laptops is set to take this technology further, systematically expanding its capabilities into additional markets.

They added that the integration of Preteckt's cutting-edge software into Diesel Laptops will be a key focus in the coming months, ensuring seamless innovation and impactful advancements in commercial vehicle diagnostics.

Florence Regional Airport Partners with BETA Technologies to Install SC’s First Electric Aircraft Charger

Florence Regional Airport (FLO) has partnered with BETA Technologies, an electric aerospace company based in Burlington, Vermont, to install electric charging infrastructure at its airport.

The charger, which is designed to power the next generation of electric aircraft, marks the first installation of such infrastructure in the state of South Carolina.

These chargers, designed and manufactured by Beta, are multimodal and interoperable — capable of powering various types of electric aircraft as well as electric ground vehicles like cars, vans, and trucks.

FLO has installed a Level 3 fast-charger on the airside of the airport, where it will primarily charge electric aircraft and support vehicles.

The airport has also installed a two-port Level 2 charger in the parking lot, which is open for public use.

Officials said that with the addition of this capability, FLO is well-positioned to support the electric transportation future, and the associated economic growth and job opportunities for the region. 

Said Mike Miller, president of the Florence Chamber of Commerce: “This is a great investment for our airport to jump into this new technology. It keeps KFLO growing and creating new transportation options to service the region and state of South Carolina.”

Added Gregg Robinson, CEO of Florence County Economic Development Partnership: “My office stands ready to help industry partners take advantage of FLO’s unique set of assets to establish new business ventures that will create innovative new jobs for our region alongside new transportation services for our residents and businesses.”

BETA’s Charge Cube is UL-certified, designed to optimize for safety, efficiency, and simplicity. With a 50-foot cord, the Charge Cube can accommodate a variety of aircraft, regardless of their unique designs and ground operations.

The cord is also compatible with BETA’s Thermal Management System (TMS) — a solution focused on cooling battery packs and cabins between flights.

"There are so many opportunities that come along with new aviation technologies, like low-cost operations, new jobs, and economic stimulation,” said Nate Ward, BETA Technologies’ head of Network Development. “This infrastructure is key to enabling the aviation technology of the future. We’re glad to be working with Florence Regional Airport to bring these opportunities to South Carolina.”

Added Florence Regional Airport Director Brad Beadles: “We are proud to partner with BETA on such an innovative and emerging technology as electric aircraft and eVTOL.  We warmly welcome BETA customers, business partners and other electric aircraft users to take advantage of the resources we offer and partner with us as we build out a transit hub for our region.”

Florence Regional Airport joins a growing network of charging infrastructure BETA is building across the U.S.

BETA has brought chargers online at 47 site locations from Vermont to Florida to Arkansas, with more than 20 additional sites in development for public and private use by commercial, military, and medical entities.

These sites have been installed in partnership with airports, FBOs, and OEM partners across the country, and will help bring electric aviation to both urban and rural locations, connecting communities across the country. 

In addition to charging solutions, BETA is producing electric aircraft, including an electric airplane that flies airport-to-airport, the ALIA CTOL, as well as an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, the ALIA VTOL.

South Atlantic Bancshares, Inc. Declares Cash Dividend

South Atlantic Bancshares, Inc. (OTCQX: SABK), the parent of South Atlantic Bank , announced that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per share on its common stock.

The dividend will be payable on Feb. 28, 2025, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Feb. 14, 2025. 

Commenting on the dividend, K. Wayne Wicker, the company's chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement that despite headwinds in the first half of 2024, “We closed the year strong and move into 2025 with solid momentum. We are excited to announce our third consecutive annual cash dividend since our inaugural cash dividend payment in the first quarter of 2023."

South Atlantic Bancshares, Inc. is a registered bank holding company based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with approximately $1.8 billion in total assets as of Dec. 31, 2024.

The company's banking subsidiary, South Atlantic Bank, is a full-service financial institution spanning the entire coastal area of South Carolina, and is locally owned, controlled and operated.

The bank operates 12 locations in Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest, North Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Pawleys Island, Georgetown, Mount Pleasant, Charleston, Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, Summerville and Beaufort, South Carolina. 

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