This is an invitation to change everything.
In September, world leaders are coming to New York City for a UN summit on the climate crisis. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is urging governments to support an ambitious global agreement to dramatically reduce global warming pollution.
With our future on the line and the whole world watching, we’ll take a stand to bend the course of history. We’ll take to the streets to demand the world we know is within our reach: a world with an economy that works for people and the planet; a world safe from the ravages of climate change; a world with good jobs, clean air and water, and healthy communities.
Click here for details about the People’s Climate March schedule of events.
To change everything, we need everyone on board. Sunday, Sept. 21 in New York City. Join us.
Reserve a seat on the bus from WNC to NYC for the march HERE.
For more information, you may contact Debby Genz by emailing: dgenz@skyrunner.net.
![[Charlotte Sierra Club]](http://wnca.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/epa-carbon-40-300x300.jpg)
[Charlotte Sierra Club]
ASHEVILLE—On June 2, President Obama and the EPA announced the first-ever carbon pollution limits on all existing power plants. It’s the most important climate action of his presidency, because power plants are America’s single largest source of extreme-weather intensifying, public-health threatening carbon pollution.
The EPA has scheduled four public hearings across the country—in Pittsburgh, Denver, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta—to give people the opportunity to give oral testimony on the new carbon standards.
On July 29, concerned citizens from Western North Carolina will travel to Atlanta to give formal comments supporting the EPA’s proposed carbon pollution limits at the hearing in the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center.
A busload of area activists will leave Asheville at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday from Earth Fare in the Westgate Shopping Center. A press conference, rally and a march will be held in Atlanta outside the hearings. The bus will return to Asheville by midnight.
“We need to tell the EPA that limiting carbon from power plants is the fastest way to tackle climate disruption,” said Anna Jane Joyner, campaign coordinator with Western North Carolina Alliance. “The coal-fired power plant in Asheville is the largest single contributor to climate disruption in our mountains, releasing carbon dioxide into the air every year equivalent to 500,000 cars on the road. This is not just an environmental problem, it’s a public health issue and it’s an economic issue.”
The EPA says it anticipates hearing oral comments from about 1,600 people.
Anyone interested in getting a seat on the bus from Asheville to Atlanta should go to:
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/bus-to-the-epa-carbon-protections-hearing-tickets-12239930963.
The cost is $10, plus a small processing fee.
People also can comment on the EPA’s proposal online or by email, fax or letter. EPA says it considers all comments equally, no matter how they are submitted.
The comment period on the proposed carbon pollution limits rule is open until Oct. 16.
Complete information on the various ways to comment can be found at:
http://www2.epa.gov/carbon-pollution-standards/how-comment-clean-power-plan-proposed-rule
[Charlotte Sierra Club]
On Tuesday, July 29, and Wednesday, July 30, join WNCA and concerned citizens from around the region for EPA’s public hearing in Atlanta on the recently-proposed Clean Power Plan to set limits on carbon pollution.
The hearings will convene at 9 a.m. and end at 8 p.m. each day.
Need a ride to Atlanta?
Click here.
Note: You will need to register here to offer comments. The last day to pre-register in advance to speak at the hearings is Friday, July 25.
If you cannot attend this in-person hearing, submit a comment supporting this proposed rule here.
For more information, visit EPA’s ; for more information about the proposed rule, visit the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy’s Carbon Pollution & the Clean Air Act page or How to Comment page.
Matt Wasson, director of programs at Appalachian Voices, pours out gray sediment from a bucket while collecting samples to test for heavy metals from the Dan River at Draper Landing in Eden. (Greenpeace photo)
ASHEVILLE — Next Thursday, local organizations will host a free film night as part of Coal Ash Stories, a statewide screening tour featuring four short documentary films focused on coal ash, related public health concerns, and policy. The screening is free and open to the public and will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 19 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville.
In February, a storm water pipe below a massive Duke Energy coal ash impoundment failed, spilling 140,000 tons of toxic-laden coal ash and contaminated wastewater into North Carolina’s Dan River. This coal ash sludge now coats the Dan for 70 miles downstream, and the full public health and economic impacts are still unknown.
“In addition to leaking toxics to groundwater and the French Broad River, the Asheville Power Station’s coal ash impoundments are rated ‘high hazard’ by EPA,” said Katie Hicks of Clean Water for North Carolina. “That means that a Kingston-like failure of the 90-foot-tall earthen dams perched above I-40 and the French Broad would cause massive infrastructure damage and likely loss of human life. These dumpsites pose serious threats to our community and need to be moved to safer, modern storage immediately.”
The films and post-screening program will provide an opportunity for the public to learn about the health and environmental impacts of coal ash in communities across the country, talk with community members, and get involved in efforts to hold utilities accountable for their waste.
“Coal ash is the second largest industrial waste stream in America, though it is less regulated than your household garbage,” states Amy Adams of Appalachian Voices, one of more than 20 organizations partnering to present the tour.
The four films featured in Coal Ash Stories – An Ill Wind, At What Cost?, Coal Ash Chronicles, and Downwind and Downstream – paint a grim picture of what life looks like when coal ash pollutes a community. People are unable to drink their own water, take a bath, fish, or farm without worrying about long-term health effects. Similar fears are now facing communities located near other coal-fired power plants in North Carolina.Filmmaker Rhiannon Fionn, creator of Coal Ash Chronicles, said, “It is important to elevate conversations about pollution of all kinds in our country for the sake of our health and the health and viability of future generations. My hope is that films like mine will galvanize citizens who have the power to push for positive change.”
Bridget Whelan of the North Carolina Conservation Network said, “The stories we’re hearing in these films and from North Carolinians living near currently leaking coal ash ponds remind us that real people are suffering real affects from coal ash pollution. For their sake, it’s imperative that North Carolina immediately move all coal ash to safer storage, away from our water and from threatened communities.”
Ulla Reeves of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy added that “The Dan River is a tragic reminder of the dangers associated with storing coal ash in outdated, leaking impoundments next to our rivers. However, it’s not an isolated incident and communities across our region and country are living with coal ash impacts and threats on a daily basis.”
The North Carolina screening tour is co-presented by Appalachian Voices,Earthjustice,North Carolina Conservation Network,Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, and Working Films. Additional local partners for the Asheville screening include Clean Water for North Carolina and Mountain People’s Assembly.
Asheville
7 p.m. Thursday, June 19: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville
1 Edwin Place, Asheville, NC 28801
Hosted by: Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Mountain People’s Assembly, Clean Water for NC
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Katie Hicks, Clean Water for North Carolina
Katie@cwfnc.org
828-251-1291
Elaine Lite, Mountain People’s Assembly
info@mvalliance.net
828-273-1781
Ulla Reeves, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
ulla@cleanenergy.org
828-254-6776 ext. 2
Kristin Henry, Working Films
khenry@workingfilms.org
910-233-1824
Amy Adams, Appalachian Voices
amy@appvoices.org
252-944-6459
Bridget Whelan, NC Conservation Network
bridget@ncconservationnetwork.org
919-857-4699 ext. 109
Photo courtesy of Showtime
Hollywood celebrities and respected journalists span the globe to explore the issues of climate change and cover intimate stories of human triumph and tragedy. Watch new episodes Sundays at 10 p.m.ET/PT, only on SHOWTIME.
The May 4 episode is called “Preacher’s Daughter,” and features Anna Jane Joyner, WNCA’s campaign coordinator, and national Beyond Coal Campaign Director Mary Anne Hitt.
Check out a sneak preview of Preacher’s Daughter below.
You can also watch the series’ first episode, in full, below.
Duke Energy’s coal-fired plant at Lake Julian in Asheville.
Lynn Good, Duke Energy’s CEO has sent a letter to Gov. Pat McCrory that outlines Duke Energy’s coal ash management strategy across North Carolina, including the Asheville Plant.
In the letter, Good says Duke will “continue moving ash from the Asheville plant to a lined structural fill solution,” and “convert the three remaining North Carolina units (Cliffside 5 and both Asheville units) or retire the units.
“We need binding commitments from Duke, not just words,” said Frank Holleman, senior attorney at the SELC, which represents citizens groups suing Duke Energy, along with DENR, to correct federal and state clean-water violations.
“It is good that Duke says it will remove the ash from Riverbend and Dan River, but all 14 communities in North Carolina threatened by its coal ash need binding commitments that Duke Energy will obey the law and clean up its coal ash,” Holleman said.
Recent coal ash news:
DENR rejects Duke’s coal ash plan, amid accusations of leniency-News & Observer
Duke Energy, N.C. too cozy over ash? News & Record
Duke Energy offers coal ash removal plan; DENR calls pan “inadequate”-Time Warner News
Duke Energy vague on future of NC coal ash ponds-WRAL
Poll: Voters think Duke Energy should pay for clean-up, not customers-Chapelboro
NC Democrats to push bill to move all coal ash-WCNC
Internal emails show Duke Energy, DENR negotiating coal ash clean up-WRAL
Paging Duke Energy: SC electric company reuses 80 pct. of coal ash-WCNC
![[Charlotte Sierra Club]](http://wnca.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/epa-carbon-40.jpg)
