CIB 9/7/2015: NCGA launches sneak attack on our beaches
Late in the state budget process, a new attack on coastal resources may be slipped into the bill, plus more news, this week in CIB. Legislative Watch: Sneak Attack on the Beaches As if there were not already too many anti-environmental special provisions that need to come out of the budget bill now under consideration […]
CIB 8/31/2015: What the Clean Water Rule means for us
A key clean water protection rule takes effect in North Carolina and most of the nation, plus more news, this week in CIB. Washington Watch: Clean Water Rule Takes Effect The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) on Friday marked the effective date of the Clean Water Rule in […]
Our view: Budget provision offers polluter loophole
You can hide a lot in 508 pages. That is the size of the monstrosity that is House Bill 97 (2015 Appropriations Act) better known as the state budget. Following a similar narrative to other bills this legislative session, HB97 left the NC House to be returned by the NC Senate pumped full of anti-environmental […]
CIB 8/24/2015: DENR fights coal ash cleanup…again
North Carolina’s leading state environmental agency tries to block cleanup of coal ash pits, plus more news, this week in CIB. Judicial Watch: DENR Tries to Stop Citizen Coal Ash Cleanup Action – Again The McCrory Administration is once again attempting to stop citizen legal action seeking cleanup of leaking coal ash pits under the […]
Notes from the Field: Building resilience in Raleigh
The word of 2015 is resilience. This year we are focusing on clean energy jobs by establishing a neighborhood weatherization program where community members will be able to take part in learning how to weatherize their own homes at low cost in addition to having a Community Resilience Center situated within Southeast Raleigh. On July […]
NC DENR Secretary van der Vaart on the prowl
Another week. Another scathing, defensive editorial from Secretary Donald van der Vaart, head of the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources. One might assume that as the leader of our state environmental agency, Secretary van der Vaart’s rage would be directed toward members of the NC General Assembly who have been working all session […]
CIB 8/17/2015: Attorney General scoffs at CPP suit
Attorney General Roy Cooper has weighed in on the side of a collaborative approach to developing a North Carolina Clean Power Plan, plus more news, this week in CIB. Legislative Watch: Cooper Opposes Anti-CPP Lawsuit NC Attorney General Roy Cooper last week wrote to state legislative leaders in opposition to suing the Environmental Protection Agency […]
Spotlighting Solar in Fayetteville this Friday
Fayetteville, North Carolina, may not be the first place folks think of when asked to identify where the state’s solar movement is growing. But, thanks to a diverse set of voices both in the community and at the state level, Cumberland County is at the helm of a potential solar revolution in North Carolina. You […]
CIB 8/10/2015: Mixed reactions to Clean Power Plan
The final Clean Power Plan pleases conservationists – but our state governor’s reaction disappoints us. This week in CIB. Washington Watch: Clean Power Plan Will Deliver Real Action President Obama last week personally announced the final version of his administration’s keystone effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions: the “Clean Power Plan.” As the name suggests, […]
HotList 8/4/2015: How will the General Assembly respond to the Clean Power Plan?
Hello, How will the NC State Senate vote on its version of House Bill 571? This measure, intended to delay compliance with the Clean Power Plan until impending legal issues are resolved, is risky business for our state. If passed, HB 571 could potentially place the plan-making process into the hands of the federal government, […]
