North Carolina activists win on fracking, might still lose on renewable energy

[RiverLover]

North Carolina activists win on fracking, might still lose on renewable energy
5/20/2015


These protesters won an important victory on Wednesday, even as state legislators moved to vote on freezing renewable energy requirements.

It was one step forward and one step backward for environmentally concerned North Carolina residents on Wednesday.

A successful local lawsuit ended in a de facto moratorium on fracking in the state, while a bill that would halt progress requirements on renewable energies continued to cycle its way through the legislature.

Wednesday’s successful lawsuit, brought by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) on behalf of the Haw River Assembly and a North Carolina resident from Lee County, argued that with a majority of the appointments within the state’s mining and energy commission coming directly from the very legislative body that had created it, basic constitutional rules of separations of power had been violated.

The now-unconstitutional commission was created three years ago by the North Carolina general assembly following the legalization of fracking-type activities. It was put in place to issue and process fracking permits.

With an unconstitutional commission creating fracking rules, it follows that “their actions are therefore unconstitutional, null and void”, said Derb Carter, a lawyer and the director of the SELC’s North Carolina office.

The result is a halt on any fracking-related activities.

But shortly after the news was released, a state house bill providing for the freezing of current renewable energy provision standards, also referred to as REPS, continued to move its way through the North Carolina legislature, appearing in front of committee on its way to a vote in the senate.

If passed, the bill would permanently freeze a requirement previously introduced in the state providing for a gradual shift by energy providers towards renewable energy and away from fossil fuels....

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/may/20/north-carolina-fracking-renewable-energy

[marym625]

1. winning on a fracking ban is more important, IMHO

The renewable energy is extremely important but I think the fracking ban is something that has to be done immediately and everywhere.

Congrats to them!

[RiverLover]

2. It's a step in the right direction for sure. I wish it was permanent.

If only the states of Texas & Ohio could have prevented their unlawful "regulation oversight" departments from usurping fracking regulation. The industry controls their agencies completely. In Texas, its the Texas Railroad Commission(crazy!!!) and in Ohio, its the Dept of Natural Resources. In Ohio, the Ohio EPA has NO SAY in fracking, they only come into the picture after there's been a spill or accident of some kind.

Its insane.

[marym625]

3. It sure is

The things corporations get away with is really unbelievable. Like Nestlé in California, stealing the water and selling for their profits while there's a shortage on top of it. Despicable