Apr 1 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Bruce Henderson The Charlotte Observer, N.C.

Eight protesters were arrested in Rutherford County this morning after critics of Duke Energy chained themselves to construction equipment at the Cliffside Steam Station.

Duke is adding an 800-megawatt boiler to the plant, which has drawn intense opposition from environmental advocates.

The protest was part of what the international Rising Tide network calls the "Fossil Fools Day of Action," which blames coal-fired power plants' carbon dioxide emissions for global warming.

Four protesters chained themselves to construction equipment at Cliffside at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, said Abigail Singer of Rising Tide in Asheville. Deputies used Tasers and "pain compliance holds," Singer said, to force the protesters to unlock themselves. Four other people were also arrested at the scene, she said.

Rutherford County Sheriff Jack Conner confirmed that eight people were charged with resisting arrest and trespassing.

Read tomorrow's Charlotte Observer for more details on this developing story.