By Cynthia Satterfield
Chapter Director
Last week, we saw movement on the state budget and the confirmation process required to finalize the appointment of the secretary for the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality.
Budget negotiations underway
Now that the House and Senate have their respective budgets, it’s time to reconcile the differences between them before a final budget is sent to Governor Cooper. Unlike in the past, when lawmakers opened up negotiations with Cooper only after his veto, the governor will have an opportunity to weigh in before the legislature votes on any final spending plan. A goal of Sept. 9 has been set for coming to a final agreement and a conference committee, which includes four House Democrats, was named to begin negotiations. A list of conferees can be found here. Legislators hope to adjourn once a final budget is passed, with some time off before working on redistricting in October.
It bears repeating: House budget sends mixed messages
We reported earlier that there is strong funding in the House budget for conservation. But it also includes policies that run counter to and erode these environmental gains. Read on for more detailed information and ways you can take action to keep these out of the budget!
Opportunity for Action
Please contact conference committee members in your district and encourage them to keep strong funding for conservation in the budget and ask them to remove four harmful environmental budget provisions:
- Anti-tree ordinances: H 496, which was passed by the House but hasn't moved in the Senate, would prohibit communities from adopting tree protection ordinances to regulate the removal of trees from private property without legislative permission. Provisions from H 496 were added by the House to the budget. Trees provide heat-lowering shade and beauty to neighborhoods and downtowns, and help reduce water runoff and mitigate carbon emissions.
- More Protections for Billboard Industry: The billboard industry regularly seeks giveaways from the legislature to limit local government controls over signage. We support local government efforts to regulate billboards to protect trees and community aesthetics. Similar provisions were in a bill passed by the legislature in the last session, but which was vetoed by Governor Cooper.
- Disallow Local Stormwater and Buffer Protections: A provision would bar all local stormwater ordinances and riparian buffer protections that are not required by federal or state law. This would hamper local flexibility, and makes no sense at a time when many N.C. communities are trying to protect residents from intensifying storms and flooding.
- Less Funding for Environmental Projects in Eastern N.C.: North Carolina’s attorney general awards grants to nonprofits and local governments annually to improve and protect natural resources through the Environmental Enhancement Grant (EEG) program. These funds came from a legal agreement with Smithfield Foods to address pollution from hog farms projects, particularly in eastern N.C. A budget provision would redirect EEG funds to the Division of Public Instruction for "environmental enhancements" at schools - not the intended purpose of the program.
DEQ secretary wins committees' approval
Elizabeth Biser sat before the Senate Agriculture, Energy and Environment Committee last week, successfully navigating questions ranging from her views on permitting policy to expanding natural gas infrastructure in the state. Regarding the latter, Biser said her approach to energy is to look for sources that are “clean, affordable and available” and while “natural gas is part of that mix,” added that she believes the Utilities Commission is best poised to make decisions about the state’s energy future.
Biser worked as a lobbyist for the state’s environmental agency from September 2006 to November 2010 and remarked on the significant budget cuts to divisions within the agency since that time. Sen. Natalie Murdock noted Biser’s prior history with DEQ as an asset.
The agriculture committee and the Senate's Select Committee on Nominations approved her nomination, and a final vote by the full Senate is expected this week.
Senate hears broad opposition to energy bill
The Senate Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources committee held a hearing last Tuesday to hear from the public on H 951, the omnibus energy bill. Most speakers voiced opposition to the bill, other than Duke Energy, the Chamber of Commerce and a few others. Concerns voiced included new gas plants, increased costs, and limiting Utilities Commission authority over energy policy. N.C. Sierra Club’s comments focused on the need to retire coal but not replace it with fracked gas and the need to improve the securitization section of the bill to save ratepayers money when coal plants retire. Check out this Policy Watch article about the hearing.
If you haven't already, please use our action alert to contact your senator about the energy bill!