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Environment North Carolina Report
This newsletter is sent to Environment North Carolina members three times a year by Environment North Carolina.

For information contact Environment North Carolina: 112 South Blount Street, Suite 102
Raleigh, NC 27601
Phone (919) 833-0015
Fax (919) 839-0767

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Legislative priorities for 2008

Lawmakers will reconvene on Jones Street on May 13 for their 2008 short session. When they do, Environment North Carolina’s advocates will be there, fighting for practical solutions to our environmental problems. Top priorities for protecting the state’s environment and quality of
life include:    

Curbing global warming pollution

The science is clearer every day: To avoid the most dangerous effects of global warming, the United States must make deep cuts in pollution, and soon. North Carolina can turn the corner on global warming pollution by adopting Clean Cars standards, which will require new cars and trucks to be more efficient and pollute less. The program, which has already been adopted by California and 12 other states, will also save consumers money at the gas pump.

Saving our million acres

North Carolina’s forests, farmlands and other critical open spaces are disappearing at the rate of 300 acres a day. In 2000, state leaders set a goal of preserving an additional 1 million acres of our natural areas by 2010.  Environment North Carolina is advocating adequate funding to fulfill the million acre promise, and beyond. 

Preserving coastal North Carolina

As development increases across the state, more parking lots, roads and other paved areas allow gasoline, pesticides, sediment and other pollutants to flow right into North Carolina’s rivers and streams. This polluted runoff has already caused the closure of more than 76,000 acres of the state’s shellfish beds. Environment North Carolina will work to defend new rules designed to protect sensitive shellfish waters from development.

Stopping toxic pollution

Industrial use of toxic chemicals is threatening our environment. Chemicals sprayed on lap tops and mattresses are now found in orcas and peregrine falcons. And scientists are finding these same toxins in our bodies. Environment North Carolina is working with legislators to ban toxic flame retardants and switch to safer alternatives.

Protecting drinking water

Nearly half of the state’s residents get their drinking water from underground sources. Yet thousands of leaking underground petroleum storage tanks and other sources have contaminated drinking water supplies. Environment North Carolina will push petroleum tank owners to cover their own cleanup costs to prevent groundwater contamination.

Conserving wildlife

North Carolina’s tax code provides an incentive to landowners who manage their property for agriculture or forestry, but no comparable incentive for wildlife or water quality conservation. Rep. Pricey Harrison’s bill to correct this problem cleared the North Carolina House easily in 2007. Environment North Carolina will work for its passage in the Senate in 2008.

Conserving water

Despite heavy spring rains, almost all of North Carolina is still in a drought—a fact sure to dominate the summer session. Environment North Carolina will push for long-term solutions, such as requirements that new permitted buildings use the most water-efficient technologies available.

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Give clean cars a green light

To boost economy, boost renewables

Last year Congress made great progress toward a new energy future by passing an Environment North Carolina-backed increase in gas mileage standards—the first such increase in 30 years. But much remains to be done to achieve
the new energy future that our country needs.

Unfortunately, power plant owners and coal interests, aided by the Republican leadership in the Senate and the White House, blocked attempts to pass a renewable electricity standard as part of a package of clean energy tax incentives in the energy bill passed last year.

The next avenue for action is to convince Congress to extend existing renewable energy tax incentives, which expire at the end of 2008. The American Wind Energy Association predicts that failing to extend the tax credits could cost the U.S. economy 75,000 jobs and a wealth of investment opportunities.

“As one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States, the clean energy industry is a shining light in an otherwise lackluster economy. If Congress does not act, many promising renewable energy projects will screech to a halt,” said Environment North Carolina director Elizabeth Ouzts.


Staff in action


Environment North Carolina’s Margaret Hartzell speaks with Western North Carolina Congressman Heath Shuler.


 
Clean air. Clean water. Open spaces.

112 South Blount Street, Suite 102 • Raleigh, NC 27601
Phone (919) 833-0015 • Fax (919) 839-0767
E-mail: info@environmentnorthcarolina.org
Top Photos Courtesy of nc.gov, U.S. Department of Justice, and NOAA