Friday, July 1, 2016

Lunch Break (7/1/16): Groups react to passage of HB630 regarding coal ash

Posted By and on Fri, Jul 1, 2016 at 11:30 AM


A bill outlining the future of coal ash ponds in North Carolina landed on Governor Pat McCrory’s desk after a quick trip through the state House and Senate this week, bypassing any opportunity for public comment. House Bill 630 comes after McCrory vetoed legislation earlier this year that would have required Duke Energy to excavate 14 coal ash sites deemed “intermediate” or “high risk.” Under HB 630, at least half of those sites would be reclassified as “low risk,” meaning they would stay put. The bill also gives Duke Energy until October 2018 to restore clean, safe water to residents whose wells were contaminated by coal ash pollution in the ground. Finally, the bill seeks to eliminate any local regulation — including the Coal Ash Management Commission — and revert decision-making to state officials. Environmental groups have been responding to the passage in the hours since its passing, and are none too happy, to say the least. Amy Brown, a resident and mother to young children near Duke’s Allen Steam Station in Gaston County who has participated in hearings with the Alliances of Carolinians Together Against Coal Ash, says, “Everybody got what they wanted except the communities. The hearings were a lot of work, but we all showed up to participate in them because the state told us that was the way to be heard. Yet it’s clear they haven’t heard us. Senate leaders made this bill look like a pretty little package, saying that we are going to get clean water, dangling it like a carrot. But our community knows that we deserve clean water and a full cleanup of the leaking coal ash pit in our backyard. We aren’t the violator of laws on probation that pleaded guilty – Duke Energy is. Why do they get the voice in this, and not affected residents?” (Madeline Lemieux) 

Police are looking for a vehicle that was involved in a hit-and-run yesterday in which a pedestrian was struck while crossing the road in the Steele Creek area. Police believe the victim was in or near the crosswalk at the intersection on South Tryon Street at Sandy Porter Road when they were struck by an older, burgundy four-door sedan, possibly a Honda Civic. The victim suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to CMC-Main. The suspect vehicle is expected to have damage to the front headlights and possibly the windshield. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Gormican at 704-336-2677. (Ryan Pitkin) 

Police have released photos of the man who tried to rob Tupelo Honey Cafe on Wednesday afternoon in the middle of the lunch rush. Police say the man entered the business on South Boulevard at around 12:41 p.m. on Wednesday and tried to rob it at gunpoint. He fled the scene before getting any money. The suspect (pictured below) is believed to be about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weigh around 170 pounds. (Ryan Pitkin) 
screen_shot_2016-07-01_at_10.13.16_am.png

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Pin It
Submit to Reddit
Favorite

Comments

Subscribe to this thread:

Add a comment

Creative Loafing encourages a healthy discussion on its website from all sides of the conversation, but we reserve the right to delete any comments that detract from that. Violence, racism and personal attacks that go beyond the pale will not be tolerated.

Search Events


www.flickr.com
items in Creative Loafing Charlotte More in Creative Loafing Charlotte pool

© 2019 Womack Digital, LLC
Powered by Foundation