UPCOMING EVENTS
04/27/15 UNITE FOR MARRIAGE VIGIL
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear four marriage equality cases on Tuesday, April 28. These cases will likely end in a nationwide ruling on the freedom to marry. The Unite for Marriage coalition is working with local leaders across the country to organize candlelight vigils leading up to oral arguments. Campaign for Southern Equality is proud to be hosting this vigil in Asheville, and providing backend support for many vigils across the south as part of the coalition. Please join us on Monday, April 27th at 5:30 PM at First Congregational UCC located at 20 Oak st. as we stand in solidarity with hundreds of organizations across the country in support of marriage.
04/27/15 CAROLINA JEWS FOR JUSTICE AND ASHEVILLE BEYOND COAL EVENT
Duke Energy coal plant air quality info session and panel discussion will be held at 6:30 PM at Skyland/South Buncombe Library at 260 Overlook Road in south Asheville. Free. The Western North Carolina Regional Air Quality Agency has the ability now to write a new permit for the Asheville coal plant, says Judy Leavitt, Chair of the Carolina Jew for Justice/West Steering Committee. We urge Asheville residents to submit a statement of concern about this public health issue. Comments should be addressed to: WNC Regional Air Quality Agency, 49 Mount Carmel Road, Asheville, NC 28806. Community members are also encouraged to attend the public hearing on Wednesday, April 29th at 6:00 PM in the auditorium at Clyde A. Erwin High School, 60 Lees Creek Road, Asheville. For more information please contact wncjewsforjustice1@gmail.com.
04/28/15 WNC PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PANEL
WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility will focus on what people in WNC have been doing over the last year to engage with global nuclear weapons policy and to work for complete nuclear disbarment. This event is entitled “Nuclear Weapons: Our Prevention is the Only Cure” and will feature Terry Clark, Mary Olson and Steve Gilman. The location is MAHEC Biltmore Campus, just off Biltmore avenue, above TGIF and the Double Tree / Sleep Inn. Arrive at 6:30 PM for Hors D’ouevres and 7 PM for the program, which is free of charge. For more information, contact Mary at maryo@nirs.org.
04/28/15 IDOP PLANNING MEETING
International Day of Peace will hold a planning meeting on Tuesday, April 28 at 6 PM at North Asheville Community Center on Larchmont Street. Contract Rachael for more information at rachael at rachael_bliss@yahoo.com.
04/28/15 WALK A MILE FUNDRAISER
Join us on Tuesday, April 28th, from 6 to 9 PM at The Hop Ice Cream Cafe (640 Merrimon Avenue in Asheville). Come out and enjoy a delicious ice cream treat (a portion of all ice cream sales will be donated to Our VOICE), support Our VOICE, and get excited for Walk a Mile Asheville. Our VOICE will be there ready to register folks for this year's Walk A Mile, and we will be offering a discounted registration price for those who register at the event.
04/29/15 PUBLIC HEARING ON PERMIT FOR DUKE / GREEN DRINKS
A public hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, 6 PM at the Erwin High School Auditorium (60 Lees Creek Road) in Asheville for individuals to comment on the announcement by the Western North Carolina Regional Air Quality Agency (WNCRAQA) of its intent to renew a Title V permit for Duke Energy’s coal-burning electric plant in Arden. The primary purpose of the Title V permit is to consolidate and identify existing local and federal air quality requirements applicable to the plant and to provide practical methods for determining compliance with these requirements. This permit will be enforceable by the WNCRAQA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and citizens as defined under the Federal Clean Air Act. Individuals may register to speak at the hearing and/or submit written comments. Participants who wish to speak at the hearing should plan to limit their comments to three minutes or less. The hearing officer will have the discretion to limit speaking times, if necessary, to accommodate the number of speakers. Written comments will be accepted until April 30 and can be submitted at the hearing or sent to: Betsy Brown, Air Quality Supervisor, WNC Regional Air Quality Agency, 49 Mt Carmel Rd, Asheville, N.C. 28806 or email betsy.brown@buncombecounty.org. All comments received on or prior to that date will be considered by the WNCRAQA in making its final decision to issue the Title V permit. The draft permit, permit application, compliance plan, monitoring and compliance reports, all other relevant supporting materials, and all other materials available to the WNCRAQA that are relevant to the permit decision are available for public review at the following address: Western North Carolina Regional Air Quality Agency, 49 Mount Carmel Road, Asheville, NC 28806. Materials are available for review during the hours of 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The office phone number is 828-250-6777. For additional information, please contact Betsy Brown, Air Quality Supervisor, at (828) 250-6787 or betsy.brown@buncombecounty.org.
04/29/15 RESTORATIVE CIRCLES IN OUR COMMUNITIES
“Restorative Circles in Our Communities”: facilitated dialogs among equals to restore connection and the possibility of peace and goodwill in neighborhoods, schools, work environments, government agencies and other “communities.” Presented by Arjuna da Silva, a founder of Earthaven Ecovillage, with extensive experience in group facilitation, both consensus meeting styles and conflict management/solutions. Time is 5 to 7 PM and location is Open Space AVL at 295 Haywood Road in Asheville.
04/29/15 GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING OF OCCUPY WNC
Come on down to our non-partisan General Assembly Meeting of Occupy WNC, which is twice a month on the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month. The next one will be Tuesday April 28th from 7 to 8:30 PM at Jackson County Administration Building at 401 Grindstaff Road in Sylva, Room 246. Also - please join us for Supper at The Mad Batter at 5:30 PM in downtown Sylva on Main Street.
04/29/15 ACTION AT PUBLIX GROCERY STORE
Join the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the Alliance for Fair Food for a demonstration outside Publix as the grocery chain makes its debut in the Asheville area at 1830 Hendersonville Road. Time is 7 AM. Background: Despite almost six years of calls from farmworkers and consumers, Publix refuses to join the internationally-lauded Fair Food Program (FFP): a groundbreaking initiative that is ensuring basic human rights for farmworkers and eradicating physical violence, poverty wages, sexual harassment, and other abuses in the fields. Whole Foods Market, The Fresh Market and Walmart are among the thirteen buyers already participating in the Program, and as a result, the FFP is poised to make its inaugural expansion beyond Florida as farmworkers make their way into North Carolina and beyond this summer. As Publix, too, makes its way into the Tarheel State, help send the message that the company cannot continue expanding its market without respecting the rights of farmworkers back home. For more information, visit www.ciw-online.org.
04/30/15 CREATION CARE ALLIANCE OF WNC MEETING
Our friends at the Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina will have a general meeting on April 30 from 5:30 - 7 PM. The meeting will be held at First Baptist Church, located at 5 Oak Street in Asheville. All are welcome. Call (828) 258-8737 for more information. The Creation Care Alliance is a network of people of faith and congregations who have united around a moral and spiritual call to preserve the integrity, beauty and health of God’s creation. They work to bring practical and hopeful solutions to congregations and broader secular communities by engaging hearts and minds through inspiration, education, service and advocacy.
04/30/15 COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TOWN HALL FORUM
The YMI’s rescheduled Town Hall Forum, “Communities of Color” will focus on exclusionary housing and the Extra-Territorial Jurisdictions (ETJs)—unbounded lands and communities not included in towns, municipalities, etc.—that exist throughout North Carolina. The Town Hall-style forum will draw on “The Inclusion Project,” a report by UNC Chapel Hill’s Civil Rights Center, which offers a statewide perspective of areas where ETJs exist, where many residents are also considered “unbanked” or “underbanked”—lacking access to credit and other banking services. Panelists for the forum are Dr. Dwight Mullen and Dr. Gwendolyn Whitfield of UNC Asheville’s faculty; Mark Dorosin, Managing Attorney at UNC Chapel Hill’s Civil Rights Center; Gene Bell, CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville (HACA); and Rodrick Banks, Vice President of Community Development at Wells Fargo Bank. Professors Mullen and Whitfield will discuss the social, political, and economic impacts that result from exclusionary housing—and the importance of immediate, comprehensive community action to address the wide-ranging problems that result. Free admission, and time is 6 to 8:30 PM. Location is the YMI Cultural Center at South Market Street in Asheville.
04/30/15 LECTURE AT UNCA ON FREE SPEECH
“Free Speech vs Hate Speech” will be a lecture/panel discussion from 7 to 9 PM at Highsmith University Union 143 - Grotto at UNCA. The group sponsoring this is The Free Speech Society. Contact Eric King at eking1@unca.edu for more information. Everyone is invited and there is not cost to attend.
04/30/15 DINING OUT FOR LIFE
More than 110 Asheville area restaurants will donate 20% of their gross sales to benefit Western North Carolina AIDS Project.
04/30/15 FILM SHOWING AT FINE ARTS THEATRE
The film “Sweet Dreams” will be shown at 6:30 p.m. April 30 at the Fine Arts Theatre, 36 Biltmore Ave. The film is presented by Africa Healing Exchange and is appropriate for young audiences. It documents Rwanda’s rebirth. This is a benefit for Africa Healing Exchange and to raise awareness about the work of resilience training in Rwanda. The film features Ingoma Nshya Women’s Drumming Troupe, guest speakers on subjects of AHE and resilience training in Rwanda, sweet treats at screening, and sponsorship opportunities.Tickets are $10. To learn more, contact Michael Weizman at 828-778-8330 or visit africanhealingexchange.org.
05/01/15 MAY DAY CELEBRATION
There will be a celebration and rally for May Day at Vance Monument in downtown Asheville. This is in honor of the working class movement’s history and failure. No war but class war. Time is 5 PM.
05/01/15 “WHAT IS FASCISM?” LECTURE
A free public lecture by Dr. John McClain, UNCA lecturer, in honor of International Workers Day 2015. Time is 7 PM and location is Kairos West Community Center at 742 Haywood Road in west Asheville.
05/01/15 CHILD WATCH TOUR IN ASHEVILLE
Children First/Communities In Schools and the Junior League of Asheville present the 2015 Success Equation Child Watch Tour. This field trip for adults focuses community attention on important child and family issues. This year, we will explore the Child Care Subsidy Program that promotes opportunity and success for working parents and their children. The program serves over 2,200 children in Buncombe County. Tour participants will: hear from parents and providers about the recent eligibility changes' negative impacts on working parents with school aged children; learn about new federal guidelines that will help improve this long-standing program; get involved in advocacy that supports working families and child development. More information and registration details are coming soon. Time is 2 PM. For more information, including how to register, contact Greg Borom at gregb@childrenfirstbc.org.
05/01/15 DOCUMENTARY FILM SHOWING AT YMI CULTURAL CENTER
This documentary film presents and up-close and personal portrait of vocalist and musician Nina Simone (from Tryon, NC). The singer herself and a number of friends, relatives and connoisseurs tell excerpts of her path in music and life. Time is noon to 3 PM and admission is free. This will be held at the YMI Cultural Center on South Market Street in Asheville.
05/01/15 EXHIBIT ON ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE
“Access to Health Care for African-Americans of Buncombe County 1860-1960” For many years, Sharon Kelly West, delivered the message of the lingering and profound disparities around health care in the African American community in the local community and across the state. At every event she decried the data sets and shared “It is important to reflect on the limited health care access for African Americans of Buncombe County, N.C. in the 19th century and compare with our current status of access to medical expertise. Compelling data points to a protracted state of health and health care inequity in African Americans which further reinforces the sense of urgency to move forward with due diligence towards parity achievement.” At the same time, her talks lifted up all those individuals and community members who labored to give their patients the best care and at the same time fought for greater equity and full dignity. The goals of this exhibit are to remind us all of the legacy of those courageous individuals and their collective visions and to inspire us all to further their work of full access and equality for health and well- being. This exhibit is free and runs until 05/30/15. It is open during regular business hours at the YMI Cultural Center on South Market Street in Asheville.
05/01/15 OUR STORIES: SURVIVORS SPEAK
Join in the celebration of this collaborative ‘Zine by students from the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies department at UNCA and Our VOICE. There will be a reading, light refreshments, and an open mic session for participants. ‘Zine will be available for a suggested donation. All proceeds benefit Our VOICE. Time 7 PM at Malaprop’s Bookstore Cafe at 55 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville.
05/02/15 FAIR HOUSING TESTER TRAINING
Do you want to get paid to fight housing discrimination? Become a Fair Housing Tester. Testers only need to attend one paid training class and complete a practice test. This training will be on 5/2/15 from 9 AM to noon at the United Way Building at 50 South French Broad Avenue in Asheville. Registration is required. Contact Fair Housing Project of Legal Aid NC, Amberly Dattilo, Testing Coordinator at amberlyd@legalaidnc.org or 919-861-1885.
05/02/15 WALK A MILE IN HER SHOES
This event is to raise awareness of sexual assault, and is hosted by Our VOICE. Time is 10 AM to noon, location is Pack Square. The people's march to stop rape, sexual assault, and gender violence.
05/02/15 ACTION AT PUBLIX GRAND OPENING
Join the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the Alliance for Fair Food for a demonstration outside Publix as the grocery chain makes its debut in the Asheville area at 1830 Hendersonville Road. Time is 2 PM. Background: Despite almost six years of calls from farmworkers and consumers, Publix refuses to join the internationally-lauded Fair Food Program (FFP): a groundbreaking initiative that is ensuring basic human rights for farmworkers and eradicating physical violence, poverty wages, sexual harassment, and other abuses in the fields. Whole Foods Market, The Fresh Market and Walmart are among the thirteen buyers already participating in the Program, and as a result, the FFP is poised to make its inaugural expansion beyond Florida as farmworkers make their way into North Carolina and beyond this summer. As Publix, too, makes its way into the Tarheel State, help send the message that the company cannot continue expanding its market without respecting the rights of farmworkers back home. For more information, visit www.ciw-online.org.
05/03/15 AMERICANS WHO TELL THE TRUTH FUNDRAISER
Join us as we gather to celebrate Kendall’s birthday and to honor her 65 years as a committed truth-teller. Please come and share a wish, a story, a poem, a word, anything that is meaningful to you about Kendall’s chosen birthday theme of ‘truth’. A powerful art exhibit is coming to Asheville with 50+ portraits known as “Americans Who Tell the Truth” in September. Please bring a potluck dish. Beverages provided, no gifts please. Donations to “Americans Who Tell the Truth” project will be accepted. Time is 2 to 6 PM and location is 372 Sharon Road in Fairview. Call Kendall at 828-768-7816 for more information and to RSVP.
05/03/15 CLIMATE LOBBY TRAINING FOR ASHEVILLE CITIZENS
We need to know how many people will be attending this training so please RSVP. Call 828-367-6360 for instructions on how to register. Also please spread the word to your friends and family in the area. We need to connect with and influence our members of Congress, as well as spread the idea that each one of us can address climate change. Share with them the idea of Carbon Fee & Dividend. Time is 8:30 AM to noon, and location is Kairos West Community Center at 742 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Coffee and refreshments will be served.
05/05/15 CURRENT EVENTS BOOK CLUB
The Current Events Book Club will discuss the book “They Know Everything About You: How Data-Collecting Corporations and Snooping Government Agencies Are Destroying Democracy.” Time is 7 PM and location is Malaprops at 55 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville.
05/06/15 GREEN DRINKS / SIERRA CLUB MEETING / MOUNTAIN TRUE MEETING
Drew Jones will present on “Climate Change Interactive Simulation”. Join us on Wednesday, May 6 to welcome Drew Jones of Climate Interactive who will lead a hands-on, interactive session where participants will work together to create a global scenario for addressing climate change and then test it in the simulator his team has built for a wide range of decision makers from the UN to the Chinese Government. Socializing begins at 7 PM and program begins at 7:15 PM. Location is the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville on Charlotte Street and Edwin Place in Asheville. Contact: judymattox@sbcglobal.net, or 828-683-2176 for more information.
05/07/15 YWCA’S BLACK & WHITE GALA
The Stand Against Racism campaign will culminate with the YWCA's annual Black & White Gala at the Crest Center & Pavilion, 22 Celebration Place in Asheville. More information about this gala at YWCA website. Time is 7 to 10:30 PM.
05/08/15 LECTURE AT UNCA
“What has the Supreme Court Wrought?” by Carl Peterson. The outcome of opinions issued by the United States Supreme Court from the controversies presented to it has a tremendous impact on the lives of each and every person in this country. Judge Peterson will provide a synopsis, and the potential impact, of significant opinions that were published by the U.S. Supreme Court in the October 2013-2014 term and in the current term to date. The discussion will include the controversies that remain pending and will likely be resolved by the Court by the end of the session in June 2015. Carl Peterson is a retired trial judge with experience as a prosecutor, 20 years as a practicing lawyer, and 20 years on the trial bench. He has provided numerous classes and seminars on the U.S. Supreme Court and landmark cases decided by this Court. Time is 11:30 AM to 1:15 PM and location is Reuter Center, room 102A, at UNCA.
05/08/15 SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM AT UU CHURCH
On Friday, May 8th, we are screening the important documentary, "Food Chains". The film exposes the plight of migrant farm workers in the United States. The film will be attended by representatives from the Buncombe County Schools Migrant Education Program. Agriculture remains the backbone of America, generating billions of dollars of revenue for those atop the food chain. Those at the bottom, however, see very little of those profits. Farmworkers remain desperately poor, averaging about $12,000 per year in wages. The film is at 7 PM. Location is Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at Edwin Place and Charlotte Street in Asheville. There is no charge for viewing the film - Donations are welcome. Due to construction at UU, there will be no film screenings in the months of June, July, and August. We will resume monthly screenings in September. For more information, contact Charles at 612-860-6628 or mnpopi@charter.net.
05/11/15 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE MEETING
Imagine using wood gas, at only 25 cents per gallon, to power any modern gasoline or diesel engine and producing cleaner emissions at the same time. Hear a basic overview of how wood gasifiers can help mitigate climate change while building soil fertility for food production. No modern fuel does a better job of closing the loop of energy, nutrient, and carbon cycles more than wood gas when it is combined with biochar and coppice (pruning) systems. Come, learn, and sign up if you’d like to plug into hands-on wood gasification projects. Brian Winslett is a co-founder of Blue Ridge Biofuels, located in Asheville and serving the Western North Carolina region. Snacks and socializing will begin at 6:30. Location is Parish Hall at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Charlotte Street in Asheville. For more information, contact transitionAsheville@gmail.com.
05/11/15 MOVE TO AMEND BUNCOMBE COUNTY MEETING
Next meeting is a general meeting on May 11 at the North Asheville Library on Merrimon Avenue. No further information given.
05/12/15 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING
Time is 6:30 PM and location is VFP HQ at the Phil Mechanic Studios: 109 Roberts Street in Asheville.
05/13/15 JUST PEACE FOR ISREAL/PALESTINE MEETING
This meeting will be at 9:30 AM at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church at 117 Montreat Road in Black Mountain.
05/14/15 INTERNATIONAL CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS DAY
05/16/15 JUST PEACE FOR ISREAL/PALESTINE PROTEST
This will be at Pritchard Park from noon to 1:30 PM. Protest against US support for Israeli policies.
05/29/15 JUST PEACE FOR ISREAL/PALESTINE MEETING
This meeting will be at 3:15 PM at Brooks-Howell Home on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville. Meet in the media room.
05/29/15 TOWNS THAT ARE REDUCING THEIR PESTICIDE FOOTPRINT
This free, four-part series will take place on the last Friday of March, April, May and June. This is the third part of the four-part series. The series runs as follows: April 24: Pesticides Kill More Than Pests: Keeping Bees and Other Wildlife Safe; May 29: Towns That Are Reducing Their Pesticide Footprint; June 26: It All Starts At Home: Alternatives to Chemical Pesticides. Sessions are being held at the Center for Graduate Studies of Asheville - Lenoir-Rhyne University from 6:00 to 9:00 PM on the above dates. It is our intention to celebrate Asheville as a city in transition, a city willing to take a hard look at what it’s going to take to create the kind of resiliency necessary for a sustainable future.In addition to educating our citizenry – and no doubt learning from you all as well – we want to draw attention to the need for city governments to set an example and model best practices in pest management. Light refreshments will be served each evening. We are looking for volunteers and additional sponsors to cover refreshments. Tabling is free, so please do consider sharing your passion with like-minded folk. Time is 6 to 9 PM and location is Lenoir Rhyne University on Montford Avenue in Asheville. They will be using the second floor boardroom. This is a facebook event, and since it is multi-day, you probably want to sign up if you are interested in this topic.
05/30/15 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ANNUAL MEETING
2015 Annual Meeting and Luncheon. We are excited to welcome Jane Pinsky from the North Carolina Coalition for Lobbying and Government Reform. Jane will be speaking about efforts to support a transparent, impartial and fair process for redistricting. We will also discuss our successes from this year and our goals for 2015-16. Time is 11:30 AM to 2 PM and location is the Lenoir-Rhyne Board Room (2nd floor of the Chamber of Commerce).
05/30/15 CLEAN UP THE FRENCH BROAD
The French Broad River is a local treasure, but lately it doesn’t look like one. Join us on Saturday, May 30 for a French Broad River Cleanup Day. Sierra Club will be joining other area groups in this effort which lasts from 10 AM until 2 PM. After our hard work is done ... and her beauty is restored, we will throw a party in her honor from 2-4 PM featuring food, fun, beer and other libations. If you would like to join the makeover effort, please call or email Mark Threlkeld at (828) 200-6280 or email focusmdt@gmail.com. Just let him know if you would like to join a crew on the river or on shore.
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ONGOING EVENTS
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TUESDAY
Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 5 PM at Pack Square, Vance Monument
WEDNESDAY
Haywood Peace Vigilers have a weekly vigil at 4 PM at Haywood County Courthouse in Waynesville
THURSDAY
Asheville Homeless Network meeting at 1 PM at A-Hope on North Ann Street in Asheville.
Youth Outright Poetry Night at United Church of Christ in Asheville at 5 PM
FRIDAY
Women in Black have a weekly vigil at noon at the City Hall in Hendersonville
Women in Black have a monthly vigil at 5 PM at Vance Monument in Asheville (first Friday only)
SATURDAY
Transylvanians for Peace and WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility have a weekly vigil at noon in front of the courthouse in Brevard
Third Saturdays – Asheville’s Green Grannies invites the public to “sing for the climate” at Pritchard Park at 5 PM.
SUNDAY
Youth OUTright meeting from 4 to 6 PM at First Congregational United Church of Christ at 20 Oak Street in Asheville. Ages 14 - 23 only.
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ACTIONS AND READINGS
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Help Limit Sulfur Dioxide Air Pollution in WNC -- April 29 hearing
Our regional air quality agency is holding a public hearing on its draft air permit for Duke Energy's Asheville Coal Plant on April 29, at 6 pm at Erwin High School, 60 Lees Creek Rd, Asheville, NC 28806 (828-232-4251). (In Asheville, from Patton Ave, go north on New Leicester Hwy for roughly 3.5 miles; sign to Erwin High to right)
We need you to send comments and to attend this important hearing. In spite of new evidence that demonstrates that Duke Energy's Asheville coal plant has been emitting harmful sulfur dioxide pollution at levels considered unsafe by the EPA for the past several years, the Air Quality Agency has released a draft permit that would allow Duke to release sulfur dioxide air pollution that is nearly 80 times higher than the EPA's public health standard.
Please join us to tell the air regulators to stop this dangerous air pollution from Duke Energy's Asheville Coal Plant! Please ask the WNC Regional Air Quality Agency Board members to “revise the SO2 emission limit included in the Asheville coal plant’s new air permit to reflect national health-based standards: 61.7 lb/hr for each coal-burning unit, equating to a plant wide average SO2 emission limit of 0.029 lb/MMBtu.” For more information and to sign up to attend the hearing, visit http://bit.ly/1BSn3Mw
Write comments to: Britt Lovin, Director of the Air Quality Board, 49 Mount Carmel Rd., Asheville, NC 28806
Email comments to: Britt Lovin c/o Betsy Brown, betsy.brown@buncombecounty.org
Phone: Betsy Brown, Air Quality Board, 828-250-6787; 828-250-6777
Subject: Asheville steam electric plant Title V permit / Sulfur Dioxide Air Pollution
Comments accepted until April 30.
Talking Points
Duke Energy's Asheville coal plant has been emitting harmful sulfur dioxide pollution at levels considered unsafe by the EPA for the past several years. This pollution is dangerous, especially to children, the elderly, or those with existing respiratory illnesses such as asthma. The plant’s pollution has exceeded minimum public health standards approximately one out of every three to four days since 2010. An analysis of operations at the plant points to the two causes of this increased pollution: Duke apparently has been running its pollution protection technology less and, at the same time, has switched to cheaper, higher-sulfur coal. The likely reason for these changes is to reduce the cost of running this plant, which is one of Duke’s most expensive to operate. Duke's consumers paid for air pollution controls at the Asheville coal plant, and we deserve the air quality and public health benefits of running those pollution controls to their fullest extent.
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