Coal free UNC-CH?
Today the Sierra Club and Sierra Student Coalition launched a national campaign and report aimed at getting our nation's campuses to kick the coal habit. In North Carolina, the focus will be on moving UNC-Chapel Hill beyond coal.
UNC-Chapel Hill has taken some notable steps towards a clean energy future (e.g. setting a goal of reducing the university’s global warming pollution 60% by 2050). Nevertheless, the campus still relies on dirty coal from a university owned facility that generates close to 25% of the electricity used on campus.
Our campaign aims to help the NC system’s flagship university lead the transition away from dirty sources of energy, clean up our air and set a positive example for public universities across the nation.
Read the report and the campaign press release...
America's Best Idea
Tomorrow in Charlotte the critically acclaimed documentary "National Parks: America's Best Idea" will be previewed at the Mint Museum off of Randolph Road. Those who attend will receive a sneak peek of a six part series featuring incredible video from around the country.
Close to 250 people plan to attend. If you'll be in or around Charlotte, come for the refreshments and local speakers including Central Piedmont Chair Josh Thomas. Sierra Club Director Carl Pope is interviewed in the film, discussing the role of the Sierra Club in the growth of the National Park system.
Titan Cement receives draft air permit
Despite the objections of the Sierra Club and other environmental groups to wait until all the facts were in, the Perdue Administration issued a draft air permit for the proposed cement kiln in New Hanover County. From the Sierra Club letter to the Governor:
The proposed cement kiln, which would be the third largest in the nation, involves a singularly toxic brew of coal combustion and coal fly ash used in the production process itself. The result for citizens and the sensitive coastal environment could well be substantial hazardous air emissions in a part of the state that already experiences high levels of such emissions, especially mercury. What’s more, we were amazed to learn that Titan Cement may be a larger emitter of global warming carbon emissions than the controversial proposed Duke Energy Cliffside power plant expansion in Rutherford County.
Blog
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Outings
Bartram Trail Backpack | October 17 -25, 2009 | Capital Group
Starting in GA, we will backpack the 100 mile Bartram Trail end-to-end. It starts east of the Appalachian Trail (AT), heads north towards Highlands, N. C., then heads northwest, intersecting the AT at Wayah Bald, runs with it briefly, then turns northwest, skirting Nantahala Lake, rejoining the AT atop Cheoah Bald where it ends.
In the News
Speakers oppose rate hike, coal-fired power plant | Charlotte Observer | Sept 10, 2009
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