Press Release

February 1, 2008

Cliffside Boycott Expands as More Groups Weigh in Support

On Sunday, February 3, for the third consecutive week, electric ratepayers in North Carolina and elsewhere will demonstrate their intent to stop the expansion of Duke Energy's Cliffside coal-burning power plant expansion by turning off their lights for fifteen minutes on from 9-9:15 pm, while placing a candle or battery-powered LED lantern in their windows, in solidarity.

The Boycott also targets all new construction of coal or nuclear plants throughout the southeast region and in the nation, as participants promote a different path for meeting future energy demand including peak power shifting, economic incentives for investment in energy efficiency, conservation and renewable energy technologies that harness the resources of wind, solar, geothermal potential, water ways, ocean waves and tides. These latter options don't produce greenhouse gases and pollutants that threaten public health, the environment and our children's future.

Appalachian Institute for Renewable Energy (AIRE) and Appalachian Coalition for Just and Sustainable Communities, both with home offices in Boone, NC, have added their organizational support for the Cliffside boycott in a growing grassroots network that also includes the Canary Coalition, Mountain Voices Alliance, Nuclear Information and Resource Service, Interfaith Power & Light (the environmental network of the NC Council of Churches), Carolinas Clean Air Coalition, and Physicians for Social Responsibility.  These groups, with broad memberships, represent a potent coalition with offices in Raleigh , Charlotte and Asheville .

"You can watch the Super Bowl and still participate in the Cliffside Boycott," explains Avram Friedman of the Canary Coalition. "Each person can decide to what extent he or she wants to become involved.  The point is, that even from the safe and secure confines of your own home you can make a meaningful and powerful statement that will help.  By participating on any level, you've made a decision that you're joining with others to work toward a solution.  Some will just turn off their lights, while continuing to watch television and that's fine.  Others will turn off their main breakers.  Still others will go out and invest in all new energy efficient light bulbs and appliances, take part in street demonstrations, court cases, legislative and regulatory battles.  All we can ask is that everyone do what they feel they can do, as long as we're all pulling in the same direction.  The Boycott provides that opportunity."

The Boycott also includes a call for divesting from corporations, banks and lending institutions that have major investments in new nuclear and fossil-fueled power plant construction, such as Duke Energy, Progress Energy, Bank of America and Citicorp.  Ratepayers are urged to switch mortgages and bank accounts to lending institutions with more environmentally conscious investment practices and to re-invest assets toward companies and funds that are working to further renewable energy and efficiency technologies.

On Sunday, February 17, Boycott candle-light "parties" are being organized in different towns and cities around North Carolina, allowing ratepayers to gather, have strategy sessions, play music, read poetry and, perhaps, have some fun, while working together to stop Cliffside and all new polluting power plants.  This will be a monthly event.

People, businesses or restaurant owners who would like to host a Boycott party are urged to inform the Canary Coalition, info@canarycoalition.org, and it will be posted on the webpage, www.canarycoalition.org and listed in subsequent press releases.  

Boycott to Stop Cliffside Spreads

Rainforest Action Network, Mom's Against Mercury Join Action

Boycott "parties" planned throughout North Carolina

The Boycott to Stop Cliffside enters its fourth week on Sunday, February 10 as it continues to gain momentum and new organizational support.

February 8, 2008

The Rainforest Action Network and Mom's Against Mercury join with The Appalachian Institute for Renewable Energy, Appalachian Coalition for Just and Sustainable Communities, Canary Coalition, Mountain Voices Alliance, Nuclear Information and Resource Service, Interfaith Power & Light (the environmental network of the NC Council of Churches), Carolinas Clean Air Coalition, and Physicians for Social Responsibility, in calling for electric ratepayers to turn off their lights in solidarity for fifteen minutes, starting at 9 pm, each Sunday night.  The groups are also asking ratepayers to divest from corporations, banks and other lending institutions that have major investments in new coal and nuclear plants, such as Duke Energy, Progress Energy, Bank of America and the Citi group.

Candlelight Boycott parties are being planned around the state for people to gather in solidarity. In various restaurants, homes and halls there will be live music, poetry readings, discussion and strategy sessions.  Among other events, organizers have been informed of the following boycott parties being planned on Sunday, February 17, from 8-10pm.  People are encouraged to bring musical instruments, readings, ideas, yourself and a friend:

Asheville -  at the Mellow Mushroom, 50 Broadway, 828-236-9800

Saluda - at The Purple Onion, 16 Main Street , 828-749-1179

 Sylva - at Soul Infusion Tea House, 628 E. Main Street , 828-586-1717

Black Mountain - at Green Light Café, 205 W State Street , 828-669-2444

 Brevard - at Pescado's, 458 North Broad Street , 828-884-5559

 Boone - at Makoto's, 2124 Blowing Rock Road , 828-264-7976

Common Cause NC, Southern Energy Network, Wenoca Sierra Join Boycott to Stop Cliffside And All New Polluting Power Plants

Groups call for 15 minute "lights-out", 9-9:15 pm every Sunday night in solidarity. Boycott "parties" planned throughout North Carolina this Sunday night.

February 14, 2008

The Boycott to Stop Cliffside and all new coal and nuclear power plants moves into its fifth week on Sunday, February 17, continuing to expand, geographically, in numbers, and in organizational support. Ratepayers are being asked to turn off their lights for 15 minutes every Sunday night in solidarity, while placing a candle or battery-powered LED light in their windows, in protest against the construction of Duke Energy's new coal-burning power plant at Cliffside, NC. Boycott organizers are promoting a new energy policy that would meet future energy demand through efficiency, conservation, peak-power shifting and clean, safe, renewable energy resources.

This week Common Cause North Carolina, the Southern Energy Network and Wenoca Sierra Group of Asheville have added their support for the Boycott in solidarity with Appalachian Coalition for Just and Sustainable Communities, Appalachian Institute for Renewable Energy, The Canary Coalition, Carolinas Clean Air Coalition, Mom's Against Mercury, Mountain Voices Alliance, NC Interfaith Power & Light (a program of the NC Council of Churches), Nuclear Information and Resource Service, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Rainforest Action Network.
The groups are also asking ratepayers to divest from corporations, banks and other lending institutions that have major investments in new coal and nuclear plants, such as Duke Energy, Progress Energy and Bank of America.

"Common Cause North Carolina is concerned about the influence big money special interests often have on policy decisions," explains Bob Phillips, the Executive Director of Common Cause NC. "We believe the state's future energy plans need to be based on what's best for North Carolina and the environment not what's best for stockholders and executives of big utilities. This is an issue where all interests need to be thoughtfully heard and considered, not just those with the deepest pockets."

Public interest groups have decried the decision-making process on energy related issues in North Carolina as the General Assembly, the Utilities Commission and the Division of Air Quality of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources are all heavily influenced by utility interests. Utility related Political Action Committees have dispersed 1.7 million dollars statewide to political campaigns in the past two legislative election cycles.

"The issue of new polluting power plant construction and the movement to stop it, including this ratepayer Boycott, appeals to people concerned about the environment, concerned about ethics in government, concerned about health issues, about the economy and about civil rights," says Avram Friedman of the Canary Coalition. "The consequences are long-term and they affect everyone, regardless of age, income level, race or social status."

Mary Olson, of Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) adds, "The young people of the Climate Action movement are rising -- under a slogan coined by NIRS and Canary Coalition on our Energy at the Crossroads Tour in 2006 -- 'No Coal, No Nukes, No Kidding!' Duke has not yet gotten the message as it is proceeding not only with the Cliffside coal power plant -- now they want to get approval to build two new nuclear power reactors they are calling the William Lee site -- on the Carolina border, between Charlotte and Spartanburg. It is time that corporations listen to the people they serve -- No Coal, No Nukes, Go Solar!"

While many are participating in the Boycott at home with their families, some ratepayers in different places around the state are organizing candlelight Boycott "parties" where they can enjoy gathering together while taking part in the action. In various restaurants, homes and halls there will be live music, poetry readings, discussion and strategy sessions. Among other events, organizers have been informed of the following boycott parties being planned for Sunday, February 17, from 8-10pm. People are encouraged to bring musical instruments, readings, ideas, yourself and a friend:

Asheville - at the Mellow Mushroom, 50 Broadway, 828-236-9800

Black Mountain - at Green Light Café, 205 W State Street, 828-669-2444

Boone - at Makoto's, 2124 Blowing Rock Road, 828-264-7976

Charlotte - at the home of Beth Henry, Plaza-Midwood Neighborhood, 3066 Stoneybrook

Saluda - at The Purple Onion, 16 Main Street, 828-749-1179

Sylva - at Soul Infusion Tea House, 628 E. Main Street, 828-586-1717


For more information contact the Canary Coalition, info@canarycoalition.org, 828-631-3447 or visit www.canarycoalition.org

NC WARN and Unitarian Social Action Network of Asheville Join Cliffside Boycott

Eighty people attend boycott "party" in Charlotte .  Action continues this Sunday

February 22, 2008

In a rebellion by electric ratepayers against the construction of Duke Energy's proposed new Cliffside coal-burning power plant in Rutherford County , lights went out in unison for fifteen minutes, at 9 pm, last Sunday night in many households across North Carolina . There was some participation in other states, as well. 

The quickly-growing weekly Sunday Cliffside Boycott began on January 20th promoted by three environmental organizations based in Asheville , North Carolina .  By last Sunday's action the number of organizations involved had grown to thirteen, with representation from Charlotte to Raleigh .  Now, that number has increased to fifteen as two more influential grassroots organizations have joined the effort, NC Waste Awareness and Reduction Network (NCWARN) and the Social Action Network of the Asheville Unitarian Church.  Groups already involved include Appalachian Coalition for Just and Sustainable Communities, Appalachian Institute for Renewable Energy, Canary Coalition, Carolinas Clean Air Coalition, Common Cause NC, Mom's Against Mercury, Mountain Voices Alliance, NC Interfaith Power & Light (a program of the NC Council of Churches), Nuclear Information and Resource Service, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Rainforest Action Network, Southern Energy Network, and Wenoca Sierra.

“NC WARN joins with the Canary Coalition and other environmental and public interest organizations to support the Boycott to Stop Cliffside,” said Pete MacDowell, the group’s program director.  “The Boycott is an important way to help build the movement to stop the morally and environmentally bankrupt effort by Duke Energy and its CEO Jim Rogers to build another global warming machine as we face the worst environmental crisis of the human era,” MacDowell said.  “ Rogers may think Duke’s money, political influence, and greenscamming can overwhelm mere citizens, but small groups gathering on Sunday nights to organize added to the efforts of students, churches, and environmentalists across the state already have Duke Energy and state bureaucrats on the defensive and losing every argument. Democracy in action is a wonderful thing to be a part of.”

"Last Sunday, reports were received of candle-light Boycott "parties" in many areas of the state, in which people gathered together as the lights were turned off," said Avram Friedman, of the Canary Coalition. "Some gatherings focused on strategy discussion.  Others were just people getting together to feel the solidarity while doing something to stop global warming and air pollution.  There was live music, poetry, organizing and activism. It's all good.  This is big and it's going to get much bigger."

In Charlotte , about eighty people participated in the Boycott together at the home of activist Beth Henry, of Carolinas Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).  There were smaller gatherings in Asheville , at the Mellow Mushroom, and in Sylva, at Soul Infusion Tea House.  Boycott gatherings were also reported in Saluda, Boone, Black Mountain and other locations.

The action will continue this Sunday, February 24, 9-9:15 pm.  Participants are asked to turn off all lights in their homes for these fifteen minutes and place a candle or battery-powered LED light in their window.  Some may choose to turn off the main breaker.

Western North Carolina Alliance Joins 

the Boycott to Stop Cliffside

March 13, 2008

Ratepayer involvement and pressure continues to mount as the Boycott to Stop Cliffside and all new coal and nuclear power plants entered its ninth consecutive week.  Once again this coming Sunday, March 16, at 9 pm, lights will be turned off throughout North Carolina and by some in bordering states, for fifteen minutes in protest against Duke Energy's plan to construct a new, giant 800 megawatt polluting coal-burning power plant in Rutherford County.  Other coal and nuclear plants planned in North Carolina , South Carolina , Georgia , Tennessee and Virginia are also strongly opposed.

The Western North Carolina Alliance (WNCA) is the latest prominent community organization to join in the effort to build a groundswell to stop the power plant. 

"The Western North Carolina Alliance strongly supports the boycott to stop Cliffside and urges you to do the same!" says Ryan Griffith, a staff member of WNCA.  "By joining your neighbors and groups like the Canary Coalition and the WNC Alliance in solidarity, you are making a statement that clean air, clear skies and good health are of the utmost importance to you, and that new coal fired power plants are not acceptable.  Period!"

The Alliance joins fifteen other grassroots organizations in what is developing into a powerful statewide coalition forming to promote participation in the Sunday Boycott, including Appalachian Coalition for Just and Sustainable Communities, Appalachian Institute for Renewable Energy, Canary Coalition, Carolinas Clean Air Coalition, Common Cause NC, Mom's Against Mercury, Mountain Voices Alliance, NC Interfaith Power & Light (a program of the NC Council of Churches), NC Waste Awareness and Reduction Network (NCWARN), Nuclear Information and Resource Service, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Rainforest Action Network, Social Action Network of the Asheville Unitarian Church, Southern Energy Network, and Wenoca Sierra.

Duke Energy relentlessly moved forward with its plans to build the Cliffside Plant as news broke this week that the federal Environmental Protection Agency is tightening air quality standards bringing many counties into a "non-attainment" status, including the western North Carolina counties of Swain and Haywood.  This is an acknowledgment by the EPA that current standards have not been adequate to make the air safe to breathe.

In addition to the Sunday Boycott, opposition to the new power plant has manifested itself in several lawsuits, scattered protests and demonstrations and a campaign to write and call Jim Rogers, the CEO of Duke Energy, who has claimed interest in addressing global warming issues, but is still promoting the expansion of coal use for generating electricity.  For information on this campaign visit http://www.ncwarn.org/

For more information about the Cliffside Boycott visit www.canarycoalition.org