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Dear Sierra Club Members,
As 2012 begins, members of NC Sierra Club show no sign of slowing down. Sierrans worked tirelessly last year to support a transportation referendum, promote offshore wind, and push back against the construction of a coal powered cement kiln on the coast. This year, Sierrans are already hard at work, proposing positive clean energy solutions, elevating the dialogue about what lifting the fracking ban in NC would mean, fighting Titan Cement, and planning ways to bring pro-environmental candidates back to positions of leadership in the legislature. This is bound to be an exciting year! Please enjoy the first edition of Footnotes online for 2012!
Sincerely, Your staff at the NC Sierra Club
2012: The Issues
Solar Goes Local
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Most of us have seen ‘Eat Local’ stickers and t-shirts around. But what if folks tried just as hard to get local clean energy as they do to get local food? That’s just the idea behind one issue the NC Chapter will be working on this year.
Many businesses and landowners want to lease their rooftops and property to other companies that could install and maintain solar panels and sell the clean energy.
It’s a simple concept, but it’s not allowed in North Carolina. This process, known as Third Party Sales, would allow small and large businesses to lease their property to meet their own energy needs.
If you want to help make Third Party Sales a realty in North Carolina, join the NC Sierra Club Lobby Corps. today!
Fracking
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Fracking. You’ve heard about it, you’ve read about it. So, let’s learn about what it could mean for communities in North Carolina.
To help move this dialogue along, the NC Chapter of the Sierra Club will be launching ‘The Fracking Truth’, a public awareness campaign, on January 25, 2012.
This campaign will provide resources, conversation, and news about fracking.
Sign up for your invitation to the virtual launch on January 25, and join the conversation about Fracking and North Carolina.
Offshore Wind
The Offshore Wind campaign generated tons of attention last year. And rightfully so. With North Carolina having the best offshore wind resources on the East coast, it’s no surprise that residents want investment and jobs in our communities.
Sierran Steve Benbow hit the nail on the head when he told the Morehead City Council, “It’s not a cure-all but wind can be part of the future in providing clean alternative energy.”
Steve also announced an Offshore Wind Forum in Morehead City on February 7. So mark the date on your calendars, and getmoreinformationabouttheforumbyclickinghere.
Local Groups and Issues
The issues mentioned above are just a few that the NC Chapter will be working on in 2012.
But there are plenty of local issues right in your community for you to get involved in, as well.
FindoutmoreinformationaboutyourlocalGroupandwaystoworkwithyourneighborstoexplore, enjoy, andprotectourenvironment.
Events
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Offshore Wind Forum in Morehead City
February 7 – 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Joslyn Hall at Carteret Community College, 3505 Arendell Street Morehead City, NC (map)
This forum will bring together community, business, and academic leaders to discuss what offshore wind could mean for North Carolina.
Click here for more information about the forum.
2012 Southeastern Coastal Wind Conference
March 8 – 9 – Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S. College St, Charlotte, NC (map)
This event is a first of its kind that highlights Southeastern assets for wind energy deployment within the region. The conference is a collaborative effort involving more than 40 regional stakeholders from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
Topics will include the region’s supply chain, resource, and market strengths to educate decision makers about costs, benefits, and policy options for wind energy. Offshore and coastal onshore wind energy will be discussed a the conference with a concentration on offshore wind energy.
“To Frack or Not to Frack”
February 8 – 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Central Carolina Community College, 764 West St., Pittsboro, NC (map)
Brooks Rainey Pearson, Policy Council for the Nicholas School for the Environment, will present what can be learned from other states about fracking and the regulations needed to make it safe.
For information about this presentation, contact travis.hargett@sierraclub.org.
2012 Political Training for Sierrans
February 18 – time and location tba
As the 2012 elections draw closer, the North Carolina Chapter’s political committee is offering a training on how to support endorsed candidates. The training will focus on how to recruit a team, organize GOTV (Get Out the Vote) activities, and how to hold a PAC fundraiser.
To RSVP or for more information, contact Travis Hargett at travis.hargett@sierraclub.org
DENR Holds Public Meetings on Fracking
Sanford, NC
March 20 – 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – The Wicker Center, 1801 Nash Street, Sanford, NC (map)
Chapel Hill
March 27 – 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – East Chapel Hill High School, 500 Weaver Dairy Road, Chapel Hill, NC (map)
The agency’s draft report on Fracking will be made available on DENR’s website in early March (at which time a public comment period will begin), and findings from the report will be presented at these two public meetings. Comments will be accepted at these meetings, as well as via mail and email.
Outings
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Asheville
January 28 – 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Corn Mill Shoals Hike – Meet at 10:00 a.m. in Asheville and return at about 4:00 p.m. DuPont Forest is a favorite location for hikers, and this loop trail is my favorite in DuPont. We will hike up and over the granite slabs of Cedar Mountain for a total of 5 miles and 700 foot elevation gain. Easy to moderate.
RSVP to hike leader Jane at janelaping@sbcglobal.net or 828-772-0379.
Croatan National Forest
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February 3-5
Neusiok Trail – Friday will be committed to packing in and setting camp. Saturday we will hike to and along the Neuse River to Pinecliff, and return. Sunday we pack up and out.
Croatan National Forest is said to have more flesh-eating plants than people and is home to a large variety of mammals, birds (Red Cockaded woodpeckers, maybe), and reptiles (dormant at this time of year). Group size is limited depending on experience of participants.
Contact Jerry Weston at Jweston@gbwlaw.com most mornings, or takeahike@earthlink.net, or 336-856-1431. Telephone calls before 9:00 p.m. please.
Hyde County
February 5 – 8:00 & 10:00 a.m.
Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge – Explore one of the crown jewels of the National Wildlife Refuges on the east coast with a combination of wildlife watching and hiking. The refuge has miles of roads closed to traffic but open to hikers.
Meet at the Greenville Mall just east of the JC Penney store (Charles St. side) at 8 a.m., or at the Lake Mattamuskeet Lodge/Headquarters at 10 a.m.
Call Ernie Marshall at (252) 916-5462 for information and to sign-up.
Washington, NC
February 11 – 8:00 & 9:00 a.m.
Goose Creek State Park Valentine’s Day Hike – Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your valentine and friends by joining us on the traditional hike in Goose Creek State Park. Meet at the Visitor Center at 9 a.m. or at the JC Penney “east side” parking lot in the Greenville Mall at 8 a.m. to carpool. Allow extra time to visit the educational displays in the Visitor Center to learn more about the flora and fauna in the park.
Call Ernie Marshall at (252) 916-5462 for information and to sign-up.
Hayesville, NC
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March 3-9
Fires Creek Rim & Basin – This will be a base camp/day hiking excursion in one of the most primitive, wilderness areas in the South. Each day, we will hike a different loop in this 17,000 acre place which may eventually become a small national park.
The topography is unique in that it is like a big bowl with trails going up to the rim and a 25 mile trail around the rim circumference. Participants need to be in good shape and have backcountry gear and experience. The hikes are all rated strenuous because of the elevation changes throughout.
Contact Chris David at chris.44david@gmail.com for more information.
For more information on Sierra Club Outings, check out the Outings Calendar.
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Did you know you can make a monthly gift to the NC Sierra Club? Find out how you can make a sustaining gift by visiting our website, or contacting the Chapter office at 919-833-8467.
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NC Central Piedmont Group of the Sierra Club 