State Releases Environmental Report

The NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently released a report “Sate of the Environment” about how the state is protecting its water, air, and land. According to the report, the air is cleaner and we are putting less raw sewage into our waters. However, the report points out that population growth is causing other pollution problems and straining drinking water supplies.

Keystone XL pipeline permit denied

 State Department News Release:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/01/181473.htm
Washington, DC
January 18, 2012
Today, the Department of State recommended to President Obama that the presidential permit for the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline be denied and, that at this time, the TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline be determined not to serve the national interest. The President concurred with the Department’s recommendation, which was predicated on the fact that the Department does not have sufficient time to obtain the information necessary to assess whether the project, in its current state, is in the national interest.

Agreement Cuts Pollution by Retiring Dirty, Old Coal Plants in Carolinas

The Southern Environmental Law Center released the following press release today:

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—Conservation groups today announced a settlement with Duke Energy that will cut pollution by phasing out over 1600 mega watts of dirty, old coal-fired power while still meeting customers’ energy needs.

NC League of Conservation Voters Legislator Rankings

The NC League of Conservation Voters has released their rankings of state legislators, which can be found here.

EPA announced new mercury rules

Last month the EPA announced new rules for release of mercury and other pollutants from power plants. This will affect many power plants that presently exceed the new limits. The power companies that operate these plants will have to either install equipment to scrub the pollutants from the plants or shut down the plants. Many are expected to be shut down. Many coal burning power plants had already been shut down.