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.

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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.

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.

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.