WNC may lose environmental money under state budget

Here’s an excerpt from the Asheville Citizen-Times article:

The state legislature on Thursday chose two entities in the eastern part of the state to allocate money originally intended for environmental projects in Western North Carolina.

Neither requested to be involved, and it is unclear how much of the money will reach the mountains.

The $4.5 million in question is part of $11.2 million North Carolina is to get as part of a settlement of a lawsuit over air pollution produced by the Tennessee Valley Authority, much of which affects WNC.

The 2011 agreement involving TVA, four states and others called for the money to be spent on 14 categories of projects to produce solar or other renewable energy, increase energy efficiency or reduce pollution.

It says states are to use their “best efforts” to spend the money in the Tennessee River watershed, which takes in most of WNC.

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About Jake Frankel
Jake Frankel is an award-winning journalist who enjoys covering a wide range of topics, from politics and government to business, education and entertainment.

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