The Canary Coalition a grassroots clean air movement

The following are elements of a legislative agenda being proposed by the Canary Coalition to the general public, the environmental community, the news media and to members of the NC General Assembly. These measures are being proposed as steps that will result in better health, cleaner air, a stronger economy, and more energy independence for the people of North Carolina.

1) A reversal of the electric utility rate-paying structure

Due to dramatic negative health, environmental and economic impact caused by conventional electricity production, affecting the entire population , electricity cannot continue to be bought and sold, subject to normal market dynamics, that is, the more purchased, the less expensive per unit. Instead, there will be an economic incentive promoting conservation built into the rate-paying structure. Less per capita energy use will result in a lower price per kilowatt. The purpose of this policy is to eliminate the need for increased energy production in order to limit the health, environmental and economic damage caused by conventional fossil fuel and nuclear power production. Economic incentive will be the driving force toward innovation in energy efficiency, benefiting rate payers while increasing industrial profits and creating jobs.

2) Implementation of a pollution fee levied against the purchase of non-efficient lightbulbs, appliances and industrial equipment

This will provide another strong economic incentive to drive innovation in energy efficiency. In addition to avoiding this fee, residential and industrial ratepayers who invest in energy efficiency will yield lower energy bills and higher profits. Revenues collected from this fee will be used to help fund the State Energy Office, NC Green Power projects and pollution regulatory enforcement programs.

3) Facilitation of net-metering, accompanied by a strong government promotional campaign encouraging residential renewable energy production and interconnection with the existing electrical grid

Unnecessary legal and technical obstacles will be removed from the current net-metering rules in order to encourage a more safe, renewable, diverse, de-centralized and resilient electrical grid system.

4) Establishment of a state-wide study commission to determine the least-cost method of meeting future public utility-produced energy demand, including in the assessment the cost of health and environmental impact to the entire population, of all technologies and methods used

This commission will also include an assessment of full-fuel cycles and decommissioning costs. Costs of energy efficiency and conservation programs coupled with wind, solar and biomass electrical production will be weighed and compared to total costs of coal, nuclear and natural gas including health and environmental impact to the entire population. No licenses will be granted for new utility-owned electrical power production facilities except as consistent with the findings of this commission’s least-cost study.

5) Clarification of the windmill exemption in the Ridge Law to remove legal obstacles to the development of large-scale wind energy in North Carolina

Although the windmill exemption originally was inserted into the NC Ridge Law to accommodate the largest windmill in the world at that time (a two-megawatt turbine in the NASA project at Howard Knob in Watauga County) the language used in the law is ambiguous and has enabled opponents to claim that only small or ornamental windmills are permissible. Wind technology has made dramatic strides in the past twenty years since the Howard Knob project. Large turbines are now stunningly quiet, efficient and slender. Space-age composite materials have eliminated radio and television signal interference. Slow blade rotation has reduced aviary danger. Construction costs per kilowatt capacity for wind energy is now on a par with coal-burning power plants and far less costly than nuclear power plants. Wind is the fastest growing energy source in the world and North Carolina should take advantage of its vast wind resources to help achieve energy independence while reducing air pollution and other health and environmental impacts caused by burning coal and proliferating radioactive materials.

6) Direct the Department of Transportation (DOT) to begin developing a plan for a comprehensive state-wide public transportation system in North Carolina

With the population increasing as petroleum becomes inevitably more expensive and less available world-wide, it's time to begin thinking about a more diverse transportation system in North Carolina that will reduce impact on our health and the environment, particularly on air quality and climate change. In addition, there are entire sectors of the population who don't have access to adequate transportation. Senior citizens often can't drive. Handicapped people often can't drive. Low-income people often don't have cars or lack the ability to maintain safe, reliable personal vehicles. And having more public transportation could reduce drunk driving. There are many benefits that will be derived from the development of a comprehensive state-wide public transportation system.

Solomon's CK Alliance Donates Assets to the Canary Coalition

Now that Solomon's CK Alliance, in Rockingham County, NC, has scored a significant victory in court by successfully limiting the size of a commercial rock quarry, the organization has disbanded and donated its remaining monetary assets (more than a thousand dollars) to the Canary Coalition.

Solomon's CK Alliance won a partial victory in court when the land purchased by the rock quarry was not re-zoned for heavy industrial use. This means they cannot expand beyond the size they were in March, 2003, and they will not be able to put an asphalt or concrete plant on the property. They also were able to effect a change in the way the DAQ grants permits in areas where there is no local zoning--a mining company cannot ambush an unsuspecting community as they attempted in this Rockingham County neighborhood (see http://daq.state.nc.us/news/pr/2004/perm_wo_zoning_03312004.shtml ).

Congratulations to members of Solomon's Alliance and THANK YOU(!) for thinking of us. We'll do our best to use your gift to continue your legacy of success in fighting for the environment.

Stop Cliffside!

From Scott Gollwitzer and our friends at Appalachian Voices:

Duke Energy is planning to build a 1,600 megawatt coal fired power plant in Rutherfordton County, NC, halfway between Asheville and Charlotte, NC. If built, the power plant will emit over 11 million tons of carbon dioxide annually and tons of sulfur dioxide, mercury and other heavy metals to our region's already dismal air quality. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, power plants cause 24,000 premature deaths nationwide each year. The electricity demands that Duke claims necessitates a new coal plant could easily be met through energy conservation and renewable energy. In a time when the affects of fossil fueled climate change are already wreaking havoc on humans and ecosystems worldwide, Duke's new power plant would only make us more dependent on the dirty business of burning coal. To add insult to injury the state of North Carolina has granted Duke an exemption from parts of the Clean Smokestacks law, in essence giving Duke a green light to pollute our air even more! Contact Duke Energy and demand that they immediately halt plans to build the Cliffside coal power plant. Don't think they heard you? Then call them again! Duke Energy Headquarters 526 South Church St. Charlotte, NC 28202-1904 (704) 594-6200 Investor Relations (800) 488-3853 General Information (800) USE-DUKE (800) 873-3853 Or email theses executives: jrrhodes@duke-energy.com, tpshiel@duke-energy.com, pvsheffield@duke-energy.com, sebennett@duke-energy.com
--
Scott Gollwitzer
Staff Attorney
Appalachian Voices
191 Merrimon Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801
Ph: 828.225.9685
Fax: 828.258.0758

HELP STOP MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL! Click here to pledge your support and invite your friends and family to join the fight for environmental justice http://www.ilovemountains.org/take_action/campaigns/mountains/register/e4eade66c85b5f9b7ca31be0fd72064c/

On this site you can use Google Earth to visit the National Memorial for the Mountains, watch a video about MTR featuring Woody Harrelson, share your prayers for the mountains and download a version of Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” performed by Willie Nelson.

Appalachian Voices brings people together to solve the environmental problems having the greatest impact on the central and southern Appalachian Mountains. Joining with other concerned citizens of this region is the most effective way to make your voice heard. Please join Appalachian Voices today, visit www.appalachianvoices.org or call toll free 877-APP-VOICE.

Canary Coalition Moves to New Office

The Canary Coalition has moved to a new office in Sylva, NC. The new address is 48 New Dawn Lane, Room #4. The phone number remains the same, 828-631-3447.

We will be having a grand opening party early in 2007, date and time to be announced. Stay tuned.

Energy at the Crossroads Tour to Continue January in Georgia

The Energy at the Crossroads Tour has now swept through North and South Carolina, receiving major TV news and press coverage at every stop as we have gathered support from many local community and environmental organizations. The best adjective to describe the format of the Tour is "fun" as we combine our activism with comedy, music and film. But, the ultimate purpose of this campaign couldn't be more serious. The Energy Future Resolution has been introduced to legislators in both states demanding the creation of commissions to determine "least cost" methods of meeting future energy demands including health and environmental impact, full fuel cycles and decommissioning costs. This resolution, upon becoming law would prohibit new power plant construction except as consistent with the findings of the commission's least cost determination. The results of this legislation would inevitably lead to dramatic energy and efficiency measures and more rapid development of renewable energy producing technologies benefiting public health, the environment and the economy.

The Canary Coalition and our primary partners NIRS (Nuclear Information and Resource Service) and SEEEXPO (Southern Energy and Environment Expo) will be bringing the Tour to Savannah, Georgia on January 23, Athens on the 24th and Atlanta on the 25th. For more information on the Tour visit http://www.energyatthecrossroadstour.org/

NIRS Benefit, November 14 in Asheville, NC

Please Join Us: Tuesday November 14 from 5:15 -- 7 pm, Asheville

FUN RAISER!

Nuclear Information and Resource Service Southeast Office

Invites you to a PARTY

Tuesday November 14, 5:15 — 7 pm

Top Floor Classroom at the Health Adventure Museum, Pack Place (see map below)

Cheese, wine, good waters, munchies and community time

...and singing — musicians are coming!

Short update from NIRS Southeast Director,

Mary Olson: Forecasts for the coming year local kick-off of a

NIRS triple entendre — the I-RatePayer Campaign

RSVP appreciated — NIRS SE — 828-675-1792

Membership Renewal Reminder

If you have not already done so, please renew your annual mapmembership with the CanaryCoalition and help keep the database updated with your most recent contact information. There is no annual membership fee, although all donations are gratefully accepted (and very much needed). All new and renewing members receive the interactive membership computer CD. The membership CD is a powerful tool that aids its owner in being a clean-air activist. It contains a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation about air quality issues and the Canary Coalition that can be shown to friends, groups, classrooms, etc. Also on the membership CD is a library of documents containing information about important air quality issues. There are also graphics for iron-on applications, printable membership forms and a link to the Canary Coalition website. For donations of $35 or more tee-shirts are available upon request.

Send contact information and donations to:

The Canary Coalition

PO Box 653

Sylva, NC 28779

or you can donate online