GenX bills, budget at the fore as General Assembly powers up
May 25, 2018
There wasn’t much public action at the General Assembly this week as budget negotiations continued behind the scenes, Cassie Gavins writes. But things could begin heating up next week with the budget proposal expected to appear with a reduced...
NCGA tackles GenX - kind of - upon opening 'short session'
May 18, 2018
Lawmakers returned to Raleigh this week and promptly filed legislation to address the contamination of the Cape Fear River with the toxic chemical GenX. But the bills fall short of what's needed to adequately deal with the problem, according to...
Cooper's budget strong on clean water, conservation
May 10, 2018
"Governor Cooper’s budget would be a win for North Carolinians and the environment thanks to increased funding for clean water and land protection. It would also improve coastal resiliency from natural disasters and strengthen the state’s capacity...
Onshore wind energy: an important part of NC's energy future
May 9, 2018
As the NC General Assembly prepares for its short session, we look at how lawmakers might act to help - or hold back - wind energy development. A wind study is under way and a moratorium on new wind energy projects expires at the end of 2018. When...
Sierra Club reaches agreement to preserve Croatan habitat, species while allowing Havelock Bypass
April 16, 2018
The Sierra Club, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, and the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) today announced a settlement agreement that will allow NCDOT to proceed with the U.S. 70 Havelock Bypass in Craven County while...
NC Sierra Club: Cooper’s Budget Offers Critical, Timely Funding for GenX
April 10, 2018
Gov. Roy Cooper today said his short session budget proposal will include $14.5 million to better equip state agencies to address environmental health and safety threats posed by emerging contaminants such as GenX.The funding for the Department of...
N.C. Sierra Club Welcomes State’s Stringent Air Emissions Challenge for GenX
April 6, 2018
The N.C. Sierra Club appreciates the decision by state regulators to require the Chemours company to show that GenX air emissions from its Fayetteville Works will not be an ongoing source of groundwater contamination. The state Division of Air...
Hundreds travel from NC coast to rally against offshore drilling
February 27, 2018
Hundreds of North Carolina residents and allies gathered near a federal meeting on the Trump administration’s offshore drilling plan, presenting a loud and staunchly unified voice in protest of fossil fuel drilling in U.S. coastal waters. The NC...
Big issues unresolved as NCGA wraps up 2017 session
February 14, 2018
At long last, the 2017 (yes, 2017) session of the NC General Assembly has adjourned. That doesn't mean the work was finished - important but unresolved items include agency funding to address drinking water contaminants such as GenX. Cassie Gavin...
NC Sierra Club: Zinke Must Listen to State’s No-Drilling Message
February 3, 2018
Governor Cooper and other officials met Saturday with Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to emphasize North Carolina's opposition to offshore drilling. Molly Diggins, state director for the N.C. Sierra Club, applauded the group’s bipartisan, personal...