Sierra Club

First, the good news from the legislature, as it heads into its final days:

Last month, the EPA released a list of 44 high hazard coal ash disposal ponds, 12 in North Carolina. On Friday, July 31st, Gov Perdue signed H 1354, Increase Public Safety for Coal Ash Disposal, into law. Sponsored by Rep Pricey Harrison and with the active support of Gov. Perdue, ,he move will mandate greater oversight and more frequent inspections of these high hazard sites, which have the potential to threaten human life should they fail.

Before H 1354, high hazard coal ash ponds in North Carolina were only subject to inspection every five years. Under the new bill, they will receive a state inspection every one to two years. The EPA's report raised eyebrows after the catastrophic collapse in Tennessee of a similar TVA impoundment last December, when over 1.1 billion gallons of hazardous ash coated the adjoining landscape.

But H 1354 is only a first step, addressing the structural integrity of the dams but not the potential environmental and human health impacts of the sludge they contain. Sierra Club is calling on US EPA to phase out coal ash disposal ponds altogether.

And there's more:

On Tuesday, two of our priority bills passed out of Senate Finance and will now head to the Senate floor! H 148, Congestion Relief/Intermodal Transport Fund, and H 1389, Revolving Loan Fund for Energy Improvements (in common parlance, "City FIRST"), both met with a very positive reception in committee and passed overwhelmingly.

The Senate has given tentative approval to H 148. The final vote will happen tomorrow and the bill will then be sent to the governor. H 1389 passed the senate with a vote of 47 to 0. It will now go to the NC House for concurrence before being sent to the governor.

Special thanks to the Sierrans who've contacted their legislators in support of both bills, and a shout out to the Capital Group's lobby night volunteers for their efforts. 

Now, the bad news

Approximately 25 years ago, the state legislature set up the Environmental Management Commission as the state’s environmental rule-making body and to ensure North Carolina is complying with federal laws. Yet last week the State Senate unanimously voted to ban the EMC from taking up a proposed set of rules regulating the hog farmers. You can hear about it here at WUNC’s legislative blog, Isaac Hunter's Tavern.

Why all the hubbub? A citizen petition before the EMC sought to require animal waste management facilities to test the water near the area of discharge three times per year. Currently, inspectors visually monitor the downstream discharge, and the petition asked the EMC to consider requiring water quality tests of a more stringent variety. Read some pointed commentary over at the Institute for Southern Studies.

The move by the Senate effectively stops citizens’ voices from being heard even when citizens followed all the rules, as set forth by the legislature itself. We're watching closely over this one to see if the House takes it up. Keep your eyes peeled for an acton alert.

The Queen City is about to get greener

Sierra Club’s Charlotte Cool Cities project is proud to announce a partnership with Habitat for Humanity's Critical Home Repair Division to weatherize homes. The program will serve economically disadvantaged homeowners in Charlotte and aims to make homes more energy efficient and to provide urgent major repairs.

The program will prevent homeowners from being displaced and protect Charlotte’s affordable housing stock. By making the homes more efficient, not only will volunteers be reducing energy waste, but they will also lower monthly power bills for residents. The first workday on Saturday August 8th is full, but there will be ongoing events throughout the year. Email Erica Geppi, Cool Cities Conservation Organizer, or call 704.343.0047 to learn how you can get involved!

Must reads

Eagle Eyes on Growth | News & Observer | August 5, 2009

There are few more worthwhile endeavors undertaken by local governments than planning for how communities should grow.

Bringing Green Home | Winston Salem Journal | August 4, 2009

For North Carolina to fully benefit from the renewable-energy law, however, the utilities must increase the power they buy from in-state generators. That will mean a reduction in future needs for coal-powered production of electricity and improved air quality.

---

Twitter | Blog | Facebook