Windy debate
 Did you know North Carolina currently has no environmental permitting process in place for large-scale wind farms? A recent legislative proposal aimed at rectifying that has gotten a lot of press for the debate on wind on ridge tops in the mountains (News & Observer, Charlotte Observer).
But we want to know what you think about wind.
Please take a second to answer our poll question: Would you support wind in your community?
NC worst in nation with most "high hazard" coal ash sites.
 By now, you've likely heard a lot about the EPA's release of a list of 44 "high hazard" coal ash ponds, deemed as such due to the potential loss of life should the dams fail. North Carolina was tops in the nation with 12 sites.
Along with Earth Justice, the Sierra Club successfully petitioned the EPA for release of that list. And there's lots of ways for you to take action as well.
If you haven't yet, you can:
-
-
-
contact your NC representative in support of Rep. Pricey Harrison's H1354, Increase Public Safety for Coal Ash Disposal
On plastic bags, how did your Rep vote?
 Plastic bags are lightweight and non-biodegradable. Those that are not recycled or disposed of properly have little trouble finding their way to our beaches and coastal waters.
Recently, S1018, Ban Single Use Plastic Bags, was signed into law by Gov Perdue.
Want to see how your NC House Rep voted on cleaning up our beaches and protecting the threatened and endangered marine life on our shores?
Take a look at the vote count.
Outings
 Indian Creek Trail at Hanging Rock State Park | August 1, 2009 | contact: Piedmont Plateau Group
The trail is part of NC’s Mountains to Sea Trail System. We will traverse about 7 ? miles as we hike this moderate trail up and back.
Mt Mitchell Park -Camp/Hike | Aug 7 - 9, 2009 | contact: Piedmont Plateau Group
We will camp at the small but beautiful campground (9 sites) at this park, accessed by way of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Pisgah National Forest.
Have you checked out the Sierra Club's new online community 'Trails' yet? If not, just know that there is a treasure trove of information on NC - over 30 trails, second only to California, which has 13 Chapters to our 1.
In the News
Coal Ash Hazards | News & Observer | July 7, 2009
Your July 5 front-page article referred to startling news that North Carolina is home to more potentially high hazard coal ash ponds than any other state. These dozen sites, which contain toxic waste from burning coal for electricity, could threaten life should the structures fail as happened in Tennessee.
Legislative Maneuver | Yes Weekly | July 3, 2009
“We feel strongly about cleaning up Jordan Lake,” said Drew Ball, lobbyist for the NC Sierra Club. "We understand that we have to find a workable solution."
Rural link handcuffs sales tax for now | Durham Herald Sun | June 30, 2009
"Any time you start removing options for rural counties, you're going to have less support," said Molly Diggins, executive director of the N.C. Sierra Club. "Whether or not it would cause the bill to fail I hope is a test we don't have to see the results of."
Scope out our Blog | Join us on  Facebook
|
