Energy News

Asheville—At one of the largest area candidate forums of the campaign season, more than 110 citizens packed a basement room in downtown Asheville tonight to hear congressional and legislative candidates’ views energy and the environment.  The event, organized by Environment North Carolina, the Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, drew 11^th district Congressional candidate Heath Shuler along with four area candidates for the NC General Assembly. 

Organizers of the non-partisan forum invited candidates for the 11^th Congressional District, the 49^th state Senate District, the 114^th,115^th, and 116^Th state House districts to attend.  In addition to Shuler, Sen. Martin Nesbitt, Rep. Bruce Goforth, his opponent Eric Gorny, and Doug Jones, candidate for the 116^th district, were present.

The event is part of ongoing effort by Environment North Carolina to build support for the goals of the New Energy Future campaign in close legislative and congressional races throughout the state.  Environment North Carolina is asking all candidates for the NC General Assembly and for Congress to deliver on the promise of a New Energy Future by committing to support policies that:

·     Reduce Our Dependence on Oil through better transportation choices, clean fuels, and clean cars, so that we cut our oil consumption in North Carolina by 10% by 2015.  This step would move the nation towards cutting its oil use by a third of what it uses today by 2025.

·     Harness clean, renewable, homegrown energy sources like wind, solar and agricultural bi-products for at least 10% of all energy needs by 2015.  Taking this step would help the nation derive 25% of its energy from clean sources by 2025.

·     Save energy with high performance homes, businesses, schools, and government buildings so that by 2015, new energy demand in our growing state is met through efficiency, not through dirty, dangerous sources of energy.  Energy efficiency measures in North Carolina would help the nation cut its energy use by 10% by 2025.

·     Invest in a New Energy Future by allocating at least an additional $100 million annually into efficiency programs, research and development, clean energy infrastructure and transportation alternatives.  At the national level, we are calling for a tripling in investments in these types of programs.