Late yesterday afternoon, Lt Gov Perdue joined Treasurer Moore in making a recommendation that the Division of Air Quality wait on issuance of the air permit for the Cliffside coal plant.
We are eager to hear how the other gubernatorial candidates will weigh in on this issue...
More about the pending decision can be found here.
1.23.2008
Treasurer Moore Says Coal Plant a “Last Resort”
State Treasurer Richard Moore today became the first gubernatorial candidate to weigh in on the Cliffside coal-fired power plant permitting issue now facing state regulators. Treasurer Moore recommended that the project be paused, in favor of cleaner energy options.
“North Carolina should focus on new, efficient energy choices and conservation rather than building more high polluting, coal fired power plants,” Moore said in a statement.
The Cliffside plant poses the biggest climate challenge North Carolina will face in the coming decades. The plant will spew over 6 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year.
“North Carolina should focus on new, efficient energy choices and conservation rather than building more high polluting, coal fired power plants,” Moore said in a statement.
The Cliffside plant poses the biggest climate challenge North Carolina will face in the coming decades. The plant will spew over 6 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year.
Our Ears are Burning…
We're pleased to report that Durham Mayor Bill Bell acknowledged the possible relationship of climate change to North Carolina's ongoing drought in his State of the City address this week. But we're even happier to note that Mayor Bell sees Durham governments' pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030 -- as part of their ongoing Cool Cities initiatives -- as a way to tackle the water shortage situation.
"We must do everything we can to alert our citizens and help them to understand their role in helping lower greenhouse gas emissions," Bell said. "We must lead by example."
Cool Cities recognize that the environmental and economic impacts of their initiatives can be far reaching -- taking these steps now can help avert problems down the road. And, when governments show leadership, others are sure to follow.
Meantime, Raleigh keeps moving forward with Mayor Meeker's “green city” initiatives, with an emphasis on energy efficiency. Raleigh was also recognized by the Sierra Club as a Cool City.
"We must do everything we can to alert our citizens and help them to understand their role in helping lower greenhouse gas emissions," Bell said. "We must lead by example."
Cool Cities recognize that the environmental and economic impacts of their initiatives can be far reaching -- taking these steps now can help avert problems down the road. And, when governments show leadership, others are sure to follow.
Meantime, Raleigh keeps moving forward with Mayor Meeker's “green city” initiatives, with an emphasis on energy efficiency. Raleigh was also recognized by the Sierra Club as a Cool City.
Lt Gov Perdue Wants to Support Climate Conscious Cities
Lt Gov Perdue announced last week that local governments ready to make a serious commitment to combating climate change should get a little financial help from the state. The project she proposed as a candidate for Governor would help fund carbon-cutting measures in cities that have signed the US Mayor’s Climate Agreement.
Cliffside Keeps Racking Up Opponents
The Asheville Citizens Times reports that the coal-fired power plant Cliffside met some foes at a debate among Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor last week in Asheville. Winston-Salem Councilman Dan Besse and lawyer Hampton Dellinger oppose the plant.
1.01.2008
Hampton Dellinger on Cliffside
Hampton Dellinger is a candidate for Lieutenant Governor. The NC Sierra Club is always happy to print statements about environmental issues from statewide candidates on its blog:
Hampton Dellinger, Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, today urged the Division of Air Quality within the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources to reject Duke Energy's request for an air quality permit for a new coal-fired power plant at Cliffside, near Charlotte.
Dellinger's objections to the permit request include an ongoing EPA enforcement action against the currently operating Cliffside units, and the National Park Service's finding that a new plant could have a “severe” impact upon air quality in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
“There is no overriding reason to grant a state permit now, and plenty of good reasons not to,” Dellinger said. “The site is embroiled in serious ongoing litigation about its current emissions, the damage to the Smoky Mountains caused by new coal-fired plants has been decried by the National Park Service, and the public case for North Carolina to accept the `last resort' of a new coal plant does not appear to have been made yet, particularly when the plant is not slated to utilize IGCC or similar advanced technologies to combat air pollution.”
Dellinger also called upon all 2008 statewide candidates to make their position on the permitting issue publicly known. “New coal plants will have an impact on North Carolina for years to come. Voters should know where the candidates stand on Cliffside so they can cast their ballots accordingly,” Dellinger said.
Hampton Dellinger is former Chief Legal Counsel to Gov. Mike Easley and served as a Deputy Attorney General in the North Carolina Department of Justice.
Hampton Dellinger, Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, today urged the Division of Air Quality within the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources to reject Duke Energy's request for an air quality permit for a new coal-fired power plant at Cliffside, near Charlotte.
Dellinger's objections to the permit request include an ongoing EPA enforcement action against the currently operating Cliffside units, and the National Park Service's finding that a new plant could have a “severe” impact upon air quality in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
“There is no overriding reason to grant a state permit now, and plenty of good reasons not to,” Dellinger said. “The site is embroiled in serious ongoing litigation about its current emissions, the damage to the Smoky Mountains caused by new coal-fired plants has been decried by the National Park Service, and the public case for North Carolina to accept the `last resort' of a new coal plant does not appear to have been made yet, particularly when the plant is not slated to utilize IGCC or similar advanced technologies to combat air pollution.”
Dellinger also called upon all 2008 statewide candidates to make their position on the permitting issue publicly known. “New coal plants will have an impact on North Carolina for years to come. Voters should know where the candidates stand on Cliffside so they can cast their ballots accordingly,” Dellinger said.
Hampton Dellinger is former Chief Legal Counsel to Gov. Mike Easley and served as a Deputy Attorney General in the North Carolina Department of Justice.
Cool Cities 2007 Final Tally
Bethania in Forsyth County and Bald Head Island in Brunswick County became the final two Cool Cities of 2007, bringing the tally up to 36 in North Carolina.
Check out coverage of Bald Head Island in the Wilmington Star-News.
In 2007 the number of Cool Cities in NC went from 5 to 36, giving us the fourth most in the country! Congratulations to everyone who made it happen and here's to many more in 2008.
Check out coverage of Bald Head Island in the Wilmington Star-News.
In 2007 the number of Cool Cities in NC went from 5 to 36, giving us the fourth most in the country! Congratulations to everyone who made it happen and here's to many more in 2008.
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