Here’s the press release from the North Carolina Chapter of the Sierra Club:
The North Carolina Chapter of the Sierra Club has endorsed Brownie Newman and Ellen Frost for re-election to the Buncombe County Commission. The Sierra Club cited work by Newman and Frost to establish Buncombe County as a leader for clean energy and for preserving family farmlands and natural areas threatened by development. Protecting our mountains and environment is critical for the continued economic growth of Buncombe County.
Newman and Frost were elected to the County Commission in 2012. Since then, Newman and Frost supported adoption of an Energy Independence Initiative that includes a commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of county operations by 80 percent. As part of the initiative, the County conducted an audit of all county facilities to identify opportunities to make them more energy efficient. The proposal was adopted by the Commission in December of 2013 and is expected to save Buncombe taxpayers more than $1 million over the next ten years by reducing utility expenses for public buildings.
Frost and Newman also supported efforts to permanently protect local family farmlands and natural areas threatened by development. The Commission supported investments to help farmers and landowners place conservation easements on their land. This included paying for the transaction costs and providing money to leverage state, Federal and private funding. Lands that were protected over the past year include the 121 acre Long Mountain property in Upper Hominy Valley which is located close to the Blue Ridge Parkway and includes rare mountainside wetland habitats.
“Buncombe County needs elected officials who will make protecting our mountains and communities a top priority. Commissioners Ellen Frost and Brownie Newman not only care about the environment, they have been very effective in advancing policies that make a real difference,” said Ken Brame, the Political Chair of the WENOCA Sierra Club Chapter.
Newman represents District 1 in Buncombe County, which includes most of Asheville and some parts of Woodfin and Swannanoa. Frost represents District 2, which includes Fairview, Swannanoa, Black Mountain, Weaverville and north Buncombe County. Frost and Newman have challengers in the Primary Election. Early voting in the Primary begins on Thursday, April 24. Election day is Tuesday, May 6.
The local Sierra Club group has over 6500 members and supporters in Buncombe County who care about how their county commissioners support environmental protection.
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