Now What?
The Democrats may get back the White House in November. What does that mean for the environment?
Web Site Launch- Cape Fear CAN
Welcome to the Cape Fear Climate Action Network web site. Cape Fear CAN hopes you will use this site as a resource for your involvement regarding climate change issues in the Cape Fear region.
SENATE BILL S-3 SHOULD BE FIXED
Proposed Energy Bill
The proposed energy bill now in the General Assembly may have some fatal flaws:
The original bill, known as the renewable energy bill, appears to have the following flaws:
it may raise our power bills and threaten our state economy
it may squander our chances to slow global warming
it will all allow 2,000 hog waste lagoons to continue harming our communities and rivers
it may undermine our growing industry for renewable efficient energy
it will shift the risk for multi-billion-dollar coal and nuclear power plants on to rate payers
Duke Energy and Progress Energy plan to build $20 billion worth of power plants in the Carolinas. Bill S-3 would obligate customers to begin paying for them, including profits and interest, long before they produce electricity even if the projects fail like many did in the 1980s. This bill would create a cost-plus gravy train for coal and nuclear power plant contractors, not clean energy.
Power companies and the hog industry are used to getting their way in the Legislature because of their well-funded lobby squads and hefty campaign contributions. This time, the stakes are far too high to allow more business as usual.
How can you help? Urge your state legislators either by a short telephone call or e-mail to stop Bill S-3 unless:
provisions promoting new coal and nuclear plants are removed
full environmental protections at hog and poultry waste-to-energy plants are added
provisions allowing utilities to grossly overcharged for energy efficiency are removed
You may contact Governor Mike Easley and 919-733-4240 or 800-662-7952 or governor.office@ncmail.net. You may also identify your state House member at this website HTTP://www.ncga.state.NC.US/ and click on Who Represents Me?
NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL
An interesting online newsletter particularly the article on global warming.
THE SKY IS FALLING!!!
CAP-AND-TRADE SYSTEMS
Do you know what this is? Read this article about controlling CO2 emissions.
MORE ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Measuring the Impacts of Climate Change on North Carolina Coastal Resources”: http://econ.appstate.edu/climate?
PowerPoint presentation highlights: http://econ.appstate.edu/climate/NC_20Jun2007.pdf
The lost recreation value to local beach goers is projected to be $93 million a year by 2030 and $223 million a year by 2080 for the southern NC beaches.
The lost recreation value to local shore anglers is projected to be $15 million a year by 2030 and $17 million a year by 2080.
The value of property at risk to sea-level rise in just four counties over the next 75 years is $6.9 billion.
Business interruption losses in just four NC counties due to increases in category 3 hurricane severity’s are projected to rise by $34 million per storm in 2030, and by $157 million per storm in 2080.
A category 1 hurricane now causes about $50 million in agricultural damage, a category 2, about $200 million, and a category 3, about $800 million.
Increased forest damage associated with an increase in storm severity from category 2 to category 3 is about $900 million more in damages.
One of the study’s lead authors is John Whitehead. From 1991-2001 John served on the Board of the Pamlico-Tar River Foundation: http://www.env-econ.net/2006/08/in_case_anyone_.html.
He co-authors an entertaining yet highly respected environmental economics blog: www.env-econ.net.
John and Linwood Pendleton, Director of the Coastal Ocean Values Center (and Coastal Ocean Values Expedition) (www.coastalvalues.org) are colleagues.
Sharon Khan
Environmental Economist
Waterkeeper Alliance
50 South Buckhout Street, Suite 302
Irvington, New York 10533
www.waterkeeper.org
Phone: 914-674-0622, x18
Fax: 914-674-4560
Sharon’s message edited for inclusion on the Blog.
EVEN MORE ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Although this article from the NY Times deals with climate change in Alaska the effects on us here in North Carolina will be devastating. I know we tend to think “well, 2030 is a long way down the road” but it’s only 23 years. A person born today will be facing this problem, a 30-year old today will be facing this problem, even a 60 or 70-year old could possibly face this problem.
Our biggest problem is complacency – the feeling what can I do about it? Write your legislators. Vote. Join organizations that are trying to do something about this impending disaster. If you can’t volunteer – donate.
CLEAN WATER NETWORK NEWSLETTER 6/29/07
1) Action Alert on CWRA (HR 2421): Declare Your Independence from Uncontrolled Water Pollution!
2) Dangerous CAFOs Legislation
3) Federal Farm Bill Update
4) Raw Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act of 2007 (H.R. 2452).
5) Network’s Global Warming Workgroup wants to hear from you!
6) Beach Act of 2007 Hearing
7) NRDC Beach Bums and Buddies list request.
Update on Corps Reform Network’s Website
9) News From the States..
Action Alert on CWRA (HR 2421): Declare Your Independence from Uncontrolled Water Pollution!
Congressional 4th of July Week Recess is a great time to get in-district meetings with Members of Congress to promote the Clean Water Restoration Act (HR 2421).
In March 2007, legislation was introduced that would exempt hazardous substances in livestock manure and other waste generated by concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs),from the reporting and clean-up requirements of the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA or “Superfund”) and the Emergency Planning Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).
The federal Farm Bill is currently being re-authorized by Congress. The bill is comprehensive legislation that covers a wide array of agricultural programs and provides federal funding to farmers, ranchers, rural communities, and agri-business.
Raw Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act of 2007 (H.R. 2452)
On May 24th Congressmen Timothy Bishop (D-NY) and Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) introduced the Raw Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act of 2007 (H.R. 2452).
Network’s Global Warming Workgroup wants to hear from you!Beach Act 0f 2007 Hearing on Capitol Hill
The US Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation Safety, Infrastructure Security, and Water Quality held a hearing on June 27th entitled, “Protecting Water Quality at America’s Beaches.”
NRDC’s Beach Bums and Buddies list request
The following request for beach information is from Tonya McLean who is working with Nancy Stoner from the Natural Resources Defense Council, a long time Clean Water Network steering committee member.
Update on Corps Reform Network’s Website News From the States.
Rhode Island General Assembly Votes to Raise Runoff Standards and Protect Bay, Rivers, Lakes and Streams from Pollution.
Copyright ©2007The Clean Water Network
Special thanks to The Clean Water Network for this article posted to this Blog is its original configuration and wording.
CONGRESS STILL WRANGLING OVER MILEAGE STANDARDS
Ethanol is probably going to be in your future if you buy a new car. These are the items that are likely to be in the final energy bill when and if it is passed:
- Fuel economy up to 35 mpg by 2020
- 50% of cars manufactured by 2015 must run on 85% ethanol or biodiesel fuels
- Produce 1 billion gallons of ethanol by 2022
- Give federal government power to investigate oil industry market manipulation
- New appliance and lighting efficiency standards
- Financial and other assistance to promote shift to more fuel efficient vehicles
- Increase efforts capture carbon dioxide
You can read more about this in the Star News article
