Duke announcement to clean coal ash ponds excludes two of three Cliffside sites

June 25, 2015

On June 25, Duke Energy announced plans to excavate and close 12 additional coal ash ponds across the state.

Duke Energy’s announcement does not impact its Asheville site, where all the ash is already mandated to be moved, but it does include excavation of one of the three coal ash ponds at the Cliffside power plant in Rutherford County. We know that all three ponds are leaching contaminants into the groundwater and the river so, while it is a step forward that Duke is committing to excavate ash in one of those ponds, we believe they can and should do better. They have not yet decided what to do with the coal ash in the other ponds, nor has the state mandated a cleanup strategy there.

With this announcement, Duke has now committed to excavate coal ash at 7 of 14 sites (20 of 32 ash ponds) in NC. Again, while this is a good step, seven communities across the state still don’t know the extent to which they will be protected from ongoing coal ash contamination going forward. We will press on with our litigation in the Cliffside case until we reach a resolution that will protect the people of that region and the Broad River.

WSFF Highlands Synopses

MountainTrue presents:

Film Synopses

Highlands, NC
June 13, 2015

Birdsongs: Yosemite Nature Notes
WILDLIFE AND NATURE
Yosemite National Park’s beautiful landscapes also contain unique soundscapes, and birders and ornithologist flock to park to see and hear over 250 species of birds. Open your eyes and ears to the birdsongs of Yosemite! (2014, 6 min)

Common Ground
Alexandria Bombach
LAND PRESERVATION
Several ranching and farming communities living against the stunning landscape of the Rocky Mountain Front in Montana are faced with the decision of what is to become of this unprotected public land. As the community battles with the idea of proposing more wilderness areas, heritage and tradition are seemingly defended on both sides. When the people begin to raise their voices, they come to find that what is feared most is change. (2014, 18 min)

Curious Snail, The
Alex Jones
KIDS
The “Curious Snail” showcases the beauty of a snail’s simple and small world. All 4K and 5K content is available for commercial licensing upon request. (2014, 1 min)

Brilliant Darkness: Hotaru in the Night
Emily Driscoll
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ACTIVISM
‘Brilliant Darkness: Hotaru in the Night’ explores the importance of darkness through the study and preservation of firefly habitats in Japan and the United States. Fireflies are reportedly disappearing, as artificial night lights disrupt their ‘language of light’. ‘Brilliant Darkness Hotaru in the Night’ features artists and scientists on different continents working to understand firefly flash patterns and how to live among wildlife in urban settings. (2014, 12 min)

Delta Dawn
Peter McBride
WATER AND FISH CONSERVATION
The Colorado River hasn’t kissed the sea in almost two decades — until the spring of 2014 when an experimental pulse of water was released into this forgotten delta. A team of river runners followed the water to witness this unprecedented restoration effort, and attempted to be the only, and potentially the last to float the Colorado River to the sea by paddle board. With unpredictable adventure as the backdrop, filmmaker Pete McBride tells the story of Western water, a challenged Colorado River and the uplifting potential for environmental restoration via collaboration, all through his repeated experiences chasing a river to the sea. (2014, 17 min)

Chuitna, More Than Salmon On The Line
Trip Jennings, Paul Moinester, Sam Weis, Balance Media
WATER AND FISH CONSERVATION
“Chuitna” chronicles the journey of conservation-minded fly fishermen who travel to Alaska’s unspoiled Chuitna Watershed to wade waist-deep into its salmon-rich waters and the fight to defeat the proposed Chuitna Coal Mine. With every cast and every conversation with the frontier Alaskans fighting to protect their homeland, the travelers obtain a deeper understanding of the mine’s devastating impact. (2014, 29 min)

I Heard
Michael Ramsey Director, Abbey Smith Producer, Stacy Bare Executive Producer
KIDS
A Seuss-esque journey into some of the 110+ million acres of designated American wilderness that we have to enjoy. Award-winning filmmaker Michael Ramsey’s short film celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act which ensures that we will have places “…where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” (2014, 3 min)

For more information, contact MountainTrue’s AmeriCorps Education & Outings Coordinator Rachel Stevens at (828) 258-8737, ext. 215 or Rachel@mountaintrue.org.

6/13: Protect native plants along the A.T.

Japanese Spirea

6/13: Protect native plants along the A.T.

Southern Appalachian Cooperative Weed Management Partnership is hosting a volunteer work day from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. June 13 on the Appalachian Trail at Lemon Gap. The day will be spent combating Japanese Spirea that are invading native systems along the A.T.

Lend a hand and bring a friend!

Volunteers should wear long sleeves, long pants, hiking boots (closed-toed shoes — no sandals, please!)

Bring lunch, snacks and lots of water. Good humor is appreciated.

RSVP and get directions and carpool information by clicking HERE.

7/17-18: Volunteer with us and get in FREE at the “Burning CAN Beer Fest”!

Oskar Blues Brewery is hosting its annual East Coast “Burning CAN Beer Fest” July 17-18 in Brevard, and MountainTrue will receive a portion of proceeds from this multi-day, outdoor festival with nationally touring bands, 50+ of the best canning breweries from around the country, camping, a Beer Relay competitive trail run, paddle trips, group rides and a premier dirt-jumping competition.

Lend us a hand during Burning CAN and get FREE admission to the festival!

Click HERE to volunteer.

NOTE: Please do not leave a comment below to sign up. You must click the link above as stated above to sign up for a ticket and shift. Thank you!

7/24: Save the French Broad Concert — Matisyahu at the Orange Peel

Please join us on July 24 as Matisyahu helps us in our ongoing work to save the French Broad River! Matisyahu is an American artist known for blending Orthodox Jewish themes with reggae, rock and hip hop beatboxing sounds. Matisyahu’s 2005 single “King Without a Crown” was a Top 40 hit.

Tickets are $25 in advance/$28 day of show. This is an all-ages show!

We’re also hosting a VIP meet-and-greet with Matisyahu from 6-8 p.m. at Pulp, just before the concert on July 24. VIP tickets include catered food and complimentary Sweetwater beer. Cost is $60 for a VIP ticket with a seat on the reserved seating platform during the show, and $50 without guaranteed seating.

Get your tickets today by clicking HERE.

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS!

5/22-5/30: Join us for Beer Week (and for clean water!) at Universal Joint

UJ in West Asheville

Join MountainTrue and American Whitewater at the Universal Joint (748 Haywood Road) for Beer Week — and clean water! — from May 22-30 when 100 percent of the daily beer special sales will be split between MountainTrue and American Whitewater.

Drink a beer and support clean water and recreation in French Broad River. Come any day of beer week, but Thursday will feature special giveaways, including a waterproof French Broad River Paddle Trail map, and MountainTrue swag.

Participating Breweries are:

Wicked Weed
Foothills
New Belgium
Asheville Brewing
Pisgah
Oskar Blues
Lagunitas
Hi-Wire
Lonerider
Catawba
Sierra Nevada
Sweetwater
French Broad Brewing
Noble Cider
Highland

BREAKING: Asheville coal plant retirement signals end to coal ash pollution

Continued Reliance on Fossil Fuels Troubling to the Region

Asheville, NC – In an announcement today, Duke Energy revealed a proposal to retire the Asheville Plant, a 414 MW nameplate capacity (376 MW operating capacity) coal-fired power plant located near Asheville, North Carolina. The announcement includes plans to replace coal-fired power at the plant with new, larger gas fired generation options. Additionally, Duke has committed to building a solar farm on the site of coal ash ponds near the plant. Today’s announcement marks the 190^th coal plant announced for retirement since the beginning of the Beyond Coal campaign.

In Response to Today’s Announcement MountainTrue, Sierra Club, Southern Environmental Law Center and Waterkeeper Alliance issued the following joint statement:

“For the last three years the Asheville Beyond Coal Campaign and thousands of individuals have called on Duke Energy to transition our region off of coal. This has been a struggle to protect our health, our families and our communities. It has required tireless effort to pursue a brighter vision for Asheville. We can declare victory in securing closure of the plant, for it means an end is in sight for the air, water, and carbon pollution from this plant, but Duke’s announcement to build new gas is inconsistent with the clean energy vision we have called for.

“While we applaud Duke’s decision to retire the Asheville plant, Duke failed to hear what people wanted in its place. Folks want a bright future that supports clean energy, not a giant gas plant polluting Asheville for another 30 years. North Carolina has the opportunity to be a leader in clean energy generation through aggressive investments in solar power and energy efficiency, and Duke Energy must be a partner in that effort – but moves like this deeply undermine the ability to bring online clean, reliable 21^st century energy options that will create good jobs right here at home.

“North Carolinians deserve clean water and home grown electricity options that invest in local communities and create jobs here in our community. North Carolina has some of the best potential in the nation to harvest the sun for our power needs but Duke Energy must be a partner in that investment if the state is ever to see the real benefits of clean energy. While the proposed solar farm is a step in the right direction, it falls far short of the investment needed to move the region to a clean energy future.

“Additionally, this announcement does nothing to address evidence of unsafe air pollution from the Asheville Plant; under Duke’s proposal, the plant could continue to emit sulfur dioxide at levels that threaten public health until the coal-burning units are retired.

“The retirement of the Asheville Plant is a step in the right direction, but it is a half measure, undermined by continuing reliance on an economically unpredictable and polluting source of power. Duke can do better, and our community deserves better. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to fight for clean energy solutions for Western North Carolina.”

MountainTrue sponsors Rhythm and Brews 2015!

The 2015 Rhythm and Brews season is shaping up to be another stellar series, with fantastic music, good food, fine drink and — best of all — good friends. And MountainTrue is proud to support this great community event!

The series will once again be in the Azalea parking lot, adjacent to King Street, between 3rd and 4th avenues in downtown Hendersonville. The shows are on the third Thursday of each month.

We also need volunteers! If you’re interested in volunteering at the MountainTrue tent or after the show, please click HERE to sign up. Volunteers should be finished less than an hour after the show ends.

The dates for this year’s shows are:
May 21
June 18
July 16
August 20
Sept. 17

Shows start at 5 p.m., with a singer-songwriter showcase, followed by the opening act at 6 p.m. and headliners at 7 p.m. Click here for more information about the shows.

MSNBC: Duke Energy admits guilt in coal ash case

Rachel Maddow reports on the guilty plea by Duke Energy to nine criminal violations of the federal Clean Water Act, vindicating Riverkeeper activists who caught the North Carolina company in the act of illegal polluting.

MountainTrue board chairman goes to D.C., advocates for the environment

MountainTrue Board Chairman Peter Krull at the White House for a meeting with the Council for Environmental Quality

Our Board Chairman Peter Krull at the White House for a meeting with the Council for Environmental Quality

MountainTrue board chairman goes to D.C., advocates for the environment

During the last week of April, MountainTrue Board Chairman Peter Krull was in Washington, D.C., advocating for a number of environmental and climate change policies. The trip was sponsored by E2, Environmental Entrepreneurs, which is part of the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC). MountainTrue has worked with E2 in the past to get entrepreneurs more involved with environmental policy. While in D.C., Peter and his team met with members of the administration, including the Undersecretaries of Transportation and Agriculture, and the President’s Council on Environmental Quality. They also had meetings with nine Senate offices, including staff from North Carolina Sens. Tillis and Burr. They met with five House offices, including staff from Rep. Mark Meadows’ office. Peter’s group had multiple objectives for their meetings: — To demonstrate to legislators and the administration the importance of marrying economic and environmental interests — To establish relationships with legislators on both sides of the aisle And to discuss our policy agenda, which includes: — The importance of incentives and renewable energy tax credits — Clean energy financing opportunities — Climate Change legislation and rules — The EPA Clean Power Plan — A Transportation Bill that is financially and environmentally sustainable — Continued support for the military’s research into renewable energy MountainTrue is very proud to have Peter on our team, advocating for our environment in Western North Carolina — and in the halls of Washington, D.C.

Meeting with Sen. John Boozman, R-Arkansas, and his staff.