Updates from the WENOCA chapter of the Sierra Club:
Public Hearing on Duke Energy Progress Rate Hikes
Wednesday, September 27th, Buncombe County Court House
Courtroom 1A, 60 Court Plaza, Asheville
Begins at 7:00pm; Arrive at 6:00pm to sign up to speak; rally 5:00pm at Vance MonumentThe NC Utilities Commission is taking public comments on Duke Energy Progress’s largest proposed increase to residential bills since the 1980s: a 16.7% rate increase, or an extra $17.60 @month for a typical customer. The rate increase would be $100s of millions to pay for coal ash clean up (their responsibility!), and for building new fracked natural gas power plants. See the attachment below for talking points.
Sept 26, Tues – Call-in to Governor Cooper to Stop Enviva Biomass Plants: 919-814-2000
Enviva Company is requesting to build a 4th biomass plant in Richmond County, NC to process roughly 50,000 acres of our Southeastern forests every year — to make pellets to send to Europe for “sustainable” fuel. Ask Gov. Cooper to not issue this permit & to honor his promise to live up to the Paris climate accord.Sept 30, Sat. – Constructive Communication & Engagement on Climate Change workshop
by Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and the UNCA Student Environmental Center. 1-4 pm, UNCA Brown Hall, Rm 218. Learn how to communicate positively with those of different political views, the disinterested, the dismissive or the alarmists. It’s not about right or wrong, but about starting a dialogue on solutions. RSVP on facebook.com/ashevilleccl.Sept 30, Sat. — Nantahala-Pisgah forests need your help/ Please write the Forest Service
You are providing input on the development of the revised 1.1 million acres of the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest plan. In general, the preliminary draft treats the vast majority of the forest as being the same, (which would technically allow for timber cutting), and it doesn’t recognize many special places that are important for backcountry recreation, exceptional biodiversity, old growth, and connectivity. The following link gives forest areas, and talking points.
https://www.sierraclub.org/ north-carolina/blog/2017/08/speak-protect-nantahala- pisgah-forests.
Email: NCplanrevision@fs.fed.us subject line “Spring 2017 material Plan Building Blocks”
Mail: Attn: Plan Revision, National Forests in North Carolina, 160A Zillicoa St. Asheville, NC 28801
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