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

Faithful Gather in Asheville to Discuss Pope’s Call for Action

Asheville, NC — People of faith will gather for a special event in Asheville at St. Eugene’s Catholic Church on Thursday, September 24 to watch Pope Francis’ address to congress and discuss what his message means to the world and how we can better care for God’s Creation.

What: Caring for Our Common Home: An Interfaith Gathering to Respond to the Pope’s Call for Action
Where: St. Eugene’s Catholic Church, 72 Culvern St., Asheville
When: Thursday, September 24 at 6:00 PM
Who: Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina

On location media contact: Rev. Dr. Steve Runholt, Pastor of Warren Wilson Presbyterian. Cell: (828) 712-7803
*** 100+ attendees anticipated. Interview opportunities. Strong visuals ***

On September 24, Pope Francis will make a historic address to the United States Congress, and in his message, he is expected to reiterate his vigorous call for swift action to address climate change and care for the natural environment. In response, over 100 attendees are expected to gather at St. Eugene’s to enjoy food and fellowship, watch Pope Francis’ address (previously recorded) to Congress, and discuss what his message means to the world.

This interfaith gathering is hosted by the Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina, a program of MountainTrue.

About The Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina
The Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina (CCAWNC) is a network of people of faith and congregations who have united around a moral and spiritual call to preserve the integrity, beauty and health of God’s creation. We work to bring practical and hopeful solutions to our congregations and broader secular communities by engaging hearts and minds through inspiration, education, service and advocacy. Our work is an expression of our love of God and God’s love for the earth and all life.

Carolina Land Coalition unites to challenge Duke’s power plans

Action Expired

HENDERSONVILLE – Communities, neighbors and grassroots organizations across Western Carolina have joined forces to oppose Duke Energy’s Western Carolina expansion plans, including a network of power transmission lines, a large-scale gas-fired power plant near Asheville and substation at Campobello, SC.

The Carolina Land Coalition brings together regional partners, in both Western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina, who would be especially impacted by the planned transmission lines between the power plant at Lake Julian and the new substation in Campobello, SC.
Ever since Duke Energy released maps showing potential routes for those lines, communities and residents in the region have been vocal in their opposition. The Carolina Land Coalition combines resources and perspectives to speak as a unified voice in opposition to Duke’s expansion plans.

“We know that the only way to form a strong defense is to form a unified offense.” said Garnet Fisher, a member of Carolina Land Coalition. “We’ve partnered with our neighbors because we want Duke to know we aren’t interested in their ‘not in my backyard’ game. These mountains are our entire community’s backyard and we will all work together to protect our land and to defend the public interest.”

The Carolina Land Coalition emerged as a joint campaign between community groups and the regional environmental advocacy organization MountainTrue, which also serves to support the Coalition. So far, 15 member groups and 306 individual members have signed on in support.
“We plan to challenge this ‘Modernization’ plan with every resource available,” said MountainTrue co-Director Julie Mayfield. “While the detriment to the property owners is clear, there has been no such consideration for the visitors, businesses that rely on tourism, neighbors or residents whose access to pristine natural beauty will be impacted by these lines.”

“We didn’t want this fight,” says Mills River resident and Carolina Land Coalition supporter Phillip Brown. “All my family and I want to do is what we’ve always done for nearly eight generations here in Western North Carolina: work our family farm, raise our babies and be left alone, leaving others be in their turn. But if anyone comes in here wanting to take our land to enrich themselves, land that my dad work hard for his whole life so it would stay in the family, we have to fight, and we will. We’re all in it for the duration.”

Visit the CarolinaLandCoalition.org website to find regular updates on the Duke’s plans and to join the Coalition in opposing Duke Energy’s plans.

MountainTrue cancels Mountain Brew Fest, cites regulatory obstacles

MountainTrue announced today that it has canceled the upcoming Mountain Brew Fest scheduled for August 22 in downtown Hendersonville, and has issued the following statement:

Our hope was that this festival would be an opportunity to build community, support local brewers and help display MountainTrue’s presence as an advocate for a healthy environment in Henderson County and the region as a whole.
Unfortunately, due to our and others inability to get clear and consistent answers regarding event requirements from the Alcohol Beverage Control and Alcohol Law Enforcement agencies, we determined that it was impossible to ensure the kind of high-quality event our community deserves.

Despite being in constant communication with ALE and ABC since early June, we were unable to get the answers we needed to proceed. Although some agency staff were very helpful, in the final weeks leading up to the festival, the continued ambiguity, as well as the prospect of disciplinary action, led several brewers to decline participation, diminishing the event’s core attraction.

Craft brewing is a major economic driver in our area, and we want to maintain constructive relationships with our wonderful brewing community. In this case, that meant not moving forward with an event in which they were at risk of being penalized by agencies who provided unclear and even conflicting information.

Increased enforcement of previously unregulated permitting hurdles has created an environment of uncertainty for the future of beer festivals, which often provide financial support for non-profits like MountainTrue. Indeed, MountainTrue is also a beneficiary of both the Winter Warmer Beer Festival and the Oskar Blues Burning Can festival in Brevard.

In July, such enforcement resulted in the loss of fundraising revenue from the Burning Can Festival. Amazingly, brewers and attendees have responded to that setback with donations of their own. Both before and since that event, MountainTrue and brewers have worked diligently to avoid repeating that situation, only to be met with delays and lack of clarity.

This kind of uncertainty in the face of harsh penalties has an unfortunate chilling effect in an area where craft beer has built such an impressive reputation. MountainTrue would welcome the opportunity to be part of the conversation with ABC and ALE, brewers and others, on how to overcome these issues, and we hope to be able to revive Mountain Brew Fest in 2016.

We would like to thank all of the brewers, sponsors, volunteers, musical acts and food vendors who made their commitment to MountainTrue and Mountain Brew Fest, as well as the City of Hendersonville.

All ticket holders will receive a full refund. MountainTrue appreciates everyone who wanted to make this a great community event.

MountainTrue Calls for Duke Energy to Justify WNC “Modernization” Plan

Duke Energy’s so-called “Modernization” Plan doubles down on fossil fuels and threatens to disrupt hundreds of property owners, sensitive habitats, and the visual beauty of Western North Carolina’s mountains. In an August 2 article in the Hendersonville Times-News, Duke Energy cites “explosive” growth and increased energy demand in WNC to justify both a bigger fossil-fueled power plant at Lake Julian and a massive and expensive 56-mile network of high-voltage transmission lines between WNC and Campobello, South Carolina. However, Duke has so far not provided solid data to back up their claim or an explanation WNC deserves.

While Asheville and other areas are growing, according to the NC Office of State Management and Budget, outlooks through 2020 indicate WNC will see only moderate or low population growth across all 23 counties.

Additionally, population growth does not necessarily mean a proportional growth in demand for electricity and per capita demand is decreasing with more efficient construction and appliance standards. Duke Energy’s focus on the growth of peak energy use disregards even its own programs designed to reduce consumer demand (see more about those here). These programs are working, so why not increase those efforts?

Notably, Duke has failed to show why further investment in fossil fuels is the best choice for our region rather than unlocking the full potential of renewable energy to meet electricity needs. By moving forward with a gas-fired plant, Duke Energy is committing WNC to a dependence on fossil fuel and denying the rapidly accelerating reality of affordable renewable energy resources.

Duke Energy relies on the same population argument when justifying the need for its proposed expansive network of transmission lines, but has not provided a cost comparison for upgrading existing lines. Duke maintains that these lines are needed to supply WNC extra power during peak seasonal energy usage, but a company spokesperson told the Hendersonville Times-News that “the lines will be able to send power both ways.” It is our belief that WNC does not want to be an exporter of energy to South Carolina. And again, Duke has yet to make a convincing case for this level of infrastructure, or address whether the proposed lines impact the ability to import cleaner renewable energy from other parts of the state and country.

We still need answers. Duke is guaranteed a rate of return on all capital investments, and has a profit incentive to build both of these large projects. Duke has made broad statements of need, but still has not released a true detailed analysis demonstrating that need. All of these factors should be examined together to ensure Duke is proposing the least impactful project both in terms of the environment and rates.

In the absence of this analysis, and by locking WNC into a fossil fuel future with these oversized projects, this plan appears to be a backward-looking “Fossilization” plan rather than a true “Modernization” plan.

Want to know more? Find out if your property is in the crosshairs of Duke’s plans for transmission lines and submit your comments (whether or not you’re impacted) at bit.ly/DukeLines.

Contact: Brian Postelle, Interim Communications Manager
(828) 258-8737
brian@mountaintrue.org