N.C. 8th Congressional District Democratic Delegation Endorses Resolution

June 2, 2009 - PRLog -- RALEIGH, N.C. – The N.C. Water Rights Coalition (www.ncwaterrights.org) is commending representatives of the state’s 8th Congressional District Democratic delegation who unanimously endorsed a resolution supporting the efforts of the State of North Carolina to recapture the public’s water rights for the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project at their yearly convention at the John D. Fuller Recreational Complex in Fayetteville on May 16.  The resolution backs both Gov. Bev Perdue’s Motion to Intervene with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the Project on behalf of the citizens of North Carolina and the legislation approved by the N.C. Senate to establish a Yadkin River Trust to hold a license to operate the powerhouses and dams at High Rock, Tuckertown, Narrows and Falls Reservoirs in Stanly, Davidson, Rowan and Montgomery counties that make up the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project.

Each year delegates who are leaders in North Carolina’s Democratic Party meet in their districts to represent the people of their counties, speak on behalf of their concerns and vote on resolutions of interest.  The 8th Congressional District runs from Charlotte to Fayetteville and encompasses 10 counties.  It includes all of Anson, Hoke, Montgomery, Cabarrus, Stanly, Richmond, Scotland counties and parts of Cumberland, Mecklenburg and Union counties.

The approved resolution said the waters of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River are a public resource and should be held for the use and benefit of the people of North Carolina.  It called Alcoa, the current operation of the Project who wants to receive another 50-year license to control it from the FERC, a private monopoly “with virtually no presence in North Carolina except for four hydroelectric dams on the Yadkin River, operated remotely from Tennessee, that generate power for sale to the highest bidder, regardless of the needs of the people of North Carolina.”

June Mabry, chair of the 8th District Democratic Party, said the resolution passed unanimously because delegates felt it affirmed what they know is correct and right in this issue.  The party wanted to show its support of Governor Perdue and N.C. Senator Bill Purcell and its commitment that government should act on behalf of the people, not multi-national corporations.  This resolution was the people’s effort to have their say and let the world know this standoff is about people’s rights for control of their own water.

The resolution makes the delegation on record as supporting the same stance as the N.C. Water Rights Coalition.  Other groups on record as opposing APGI’s operation of the Project include the, Davidson, Randolph, Iredell, Anson, Cabarrus, Stanly and Union County Boards of Commissioners, as well as the Centralina Council of Governments.  The Yadkin Riverkeeper® and the N.C. Wildlife Federation have endorsed the State Trust Concept the N.C. Water Rights Coalition proposed earlier this year that has been adapted for this bill.

Related Links:
www.ncwaterrights.org

Quotes:
“This is an honor for the Democratic representatives of the 8th Congressional District to voice support for our cause,” said Nancy McFarlane, president of the N.C. Water Rights Coalition.  “By this vote, they have shown that they consider recapturing our water rights for the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project to be of utmost importance for the entire district and, by extension, the State of North Carolina.  We humbly thank the convention attendees for their unanimous vote and hope they will spread the news out about our mission to their fellow citizens in their communities in order to let them know the importance of this issue.”

About N.C. Water Rights Coalition:
The N.C. Water Rights Coalition is a coalition of North Carolina businesses and concerned citizens who have joined this statewide effort to inform citizens of the critical issues and decisions concerning water rights that affect all North Carolinians now and for many decades to come.  For more information, visit www.ncwaterrights.org.

Keywords:
MMI Associates, Inc., Public Relations, N.C. Water Rights Coalition, Water Rights, North Carolina Water Resources, Water Policy, NCDENR, Department of Environment and National Resource, Division of Water Quality, DWQ, EPA, Water Quality Act, Alcoa, APGI, Nancy McFarlane, Stanly County, Davidson County, Rowan County, Montgomery County, Yadkin River Trust, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC, 8th Congressional District, N.C. Democrats, Gov. Bev Perdue, Anson County, Richmond County, Hoke County, Scotland County, Cabarrus County, Cumberland County, Mecklenburg County, Union County

Patty Briguglio
MMI Associates, Inc.
(919) 233-6600
patty@mmimarketing.com
PR Firms Raleigh, NC
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MMI Associates, Inc.
Patty Briguglio
(919) 233-6600
(919) 233-0300 (fax)
onlinenews@mmimarketing.com
www.mmimarketing.com