A Big Thank You to Our Biomonitoring Volunteers!

Laura-Faye and Evan

Laura-Faye Weir and Evan Parker sifting through a catch.

Alex and Laura-Faye

Alex Rodriguez and Laura-Faye Weir netting some microorganisms.

Mary Beth and Jim

Mary Beth Hayes, left and Jim Czarnezki, front, two of our dedicated volunteers.

MountainTrue wants to thank all the dedicated volunteers who have helped make this another successful year for our biomonitoring programing. Our nine teams of volunteers sampled 21 sites throughout Henderson County, and you can expect the results of this testing in the coming weeks.

Biomonitoring, or biological monitoring, involves sampling and identifying aquatic macroinvertebrates, including insects, snails, worms, mussels, clams and crustaceans. Macroinvertebrates are sensitive to pollution such as sediment, excess nutrients and various chemicals. The diversity, health and abundance of macroinvertebrates found in a stream is a strong indicator of water quality over a period of time and can give a general idea of what may be polluting a stream.

“Using benthic macroinvertebrates to monitor stream health is very effective because the bugs we collect have been living in the stream for several months and provide an indication of the conditions in the stream over an extended period of time,” explains biomonitoring volunteer Jim Czarnezki who is a retired expert in the field. “By looking at the presence or absence of sensitive species, we can determine if a pollution event occurred even if we cannot determine what the specific pollutant was.”

Our biomonitoring program is part of our ongoing effort to monitor water quality throughout the Henderson County. This MountainTrue program is part of the larger SMIE or Stream Monitoring Information Exchange – a regional program managed by the Environmental Quality Institute to determine the health of streams and provide high-quality data. The data is compiled by EQI into an annual report, which are published on our website here: https://mountaintrue.org/water-quality-committee/

MountainTrue collects samples bi-annually during the months of October and April. The majority of our volunteers are people who live and work in Henderson County. Some are retirees. Some are working professionals. Others are students at Warren Wilson, UNCA and Blue Ridge Community College. All have a deep commitment to clean waters and healthy ecosystems.

“Biomonitoring streams is a great way to really see life in streams. It is amazing how many little creatures are in a sample of water, under rocks or in a leaf pile,” says Dorothee Kellinghuse, a student at Warren Wilson. “As a person who loves nature with all its creatures and beauty, it is my goal to preserve and protect the habitat of which I am a part.”

To volunteer for our SMIE biomonitoring program

Email Evan Parker

Three Local Events For Climate Action

Three Local Events For Climate Action

This December, world leaders will meet in Paris to hammer out a new climate agreement. As part of a global movement, hundreds of thousands of people in cities and towns around the world will gather and participate in events to send Paris a clear message: Now is the time to take bold action on climate change!

Europe’s climate chief, Miguel Canete, has warned that there is no “Plan B.” Leaders must develop a plan that cuts greenhouse gas emissions, expands renewable energy infrastructure and helps poor countries adapt to the environmental effects of climate change.

Mark your calendar and attend one of these local rallies to show your support for a meaningful new global climate agreement:

November 29: Hendersonville Rally for Climate Action

This rally takes place on steps of the Historic Courthouse in Hendersonville. The goal is to show leaders meeting in Paris that “our movement cannot be ignored, and we will accept nothing less than an ambitious climate deal, with a global commitment to 100 percent clean energy.” Read an article about the rally and the larger Global Climate March in the Hendersonville Times-News.

Date: November 29
Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Location: Hendersonville Historic Courthouse, 1 Historic Courthouse Sq # 4, Hendersonville, NC 28792
If the weather does not cooperate, we will gather in the meeting room on the second floor of the Historic County Courthouse. See you there!

November 29: Light Up the Night

Come to “Light Up the Night: A Vigil for the Paris Climate Talks” on November 29, 5:00 PM, at Grove Park on Charlotte Street across from St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, as we unite our hearts and longings for a good outcome for the Paris Climate Talks. Join the Green Grannies in song as we hold candles and send our wishes to Paris in solidarity with events all over the world! Sponsored by 350Asheville and The Green Grannies. Contact palmtree747@gmail.com

Date: November 29
Time: 5:00 PM
Location: Grove Park on Charlotte Street, across from St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Asheville

December 6: People’s Pilgrimage for the Paris Climate Talks

The “People’s Pilgrimage for the Paris Climate Talks” will demonstrate with banners and signs, voices and feet in support of commitments from global powers to fight climate change. The public in invited to meet at the pavilion at Asheville’s Carrier Park on Amboy Road and walk two miles along the French Broad River to French Broad River Park. Along the way, supporters will stop at the river, a wetland, a contaminated parcel that is being reclaimed, and an electric power substation to hear about the sites and to share in music, poetry and prayer. This event is sponsored by the Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina.

Date: December 6
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Location: The pavilion at Carrier Park on Amboy Road, Asheville, NC

Make Duke Pay…for YOU to Save Energy and Money!

Energy efficiency might not be as exciting as solar power, but it’s the most affordable, most effective way for any household to save energy and money! Even simple weatherization (sealing all the cracks and holes in your house that waste about 30% of the energy that you pay for) can cut up to $480 annually off of utility bills!

There are lots of existing programs and incentives, many through Duke Energy, to help households, businesses and houses of worship save energy and money on monthly bills. It can be hard to find the right information and figure out where to start, but don’t worry, MountainTrue is here to help!

Find out more!

11/12: Hendersonville Green Drinks on the Threats to Our National Forests

11/12 Hendersonville Green Drinks: Mountain True’s Josh Kelly on the Threats to Our National Forests

HENDERSONVILLE, NC — MountainTrue Public Lands Field Biologist Josh Kelly is the featured presenter for the next Hendersonville Green Drinks on Thursday, November 12, from 6–8 p.m. at The Taproom at Monte’s, 2024 Asheville Hwy in Hendersonville.

WHAT: Hendersonville Green Drinks, hosted by MountainTrue
WHO: Josh Kelly, MountainTrue Field Biologist
WHEN: November 12, from 6-8pm
WHERE: The Taproom at Monte’s, 2024 Asheville Hwy in Hendersonville

Kelly’s presentation, entitled Threats to Our National Forests, Here and Across the Nation, will focus on budgetary and legislative threats to National Forests including attempts to privatize federal lands, the potential death of the Land & Water Conservation Fund, and fire borrowing. Kelly will also give an update on the revision of the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest’s management plan and provide attendees with proactive ways to get involved in protecting public land.

Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions, and meet up with like-minded people. Everyone is welcome. You don’t have to drink at Green Drinks, just come and listen. The Taproom at Monte’s has a good selection of beers as well as non-alcoholic beverages. Monte’s also has great subs if you’re hungry. For more information about Hendersonville’s Green Drinks, contact Mark Stierwalt, Southern Regional Director for MountainTrue at (828) 692-0385 ext. 1004, or Mark@mountaintrue.org.

MountainTrue and Sierra Club Respond to Duke Energy’s Revised ‘Modernization’ Project

Media contacts:
Karim Olaechea, MountainTrue
E: karim@mountaintrue.org, C: 415-535-9004

Melissa Williams, Sierra Club
E: melissa.williams@sierraclub.org, C: 828-545-0443

ASHEVILLE, NC – Duke Energy today announced a dramatic reconfiguration to their Carolinas Modernization Project, scrapping a proposed 40-mile transmission line that would have cut through the counties of Buncombe, Henderson and Polk in North Carolina and Spartanburg in South Carolina; eliminating a new substation in Campobello, S.C.; and reducing the size of a proposed new natural gas plant slated to replace the current coal-fired plant at Lake Julian outside of Asheville.

At the press conference, Duke Energy laid out the specifics of their revision: Whereas the company had initially proposed a single 650-megawatt natural gas-powered plant, Duke Energy now plans to build two side-by-side 280-megawatt natural gas units, 90 megawatts less than what was originally proposed.

The company has said that they will work with the City of Asheville to fulfill the recently adopted Clean Energy Framework and that construction of an additional 190 MW peaking unit (one that is only used when power demand is at its high) in 2023 could be delayed through greater collaboration on energy efficiency programs, renewable energy, demand-side management, and new technologies.

Julie Mayfield, co-director of MountainTrue — the primary organizer of the Carolina Land Coalition:

“Eliminating transmission lines and a proposed substation is a significant win for the residents of Western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. We came together, voiced our concerns, and Duke Energy heard our call. We applaud Duke for listening to our communities, going back to the drawing board and setting a new course that is more consistent with our values and respectful of our region’s natural heritage.

Today we can celebrate but tomorrow we go back to work. Though we are pleased the proposed plant is smaller than originally proposed, natural gas is still a major contributor to climate change, and our region is already feeling the impacts.

MountainTrue and the Carolina Land Coalition look forward to working with Duke Energy, the City of Asheville, and others throughout the region to marshal new resources and make meaningful investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency and demand reduction. Through that collaborative work, we can achieve the clean energy future we all want and need.”

Kelly Martin, senior campaign representative for the Beyond Coal campaign in North Carolina, said:

“We’re glad to see that Duke Energy is responding to the concerns of people in WNC by abandoning the transmission lines, paring down the scale of this oversized project, and delaying the build of a portion of the natural gas plant to give time for clean energy solutions to get in place. The cost of investing in clean, reliable, renewable energy sources is dropping rapidly. Investments in energy efficiency and clean energy are a smart bet and, if done right, could prevent the need for any more natural gas to be built in our region. The City of Asheville’s recently adopted Clean Energy Framework is a great place for these solutions to take shape.

We look forward to the day when Duke Energy ends its reliance on fossil fuels altogether, for the sake of our public health, water quality, and slowing down climate change.”

**read below for more reactions in bold**

How We Got To This Announcement

In 2009, The French Broad Riverkeeper, a program of MountainTrue, discovered that Duke Energy’s Lake Julian coal ash pits were illegally polluting the French Broad River. In 2012, MountainTrue and the Sierra Club, along with other local organizations launched the Asheville Beyond Coal campaign geared at retiring the Asheville Coal Plant, the region’s largest contributor to global climate change and air and water pollution.

The Asheville Beyond Coal campaign, and MountainTrue’s former campaign coordinator Anna Jane Joyner, were featured in last year’s Showtime’s documentary series “Years of Living Dangerously.” Additionally, the coal ash issue, and the litigation brought by the Southern Environmental Law Center on behalf of MountainTrue, the Sierra Club, the WaterKeeper Alliance and other environmental groups, was featured in local, statewide and national press, including on MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show and CBS News.

In the aftermath of the Dan River spill of 2014, and under immense political, legal and public pressure, the State of North Carolina adopted the nation’s first coal ash legislation, requiring Duke Energy to address its coal ash pollution and to fully excavate coal ash at four sites around the state, including Asheville.

After three years of public campaigning and litigation by MountainTrue and the Asheville Beyond Coal campaign partners, Duke Energy announced the closing of the Asheville coal plant in the May 2015. However, in conjunction with the announcement, Duke laid out the broad strokes of the Carolinas Modernization Project: a large, new natural gas plant that would replace the coal plant on Lake Julian, a new substation for Campobello, SC, and 40 miles of transmission lines between the two.

MountainTrue worked with local leaders in Henderson and Polk Counties to establish the Carolinas Land Coalition, bringing together residents in Western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. Over 1,271 individuals and 31 businesses and community organizations joined the coalition and called on Duke Energy to revise their plans in order to reduce the negative impact on communities and the region’s economy and environment.

On Oct. 8, 2015, Duke Energy announced that they would put their “Modernization” plans on hold in order to consider other alternatives, citing community concerns expressed through more than 9,000 public comments.

Duke Energy listened, and on Nov. 4, the company announced a revised plan that eliminates the contested Campobello substation and the 40-miles of transmission lines, and reduces the proposed size of the natural gas plant on Lake Julian.

“This is a testament to what’s possible when communities come together to demand a better future for us all. This movement has been truly awe-inspiring, with neighbors and strangers alike coming together on common ground,” says Joan Walker, campaign coordinator for MountainTrue and Carolina Land Coalition. “We’ve made real progress and we couldn’t have done that without the tireless efforts of folks throughout the foothills and mountains.”

For many residents, involvement in the Carolina Land Coalition was a new experience in community organizing and environmental advocacy. Phillip Brown, a member of the Carolina Land Coalition and a farmer and resident of Mills River whose family has lived in the area since the 1830s, explained, “I, like many of us, don’t generally get out and participate in political protests and activism. However, this was a fight we just couldn’t stay out of. While I’m glad to see that Duke has made a better decision now, I think it’s important that we all stay vigilant to make sure they keep making the right decisions for the people of Western North Carolina. We’re in this fight for the long haul. It’s not just about my backyard anymore, it’s about our land, our homes and keeping and maintaining the natural heritage of Western North Carolina and the Foothills for the future.”

Mark Stierwalt, southern regional director for MountainTrue is cautiously hopeful. “We’ve dodged a bullet. This is a win, but there’s still much work to be done. The coalition needs to remain attentive and hold Duke to its promises.” For MountainTrue, this is an improvement over the immediate harms of coal, but the revised plan still commits the region to decades of dependence on fossil-fuels, namely natural gas — a powerful greenhouse gas.

North Carolina and South Carolina public utility regulators will hold public hearings on Duke Energy’s plan in the near future. MountainTrue, the Carolina Land Coalition and the Sierra Club will be rallying public comment and accessing opportunities to engage in the public utility regulators’ permitting processes. We will also be scrutinizing the plan, mobilizing residents throughout the region and advocating for the best solutions for Western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. MountainTrue will promote greater use of energy efficiency by educating the public about existing programs that help them cut their use and shrink their electric bills. For guides to WNC energy efficiency programs, visit bit.ly/MTGreenEnergy.

To keep up with the latest news and events, visit mountaintrue.org, carolinalandcoalition.org and sierraclub.org/ashevillebeyondcoal.

###

11/9 & 11/16: Forest Service Public Meetings

As part of the Forest Planning process for the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests, the Forest Service has evaluated lands, rivers and streams that could be eligible for protection as Wilderness areas or as Wild and Scenic Rivers. If approved, this could:

Keep logging, road-building and mining out of 364,000 acres of backcountry and our most special wild places.
Designate 53 pristine waterways as Wild and Scenic Rivers. This is the strongest form of protection for these rivers. Eligibility would create 1/4-mile buffers to maintain the outstanding quality of rivers and prevent dams from being built on these waterways.

In addition to attending the meetings, click here to submit your comments TODAY!

Attend one of the Forest Service’s public meetings:

November 9, 2015, 6-8pm
Tartan Hall, 26 Church St.
Franklin, NC 28734

November 16, 2015, 6-8pm
2015 Mountain View Room,Kimmel Arena
University of NC Asheville
1 University Heights
Asheville, NC 28801

‘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