Greetings:
I’m taking off my environmentalist hat for this email and speaking to you as a North Carolina citizen. I am deeply concerned about the special treatment given to Duke Energy in House Bill 630 – “Drinking Water Protection / Coal Ash Cleanup Act.” This bill is not about protecting drinking water or cleaning up coal ash. It is about protecting Duke Energy.
HB 630 delays the coal ash cleanup process and grants the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) the discretion to reclassify coal ash ponds as low risk. We went through this process just a few months ago where North Carolina citizens voiced their concerns through the formal public comment process. It turns out Duke Energy didn’t like the result and is now seeking to silence citizen voices in order to protect its bottom line.
HB 630 will also give Duke Energy the power to delay providing permanent sources of clean drinking water for residents whose water has been destroyed by toxic materials leaking from Duke’s coal ash ponds for two more years. Clean drinking water is a critical issue that should be considered as its own legislation; it should not be grouped with legislation designed to protect the interests of Duke Energy.
When we allow special interests to take precedent over the safety and well-being of our neighbors, we lose sight of what makes North Carolina such a special place to live, work, and play.
I ask you to stand with your constituents and neighbors and demand that Duke Energy be held responsible its actions. Not in three years. Not in two years. Now. I urge you to vote “do not concur” on HB630.
Humbly,
Jesse Way, Stanback Intern
NC League of Conservation Voters
P.S. Dan Crawford has told me that this will be a Scorecard vote and likely a campaign issue in the 2016 elections.
The Hotlist is a weekly email the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters (NCLCV) sends out during session where we talk about relevant legislation and share information on key environmental issues as they come before the General Assembly. While primarily intended for elected representatives, the Hotlist is also made public to any and all who are concerned about the environment.
