In December 2016, FERC issued a draft environmental impact statement for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline… The proposed route crosses territories of four Native American tribes in North Carolina, …[who have] unique concerns deriving from their status as indigenous peoples.
Federal Law Requires Restart of Atlantic Coast Pipeline Review Process, says NC WARN Attorney – News Release by NC WARN
Intervenor NC WARN and two dozen allied nonprofits opposing the pipeline filed a motion late yesterday citing clear federal law that requires FERC to carefully review the new data and prepare an updated EIS, and allow the public, along with various state and federal agencies, to review and comment on the completed document.
Groups Call on Governor Cooper to Pull the Brakes on Wood Pellet Industry in North Carolina — News Release
Natural gas building boom fuels climate worries, enrages landowners – Center for Public Integrity
But Robert Howarth, an environmental biology professor at Cornell University, estimates that methane emissions produced by shale gas from wellhead to delivery could add up to a 12-percent leak rate — causing substantially more warming in the short term than coal. Howarth sees the rapid rise in gas development as a contributor to the recent spike in global temperatures, including record-breaking heat waves in 2015 and 2016. “The buildout of pipelines,” he said, “is a true climate disaster.”
Energy bill could see North Carolina join national fight over net metering – Southeast Energy News
NC WARN’s sharpest criticism wasn’t directed at the wind provision, however. The outspoken Duke foe honed on twelve lines about net metering – part of the bill since its unveiling.
“The bill would allow Duke Energy to attack rooftop solar by adding more fees on customers and lowering net metering payments,” wrote the group’s director, Jim Warren.
NC WARN Letter to Governor Cooper: Veto Koch-Inspired Energy Bill
NC WARN strongly urges you to veto HB 589 due to its detrimental impacts on North Carolina’s once-growing clean energy sector and overall economy. Not only would the bill drive away large, job- and revenue-producing wind energy projects, it would do the same for rooftop solar across the state – both under false pretenses.
Giant Rate Hike by Duke Energy Must Be Openly Debated, NC WARN tells Regulators and Attorney General — News Release from NC WARN
Rooftop Solar Dims Under Pressure From Utility Lobbyists — New York Times
Over the past six years, rooftop solar panel installations have seen explosive growth… That growth has come to a shuddering stop this year… A number of factors are driving the reversal… But the decline has also coincided with a concerted and well-funded lobbying campaign by traditional utilities, which have been working in state capitals across the country to reverse incentives for homeowners to install solar panels.
Cypress Creek to develop 12 solar + storage projects for North Carolina co-op — Utility Dive
Cypress Creek Renewables plans to develop a series of solar-plus-storage projects with the Brunswick Electric Membership Corp. in North Carolina. Cypress Creek says it plans to develop 12 separate projects with a combined storage capacity of 12 MWh. The projects were slated to begin construction in June and be online by October 2017. The contracts will benefit from a new power purchase agreement structure that allows the co-op to purchase solar energy “at avoided cost” while still benefiting from the capacity capabilities of the batteries, the companies said.
New Study Faults Biomass Industry Greenwashing Scheme — News Release
A four-year-old biomass certification program has led to increased carbon dioxide emissions, accelerated the loss of natural forests, and created negative impacts on local communities – the very results it was designed to avoid, according to a new study by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Dogwood Alliance.