Press Release

The Canary Coalition ● Environmental Defense ● Long Branch Environmental Education Center

NC Sustainable Energy Association ● Southern Alliance for Clean Energy ● Western North Carolina Alliance

NON-PROFITS LAUNCH EFFORT TO SUPPORT WIND POWER

Petition Encourages Development Of Wind Energy In Western NC

While Protecting Scenic Vistas

 Standing in line to sign the petition promoting large-scale wind development in NC

(28 June 2003 - Asheville) Six North Carolina environmental and renewable energy groups launched a public petition campaign today in Asheville, with a joint press conference at the entrance to City Hall, to encourage state legislators to support and promote wind power development in western North Carolina.  The Canary Coalition, Environmental Defense, Long Branch Environmental Education Center, N.C. Sustainable Energy Association, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and Western North Carolina Alliance are sponsoring the petition.

"Renewable energy sources such as wind power are cleaner and more environmentally friendly than coal and other fossil fuels and should be providing a growing share of electricity generation in North Carolina," said Michael Shore, southeast air quality manager for Environmental Defense.  "The beauty of the mountains does not have to be compromised to support wind energy.  The General Assembly should enable local governments to take advantage of the economic and environmental benefits of large-scale wind power developments, while preserving unique scenic vistas."

"We're here today to usher in a new era, in which we no longer have to destroy our own health and environment to produce the energy we need to live our lives."  said Avram Friedman, executive director of the Canary Coalition. "We're here to tell legislators in our state government that it's time to remove the legal obstacles to the development of wind energy and move into a better 21st century."

"Wind turbines in our neighboring state of Tennessee have provided economic and tourism benefits to local communities.  With wind power, the state can clean up its energy sources, improve air quality and boost local economies.  Wind power in North Carolina is most certainly a win-win investment," said Gil Melear Hough, Program Organizer of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

“Moving forward with wind energy in Western North Carolina represents a positive step in the right direction, offering clean energy harnessed responsibly from nature. This effort demonstrates again the ability of the environmental and sustainable energy community to work together for better air quality and environmental protection of the region, while developing renewable sources of electricity in a sustainable economic framework.”

said Ned Ryan Doyle, who serves on the board of the N.C. Sustainable Energy Association.