11/16: NCDOT Public Hearing on I-26 Expansion

11/16: NCDOT Public Hearing on I-26 Connector Project

On October 13, 2015, NCDOT released the Environmental Impact Study for an expansion of Interstate 26 through Asheville. NCDOT is holding a public hearing on the I-26 Connector Project and the Environmental Impact Study on November 16 at the Renaissance Hotel.

Please attend! This is your chance to have your say on NCDOT’s expansion plans. CLICK HERE to submit your comments on NCDOT’s plans.

What: NCDOT Public Hearing in I-26 Connector Project
Where: Renaissance Hotel Grand Ballroom, 31 Woodfin Street, Asheville
When: November 16, 2015. Pre-Hearing Open House from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Formal Public Hearing begins at 7:00 p.m.

MountainTrue is a lead convener of the I-26 ConnectUs Project, which is made up of representatives from the Asheville neighborhoods that stand to be most impacted by the I-26 Connector Project, including West Asheville, Burton Street, WECAN, Emma, and Montford. Other groups represented include the Housing Authority for the City of Asheville and Christians for a United Community. We have been working together since 2009.
Learn more about the I-26 ConnectUs Project. [more]

11/6: Asheville Bioneers

Friday, November 6th, 5:30-10:00 pm
Lenoir-Rhyne University Asheville Campus
36 Montford Ave, Asheville, NC

The evening will include national speakers simulcast and local speakers sharing in a panel discussion.

National speaker Sister Simone Campbell – Community: Healing for the 21st Century
Sister Campbell is a poet, social justice attorney, and one of the nation’s most influential faith-based progressive activists. She led the famous 2012 “Nuns on the Bus” tour to challenge Congressional budget proposals that radically slashed programs for the poor. She shares her vision of how we can heal our divisions and differences, create a renewed sense of community, and build a far more just, peaceful, verdant and compassionate world.

Local Spirituality and Healing Panel
• Mallory McDuff of Warren Wilson College and author of Sacred Acts
• Scott Hardin-Nieri, Director of Creation Care Alliance of WNC
• Howard Hanger, Minister, JUBILEE!! Founder, Hanger Hall School

National Speaker Andy Lipkis – Navigating Adaptation and Resilience as Un-Sustainability Hits the Tipping Point. As founder and President of L.A.’s legendary TreePeople, Any Lipkis has brought visionary solutions to the once-poster child of municipal environmental madness.

Local Adaptation and Resilience Panel
• Amber Weaver, Chief Sustainability Officer, Asheville
• Marc Hunt Vice Mayor, Asheville
• Tamara Graham, Landscape Architect, Asheville

‘Protect Our Land’ Picnic Draws Crowds; Residents Say Duke Can Do Better

‘PROTECT OUR LAND’ PICNIC DRAWS CROWDS; RESIDENTS SAY DUKE CAN DO BETTER

Protect our Land Picnic in Hendersonville, NC on Sunday, October 18, 2015. Photo credit: katrinaohstrom.com

Hendersonville, NC (10/18/2015) — As many as 200 residents of Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina gathered for the Protect Our Land Picnic on Sunday, October 18 at the Historic Henderson County Courthouse in downtown Hendersonville. It was a cold day, but the community was out in force to voice their concerns about Duke Energy’s proposed Western Carolinas “Modernization” plan, which would include a new super-sized natural gas-powered electric plant on Lake Julian near Asheville, a substation for Campobello, SC, and a high-voltage transmission line connecting the two.

The Carolina Land Coalition is a partnership between MountainTrue and several community groups throughout Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. The coalition has quickly grown to more than 1,200 supporters and continues to draw in new members from the affected community.

At an action station, attendees wrote letters to their local legislators and to their respective state’s public utilities commissions expressing concern and asking that they put pressure on Duke Energy to adopt greener alternatives that would meet the area’s energy demands through greater use of energy efficiency programs and incentives, and more investment in renewable energy infrastructure such as solar, wind power and hydropower.

Speakers addressing the crowd included Phillip Brown, a farmer and resident of Mills River, whose family has lived in the area since the 1830s; Emma Greenbaum, North Carolina campaign organizer for Asheville Beyond Coal, who reiterated that while it is good that Duke Energy is retiring the existing coal-powered plant on Lake Julian, that “building an over-sized natural-gas power plant is not the solution”; Mark Stierwalt, Southern Regional Director of MountainTrue thanked everyone for braving the cold and showing unity, and Joan Walker of the Carolina Land Coalition who pressed the point that Duke Energy lags far behind other large utilities in both use of renewables and efficiency programs, and that “Duke can do better.”

Excerpt from the speech by Joan Walker of Carolina Land Coalition:

“It’s great that Duke Energy is listening to their customers and to our communities. But this isn’t a victory party. This is an opportunity. Now, it’s time to stand unified and tell Duke what we want. Instead of ugly transmission lines, we want Duke Energy to better leverage their energy efficiency programs. Duke is the largest investor-owned utility in the nation but lags behind on energy efficiency. Out of the top 32 utilities, it ranks 22nd. Duke can do better.

Instead of an over-sized power plant and a substation in South Carolina, we want Duke Energy to use the renewable energy that we have and to build even more green infrastructure. Of the same top 32 utilities, Duke Energy ranks 19th in use of clean, renewable energy. Duke can do better.

This isn’t experimental, unproven science. These are affordable, attainable solutions that others are already doing. These are solutions that don’t require transmission lines or super-sized fossil-fuel-powered plants. And they are already working in other communities around the nation. Duke can do better.”

Joan Walker of the Carolina Land Coalition addresses the crowd, and presses the case that “Duke can do better.” Protect our Land Picnic in Hendersonville, NC on Sunday, October 18, 2015. Photo credit: katrinaohstrom.com

Donors Lynne and Ralph Jenkins took the stage to encourage others to give as well. Other support came from renowned Hendersonville-based artist Don Blackwell who donated one of his pen and ink pieces to a raffle to raise funds to help sustain the work of the Carolina Land Coalition in opposing Duke Energy’s “modernization plan”

Organizers also provided family-friendly programming and activities for kids of all ages. Full Circle Counseling and Wellness of Hendersonville organized face-painting, sign-making and craft-making activities. Musical entertainment was provided by local rock duo Jeff Michels and Jim Robertson, and by singer-songwriter Kelly Walker.

Attendees were also treated to BBQ pork, chicken and tofu, as well as delicious sides, courtesy of the much-acclaimed Hubba Hubba Smokehouse of Flat Rock, North Carolina.

About Duke Energy’s Western Carolinas Modernization Project:
On May 19, 2015, Duke Energy announced the planned closure of a coal-fired power plant on Lake Julian near Asheville which was a source of air contamination, the region’s largest contributor to climate change and has polluted the French Broad River for years with toxic coal ash.

Their solution is the proposed “West Carolinas Modernization Project,” which would replace the current plant with a natural-gas power plant that is twice the size, build a new substation in Campobello, SC, and a new 45-mile high-voltage transmission line to connect the two. This would require clear-cutting a 150’ wide path through forests, farmlands, summer camps and private properties, and erecting electrical towers as tall as 15-story buildings.

On Thursday October 8, Duke Energy announced that they would be delaying and reconsidering its options on the project, citing the more than 9,000 public comments that the utility has received from customers and the affected community. Duke is expected to put forth their revised plan in November, and community groups throughout North Carolina and South Carolina are calling on their public utility commissions to ensure meaningful opportunities for public comment at hearings that are local and convenient for those residents most directly affected.

About the Carolina Land Coalition:
Carolina Land Coalition is a group of residents, business owners, visitors and ratepayers that are concerned about transmission lines and scale of the new natural gas plant and substation proposed by Duke Energy in the Western Carolinas Foothills Modernization Plan. For more information: carolinalandcoalition.org

About MountainTrue:
MountainTrue fosters and empowers communities throughout the region and engages in policy and project advocacy, outreach and education, and on the ground projects. To achieve our goals, MountainTrue focuses on a core set of issues across 23 counties of Western North Carolina: sensible land use, restoring public forests, protecting water quality and promoting clean energy – all of which have a high impact on the environmental health and long-term prosperity of our residents. MountainTrue is the home of the Watauga Riverkeeper, the primary watchdog and spokesperson for the Elk and Watauga Rivers, and French Broad Riverkeeper, the primary protector and defender of the French Broad River watershed. For more information: mountaintrue.org

Lynne and Ralph Jenkins took the stage to announce a $5,000 challenge grant, encouraging others to match the grant in the coming weeks. Protect our Land Picnic in Hendersonville, NC on Sunday, October 18, 2015. Photo credit: katrinaohstrom.com

Attendees were treated to BBQ pork, chicken and tofu, as well as delicious sides, courtesy of the much-acclaimed Hubba Hubba Smokehouse of Flat Rock, North Carolina. Protect our Land Picnic in Hendersonville, NC on Sunday, October 18, 2015. Photo credit: katrinaohstrom.com

Protect our Land Picnic in Hendersonville, NC on Sunday, October 18, 2015. Photo credit: katrinaohstrom.com

Judie Klapholz and Dr. Seinwell Steinhart of Campobello, SC. They retired to the area with hopes of setting up a horse ranch catering to visitors. Duke Energy’s proposed West Carolinas Modernization project would see a transmission line go through part of their property, a new substation just down the street. Protect our Land Picnic in Hendersonville, NC on Sunday, October 18, 2015. Photo credit: katrinaohstrom.com

Pure Farms Pure Water Manager

Organization
The mission of MountainTrue is to champion resilient forests, clean waters, and healthy communities in Western North Carolina. In January 2015 three organizations, the Environmental and Conservation Organization, the Jackson Macon Conservation Alliance, and the Western North Carolina Alliance merged to form MountainTrue. MountainTrue works across 23 counties in the southern Appalachians, has 14 staff and a $1 million budget. For more information, please visit,www.mountaintrue.org.

The Position
MountainTrue seeks a Pure Farms Pure Water campaign manager to lead a campaign focused on enhancing water quality through improvements in agriculture operations in the French Broad River watershed. This position will build relationships with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as farmers, and advocate for improved practices at area farms. This position will serve as a watchdog for poor farm practices as well as promote good farms practices. The overall goal is to improve the water quality in the French Broad River watershed by reducing the amount of pollution that livestock farms contribute to the river. This full time position will report to and work closely with the French Broad Riverkeeper and the MountainTrue Southern Regional Director to coordinate strategy and implement projects.

Job Duties

Assist in field investigations to determine the problems landowners face and to collect water samples to determine the extent of pollution problems and determine potential solutions.
Coordinate with local, state, federal, and nonprofit entities to address problems at farms that are shown to be out of compliance with water quality requirements.
Assist with implementing and advising on the use of best management practices to reduce/eliminate bacteria pollution from streams.
Lead and grow volunteer-powered, bacteria-testing program throughout the watershed.

Recommended Qualifications

Experience working on water quality issues
Experience developing and implementing an advocacy campaign
Experience with agriculture operations and best management practices for agriculture
Experience with water sampling
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Experience using social media as an outreach/organizing tool
Excellent decision-making, problem-solving and interpersonal skills
Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently
Ability to take a project, develop necessary steps for completion and follow through with the details to fully execute each step.
Ability to work on many projects at once and maintain attention to detail
Ability to work quickly in a fast-changing environment
Ability to work across political, social, and economic lines
Event coordination experience
A bachelor’s degree

Competitive salary commensurate with experience and excellent benefits package.

How to apply: By October 30, send cover letter, resume and three references to:
hartwell@mountaintrue.org.

MountainTrue Awards Recipients Announced

2015 MountainTrue Award Recipients Announced

Asheville, NC — On Thursday October 8, MountainTrue announced the winners of the MountainTrue Awards, which are presented each year at the organization’s Annual Member and Supporter Gathering. For 2015, the event was held at Hi-Wire Brewing’s Big Top location.

Award honorees are recognized for their hard work and dedication to protecting our forests, mountains, rivers and streams, and to promoting clean energy and sustainability. The 2015 MountainTrue Award winners are:

The Esther Cunningham Award | Honoree: Richard Burt of Hendersonville
MountainTrue presents this award in the name of Esther Cunningham, a Macon County resident whose concern for the environment prompted her to found the Western North Carolina Alliance (now part of MountainTrue). The award is presented to a MountainTrue member who has demonstrated outstanding community service in conserving our natural resources.

Richard Burt is an active volunteer in MountainTrue’s Recycling, Water and Energy committees and has been the tireless chair of MountainTrue’s Recycling Committee based in the Southern Regional office for the past three years. A lifelong animal and nature lover, Rick was active at the River Bend Nature Center in Racine and sat on the Board of Directors of the Association for the Reservation of the Eno River Valley in Durham before retiring and moving to Hendersonville in November of 2008.

Green Business Award | Honoree: Green Sage Café of Asheville
MountainTrue presents the Green Business Award to a local Western North Carolina business that has exhibited leadership in implementing green practices, getting other businesses to make their operations more sustainable or engaging in environmental advocacy.

Green Sage Café, with three locations throughout Asheville, has been a model business for our region. Owners Roger Derrough and Randy Tally are committed members and supporters of MountainTrue. The restaurant has led the green charge in Asheville, installing solar panels, using local and organic ingredients whenever possible and utilizing green practices throughout. For the past year, Green Sage has hosted Green Drinks, a series of discussions where the community can hear from and ask questions of environmental advocates and organizations every Wednesday. For more information on Green Drinks, visit: http://www.ashevillegreendrinks.com/

Volunteer of the Year Award | Bob Dennis of Asheville, and Joe and Phyllis Zinch of Asheville
MountainTrue presents the Volunteer of the Year Award to an individual(s) who has demonstrated consistent commitment by volunteering time at events, on program work, or through other MountainTrue activities. This year, we gave out two awards to some very deserving recipients.

Bob Dennis has been a crucial member of MountainTrue’s bacteria monitoring program for the past three years, and has been our lead-volunteer on the program for the past two years. Bob is consistent, proactive and flexible. He has put in hundreds of volunteer hours measuring E. coli to help ensure that our streams and rivers remain safe and clean for fishing and swimming, and as a source of drinking water. Results from our bacteria monitoring program can be found at http://www.swimguide.org, where recreationists can download a app that gives them the latest information on where it’s safe to play in the water.

Joe and Phyllis Zinch are MountainTrue super volunteers, putting in countless hours and volunteering for nearly all our events. They come early and stay late with a can-do attitude; they promote MountainTrue and help spread the word about the work we do and the impact of our programs. Joe and Phyllis moved to Asheville 13 years ago from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and have committed themselves to volunteering for organizations that are aligned with their own personal values – respect for the environment, animal welfare, sustainability and the arts. We think that Joe and Phyllis found the right place to retire; MountainTrue and Western North Carolina are better off because of their efforts.

Partner of the Year Award | The Sierra Club
MountainTrue presents the Partner of the Year Award to an organization that has been a staunch partner with MountainTrue on key campaigns and programs throughout the past year.

The Sierra Club has been a committed partner with MountainTrue on many levels, most importantly on the Asheville Beyond Coal Campaign, which has sought to cut Asheville’s addiction to coal and fossil fuels, and to move the city and the region toward greater use of energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy. Sierra Club has also been an incredible resource on various legislative issues and public lands projects and has been an invaluable partner on our Green Drinks program of talks and on the Everybody’s Environment initiative, which seeks to bring more diversity to the environmental movement. Accepting this year’s Partner of the Year Award on behalf of the Sierra Club were NC Organizer Emma Greenbaum and Associate Press Secretary Melissa Williams.

WNC Elected Official of the Year | David Gantt, Buncombe County Commission Chairman
MountainTrue presents this award to a city, county, state or federal elected official for either a specific conservation action of singular importance or for a strong and consistent commitment to conservation over time.

Chairman David Gantt has served Buncombe County for nearly 20 years and has spearheaded some of the most important environmental efforts in our region. David will retire at the end of 2016 with a long list of accomplishments: enactment of a model steep slope ordinance that protects the county’s mountaintops and includes a zoning overlay to preserve the Blue Ridge Parkway, a Dark Skies lighting ordinance, cell tower ordinance and measures to address water runoff and erosion control; partnership with other groups to preserve and permanently protect over 6,000 acres of Buncombe County farmland, ridge tops and special places; creation of a landfill that may become the first perpetual facility in the nation; construction of a new $25 million, LEED-certified County Courthouse after decades of need; establishment of countywide zoning and planning ordinances that maintain the practice of sustainable growth; and the creation of greenways, pools, libraries and community centers in each part of the county.

Environmental advocates and community groups respond to Duke Energy’s review of its ‘Western Carolinas Modernization’ project’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 8, 2015
Media Contacts:
Karim Olaechea, MountainTrue
C: 415-535-9004
Melissa Williams, Sierra Club
C: 828-545-0443

Environmental advocates respond to Duke Energy’s review of its ‘Western Carolinas Modernization’ project

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Duke Energy today announced delay its plans and reconsider its options to its originally proposed Western Carolinas Modernization project, which includes a new natural gas-powered station at Lake Julian, “foothill” transmission lines and a new substation in Campobello, S.C.

Duke Energy cited community concerns expressed through more than 9,000 public comments that the utility received from customers and the affected community as the reason to extend the review and to consider alternatives to all components of this plan.

Statement from Julie Mayfield, co-director of MountainTrue:

“We are pleased that Duke Energy is responding to the needs and desires of the people of Western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. This decision shows what is possible when a community unites to protect the land that we all love, and when a company listens. More than 9,000 concerned residents made their voices heard, and local elected leaders should be thanked for standing strong. As Duke considers its options, we hope they will propose a new plan that respects our communities’ values, needs, and love of the land; includes more renewables and greater use of energy efficiency programs; and lessens our reliance on fossil fuels.

As Duke undertakes its analysis, we will remain united through our partnership with the Carolina Land Coalition. Join the coalition next Sunday, Oct. 18, at the Historic Henderson County Courthouse in Hendersonville for a picnic and rally as we continue to build momentum and move forward a better energy future for all of us.”

Statement from Kelly Martin, senior campaign representative for Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign in North Carolina:

“It’s great to see Duke Energy is reconsidering its plans and responding to public outcry about the scale and impact of that building an oversized natural gas plant and massive transmission lines will have on our community.

Duke should now do what it should have from the start: develop a truly modern plan for Western North Carolina that maximizes investments in solar energy, energy efficiency, and battery storage rather than locking our region into reliance on fossil fuel electricity for generations to come. Clean energy investments are the best bet not only for public health and the environment, but also for the Duke’s customers who will foot the bill for the modernization project.

Energy efficiency measures and solar power are among the most affordable, lowest cost options for electricity, and we expect Duke Energy to take this into account in planning for Western North Carolina’s energy future.”

Statement from Cathy Jackson, vice-president Saluda Business Association and member of the Carolina Land Coalition:

“It’s great that Duke Energy is finally taking the concerns of our communities seriously. We expect this process to lead to a more responsible proposal that address our energy needs without adversely affecting public health, the beauty of our land or the economy of the region. We will stay alert and united through the Carolina Land Coalition, and I invite all concerned residents to join us on October 18, at the Historic Henderson County Courthouse in Hendersonville for the Protect Our Land Community Picnic. Let’s keep the pressure up!”

About MountainTrue
MountainTrue fosters and empowers communities throughout the region and engages in policy and project advocacy, outreach and education, and on the ground projects. To achieve our goals, MountainTrue focuses on a core set of issues across 23 counties of Western North Carolina: sensible land use, restoring public forests, protecting water quality and promoting clean energy – all of which have a high impact on the environmental health and long-term prosperity of our residents. MountainTrue is the home of the Watauga Riverkeeper, the primary watchdog and spokesperson for the Elk and Watauga Rivers, and French Broad Riverkeeper, the primary protector and defender of the French Broad River watershed. For more information: mountaintrue.org

About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 2.4 million members and supporters nationwide. In addition to creating opportunities for people of all ages, levels and locations to have meaningful outdoor experiences, the Sierra Club works to safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and litigation. For more information, visit http://www.sierraclub.org.

About the Carolina Land Coalition
We are a group of residents, business owners, visitors and ratepayers that are concerned about transmission lines and scale of the new natural gas plant and substation proposed by Duke Energy in the Western Carolinas Foothills Modernization Plan. For more information: carolinalandcoalition.org

Raleigh Report – Issue 18, 10.8.15

MountainTrue Raleigh Report

Issue 18: Thursday, October 8, 2015

It’s the latest edition of the MountainTrue Raleigh Report. In this week’s edition: aloha, adios and arrivederci – the legislature finally gives it – and us – a rest.

It’s A Wrap
Last Thursday morning about 4 a.m., the General Assembly’s long session adjourned. And a long session it was – only one session has been longer in the past 40 years. Here’s a quick look at what happened.

The budget provided some new funding for open space preservation, but legislators also passed a flurry of provisions that weaken environmental protections. Legislators gutted the State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA), which required an environmental review of public projects using public funds or public lands. Among other provisions, the renewable energy tax credit was allowed to expire and more “terminal groins,” or artificial, hardened structures on the coast, were approved.

A few other environmental happenings (or not happenings) from this session:

Good news – the “freeze” of the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards (REPS), which requires the state’s electric power providers to generate a portion of our electricity needs through renewable energy resources and energy efficiency, did not pass.

Deer to the Their Hearts: After much angst and debate, the Farm Act of 2015 passed in the final days of the session, including a provision opening the door for deer farming in North Carolina, which wildlife groups and hunting groups fear will speed the arrival of wasting disease to the state.

New Name, Limited role: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was renamed the Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ). The state’s natural resources attractions — the three coastal aquariums, state parks, Museum of Natural Sciences and N.C. Zoo — the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and Natural Heritage Program were moved to the newly renamed Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Power Outage: Rep. Chuck McGrady’s legislation to begin a stakeholder process for implementing the federal Clean Power Plan did not pass, but neither did the version prohibiting implementation and encouraging legal challenges to the CPP.

Park It: Legislators approved a $2 billion bond referendum to be placed on the ballot in March. If approved, the bond will allocate $100 million for state parks and attractions, as well as funds for construction projects at the universities and community colleges and water and sewer infrastructure.

Legislative Wrap-Ups
For more info on all the legislation impacting our air, water and natural resources, sign up for our Legislative Wrap-Ups October 27th in Franklin, October 28th in Asheville and October 29 in Hendersonville. You’ll get the skinny on the politics and the policy and learn how you can get involved.

Protecting Polluters
One of the final acts of the very long session was to pass H765, the Regulatory Reform Act of 2015 – also known as the “Polluter Protection Bill.”. This bill is filled with nasty rollbacks of some of our most important environmental protections, including provisions protecting polluters from penalties, reducing air quality monitors and threatening intermittent streams. For a complete rundown of the offensive sections of this bill, check out this fact sheet.

MountainTrue is one of a number of organizations that have asked Governor McCrory to veto H765. You can join our efforts by calling Governor McCrory at 919-814-2000 and urging him to veto this bad bill. If you get his voicemail, leave a message asking him to veto House Bill 765.The Governor has up to 30 days to decide now that session has ended.

Clearing the Air
Did you catch the op/ed on clean air in The News & Observer written by our own Julie Mayfield? Check it out and take a few minutes to remember the power that citizen activists have on our state and our environment.

Get to Know Your Legislators
Keep your eye on our WNC Legislator Profiles. We continue to update them so you can get to know our legislators better.

Polluter Protection Act Passes General Assembly

General Assembly Passes “Polluter Protection Act”

Late in the evening of Tuesday, September 30, the North Carolina House of Representatives voted on and passed House Bill 765, a piece of legislation that is outright hostile to the environment and the health and safety of the residents of North Carolina.

Dubbed “The Polluter Protection Act”, H765 would, under the premise of “regulatory reform”, accomplish the following:

shield companies that violated environmental laws from having to pay penalties and would allow them to hide evidence of wrongdoing from the public,
allow developers to damage without any mitigation intermittent streams which could cause the loss of critical linkages in our stream networks and damage our watersheds, and
eliminate air quality monitors in at least four mountain counties, reducing the available data regarding air quality and the public’s ability to know whether our air is clean and clear.

The state senate had already passed their version of the bill the night before, so it now goes before Governor Pat McCrory for his authorization. MountainTrue Co-directors Julie Mayfield and Bob Wagner have sent a letter to Governor McCrory outlining the most problematic provisions of H765 and asking him issue a veto in the public’s interest. You can read the letter here [PDF]. Additionally, we are asking supporters and concerned residents to call the Governor and demand a veto.

Regardless of the outcome of this fight, it is important that we educate the public on how our legislators vote when it comes to issues of environmental protection and public health. In order to protect our natural environment and the public, we have to hold politicians accountable come election time.

Here is how your legislators voted on the “Polluter Protection Act”:

District	Name	Vote on H765	Office Phone Number	email
House 113 – Henderson, Polk, Transylvania	Chris Whitmire – R	Yes	(919) 715-4466	Chris.Whitmire@ncleg.net
House 114 – Buncombe	Susan C. Fisher – D	Excused Absence	(919) 715-2013	Susan.Fisher@ncleg.net
House 115 – Buncombe	John Ager – D	No	(919) 733-5746	John.Ager@ncleg.net
House 116 – Buncombe	Brian Turner – D	No	(919) 715-3012	Brian.Turner@ncleg.net
House 117 – Henderson	Chuck McGrady – R	No	(919)733-5956	Chuck.McGrady@ncleg.net
House 118 – Haywood, Madison, Yancey	Michele D. Presnell – R	Yes	(919) 733-5732	Michele.Presnell@ncleg.net
House 119 – Haywood, Jackson, Swain	Joe Sam Queen – D	No	(919) 715-3005	Joe.Queen@ncleg.net
House 120 – Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon	Roger West – R	Yes	(919) 733-5859	Roger.West@ncleg.net
House 85 – Avery, McDowell, Mitchell	Josh Dobson – R	Yes	(919) 733-5862	Josh.Dobson@ncleg.net
House 93 – Ashe, Watauga	Jonathan C. Jordan – R	No	(919) 733-7727	Jonathan.Jordan@ncleg.net
Senate 45 – Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Watauga	Dan Soucek – R	Yes	(919) 733-5742	Dan.Soucek@ncleg.net
Senate 47 – Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Yancey	Ralph Hise – R	Yes	(919) 733-3460	Ralph.Hise@ncleg.net
Senate 48 – Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania	Tom Apodaca – R	Yes	(919) 733-5745	Tom.Apodaca@ncleg.net
Senate 49 – Buncombe	Terry Van Duyn – D	No	(919) 715-3001	Terry.VanDuyn@ncleg.net
Senate 50 – Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain	Jim Davis – R	Yes	(919) 733-5875	Jim.Davis@ncleg.net

Call Gov. McCrory and ask him to veto H765

Last night the North Carolina House of Representatives passed House Bill 765, a piece of legislation that is outright hostile to the environment and the health and safety of the residents of North Carolina.

Call on Governor Pat McCrory and ask that he VETO House Bill 765,
Governor McCrory: 919-814-2000
[UPDATE: Calls are flooding in. If you can’t get through
at the number above, try 919-814-2050 and leave a message.]

The bill has been dubbed “The Polluter Protection Act”, and for good reason. Under the premise of “regulatory reform”, H765 would:

shield companies that violated environmental laws from having to pay penalties and would allow them to hide evidence of wrongdoing from the public,
allow developers to damage without any mitigation intermittent streams which could cause the loss of critical linkages in our stream networks and damage our watersheds, and
eliminate air quality monitors in at least four mountain counties, reducing the available data regarding air quality and the public’s ability to know whether our air is clean and clear.

These provisions benefit private interests at great cost to the public. For more details, Read the letter [PDF] to Governor McCrory from MountainTrue Co-directors Julie Mayfield and Bob Wagner. Download PDF.

Let McCrory know that you do not support House Bill 765.

Call on Governor Pat McCrory and ask that he VETO House Bill 765,
Governor McCrory: 919-814-2000
[UPDATE: Calls are flooding in. If you can’t get through
at the number above, try 919-814-2050 and leave a message.]

Our tourism industry and tens of thousands of jobs throughout the area are dependent on clean rivers, clean air and beautiful, smog-free vistas, and this bill is a giant step in the wrong direction. House Bill 765 would make it even more difficult for citizens and residents to find out what factories, power plants and other industries are putting into our air and water. There can be no justification to hiding from public view information that is essential to public health.

Let your friends and family know and ask them to lend their voice to demand that Governor McCrory do the right thing and veto House Bill 765.

Save the Date! Sunday, October 18: Protect Our Land Picnic

Save the date! The Carolina Land Coalition is having a Protect Our Land Picnic on Sunday, October 18, 2-5 PM. Attend this family-friendly event to enjoy food, fun and take action challenging Duke Energy’s plans!

Date/time: Sunday, October 18, 2-5pm

Location: Historic Henderson County Courthouse, Hendersonville

Who should attend: Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend, because even if power lines won’t run through your property or community, we’ll all pay for this $1.1 billion plan through our utility rates.

Purpose: Stand in unity against Duke Energy’s Western Carolina’s “Modernization” plan and tell elected officials and utility regulators that we oppose this plan. Get up to speed on the latest developments and know all your options for making your voice heard!

Want to help? Sign up to volunteer or donate to help make this event great!