Sustainable WNC

Greeting Friends!
This being my first ‘official’ blog effort, any problems stem from my lack of experience with this website and second, my sincere gratitude to the good folks at sustainablewnc.org and MAIN for the opportunity.
Basic premise #1: Energy, environment and economics are all part of one larger picture. Hardly breaking news these days in some circles, however we still face the dis-association of the elements in many areas of every day life and in our public policies which in turn impacts these very issues.
Basic premise #2: We are all sharing one planet -being borrowed from future generations of all life. If you don’t really care what happens, this blog will not interest you, and possibly even irritate you!
So, from here, my hope would be a running dialogue of positive options for moving into a sustainable framework for the future, not only WNC but the Earth. Pointing out problems is fine in the context of offering a solution based on the problems as you see them, but let’s not use this forum to just complain about issues. And feel free to smile and have fun, if we don’t laugh about all this, we’ll go insane

March 20th at Jubilee! hosts a forum on Clean Energy Options, 7:00 pm, following County Commissioners meeting where folks will be attending to again protest the Progress/Woodfin power plant proposal, among other issues. Facts show that we (WNC ) can save more money, make more money, far better protect our environment and reduce health impacts if we reject an oil powered plant and instead adopt currently available renewable energy & energy efficiency technologies and programs.
Any comments? Peace, Ned
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It’s now March 30th, and I’m gearing up for the Woodfin Town meeting Monday the second, regarding a conditional use permit for the Progress oil fired power plant. PEC is moving to strong arm the town of Woodfin with threats of a lawsuit if they are denied their ‘right’ to build the plant, while the citizens and residents will have the opportunity to speak to the issue.
Incredibly, at the same time, this week Gov. Easely, at the prompting of Duke & Progress, has suggested cutting funding for the State Energy Office!!! Before the ‘anti-government, anti-tax’ folks jump on me, keep in mind that for all practical purposes, NC taxpayers have paid virtually ZERO to fund the SEO over the years, funding came (until this year) from a Petroleum Escrow Account (long story). SO, NC has reaped MILLIONS of dollars in direct and indirect savings as a result, at no cost, begun alternative fuels programs, refilling stations, wind programs, green building efforts, and more, more more… All effort that directly impact the revenue stream to Duke & Progress.
On the bright side, there are TWO bills in the General Assembly, H839 & S939, both of which would provide full funding for the SEO. PLEASE PLEASE contact your legislators and tell them you support these bills!!! There has never been, nor may never be, a better investment for the State of NC than the State Energy Office. Sound ‘over the top’? Do the math, chekc the figures, the SEO has saved millions of dollars for citizens and businesses, created jobs, protected the environment and increased education opportunities.