Tomorrow marks a pivotal day in election 2014: early voting begins at polling places across North Carolina. Whether you are a first-time voter or a veteran of the polls, this mid-term election proves to be monumental, not just for North Carolina but for our country.
In case you have been out of all cellular, media, and news services for the last few weeks: lucky you. The usual bombardment of ads and polls have dominated the airwaves and social media sites, pitting the hopes of newcomers against those defending their seats. With numerous issues making waves – from national security to health care – we’ll take the topic closest to our hearts: our natural resources.
On Monday we released our 2014 Legislative Scorecard, and the overall picture from this past legislative session was grim for our environment. Our legislators approved efforts to move forward in opening North Carolina to hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) despite promises made during the 2013 legislative session that the moratorium would not be lifted until rules and regulations were in place. When the governor signed the Energy Modernization Act into law on date, the NC Mining and Energy Commission (MEC) was still in the midst of drafting rules that the public had yet to review and share feedback on during the comment period.
Fracking will be back on the calendar for the 2015 session as the MEC will be releasing the finalized rules for our legislators to approve (or reject?) in the next few weeks. This isn’t the only form of energy exploration on the table next year. With President Obama giving the nod for companies to explore oil and gas reserves off the eastern coast, our beautiful coastal cities and towns will face a new wave of challenges. Our work to protect our quality of life is never done.
Still in the energy realm, we anticipate another fight against extending the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (REPS) that we fought for salvage last year. For those of you unfamiliar with REPS, this legislation required utility companies to ensure X amount of energy came in through renewable energy sources. With North Carolina topping lists across the country for our production of solar energy over the last few years. This would seem like a no-brainer to support. But, Duke “don’t make me lower my rates” Energy has once again led the charge to decry attempts at expanding the role of renewable energy in its portfolio.
The list could go on and on for what other environmental issues will be on for votes next year. Until we help certain decision-makers move beyond the mindset that a tradeoff is required between environmental and economic health, we’ll remain at an impasse, often with both losing out in the long term. And, if those key decision-makers refused to expand their thinking and listen to their constituents on why such basic needs such as clean air and water matter – to us now and our future generations – then, we have some work to do at the ballot box.
Remember: who we elect matters. Now, tomorrow, and each day moving forward.
Katie Paulson is the Online Engagement Coordinator for NCLCV, and she is planning to vote on November 4. For more information on voting in North Carolina, visit ncvoterinfo.org.
