Energy Hearing Draws Overflow Crowd

A hearing held Monday night in Raleigh by the North Carolina Utilities Commission to take public comments on the state's energy future drew an overflow crowd and lasted late into the evening. The turnout showed how passionate citizens are about power production amidst increasing concern about global warming, air pollution and nuclear insecurity.

The commission scheduled the hearing from 7 to 9 p.m. but had to extend it until about 11 p.m. due to the long list of people who wanted to speak. The event was geared specifically to ordinary citizens and the organizations that represent them; technical experts will be given a chance to testify at a future hearing. Also barred from speaking were representatives of organizations that have intervened in the proceedings. They include the N.C. Sustainable Energy Association, N.C. Waste Awareness and Reduction Network, Southern Environmental Law Center, Environmental Defense and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

The speakers were almost unanimously opposed to utilities' plans to build more polluting coal-fired and nuclear power plants and favored greater support for sustainable alternatives. Among those who made statements were Avram Friedman of the Asheville-based Canary Coalition; Cindy Pollock Shea, sustainability coordinator at UNC-Chapel Hill; Louis Zeller of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League in Glendale Springs; Alice Loyd of the N.C. Council of Churches' Climate Connection project; and Timothy Toben of the Greenbridge Project, a planned residential and retail development that aims to serve as a model for energy efficient green building in Chapel Hill.

Also speaking at Monday's hearing was Raleigh resident Bob Rodriguez, who said he and his family were inspired to make efficiency improvements to their home after considering that every time they flicked on their lights, someone else's home was being imperiled by mountaintop coal mining in West Virginia or uranium mining on native people's lands.

"I should not be destroying someone else's community for my benefit," Rodriguez said to audience applause.

The proceedings were formal, with speakers being sworn in or affirmed before the commission members and occasionally subject to questioning by attorneys for the interveners or utilities. Interestingly, Rodriguez's remarks were followed by a comment from Progress Energy Attorney Len Anthony, who noted that he's made similar efficiency improvements to his own home.

Due to the overwhelming interest shown by the public, the commission is planning to hold future hearings in the western and eastern parts of the state, though no dates have yet been announced. For more details on the proceedings, click here.