Greenpeace activists raise banner on Progress plant smokestack; arrests ensue

Posted on by Max Cooper

Over the course of several hours, Greenpeace activists precariously deployed a banner at the top of a smokestack at Progress Energy’s Lake Julian power plant in Arden. The activists breached security in the pre-dawn hours Monday, according to a Greenpeace.org press release. Around 4:00 Progress Energy reported via its Twitter feed that “All trespassers have been safely removed from the Asheville Plant.”  Sources at Greenpeace confirmed that all the protesters had been arrested.

News and law enforcement helicopters hovered over Lake Julian throughout the day while figures could be seen climbing one of the plant’s two deactivated smokestacks. A third stack emitted a continual cloud of bright white steam as the activists worked on the 400 foot tower. Finally raised around 2:30 in the afternoon, the black, red and white banner read:  “Duke Energy / The climate needs REAL progress.” 

Smaller banners in a similar color scheme were also raised on the plant structures below, as reported earlier by the Xpress.


The hours-long process of raising the banner


Progress Energy’s Lake Julian power plant


A NC State Highway Patrol helicopter hovers near the plant


A 100% crop showing activists on one of the smokestack’s platforms


The newly-raised banner, seen from Airport Road

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

7 thoughts on “Greenpeace activists raise banner on Progress plant smokestack; arrests ensue”

  1. mtndow

    This is supposed to be a secure site. It’s domestic terrorism. wanna-be/look at me’s.
    APD has snipers make these narcissists stay up there for a couple of days.

    • bill smith

      Agreed. This TERRIFIED me. And everyone knows people who post things on someone else’ property are all narcissists.

  2. MIlls

    Funny as hell. The idiots climbed an abandoned stack that has been replaced by the clean scrubber stack.

    What a bunch of morons.

    • bill smith

      Exactly. Anyone who disagrees with anything is a moron. If pollution was bad, why would Jesus have invented it?

  4. brebro

    Agreed. Ain’t no better than all those narcissistic “look at me”s with all their “I want to sit in the front of the bus!” terrorism and the “VietNam ain’t a good idea” nonsensical trespassing. The police sure showed them who was right!

    • bill smith

      not to mention those narcissists what scrawl their graffiti on privately owned news websites.

      Want to express your opinion? Buy your own website, commie!

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.