House committee to discuss takeover bill again; Meeting scheduled for Wed at 2pm

One week after voting against Senate Bill 967, the N.C. House Water Resources & Infrastructure Committee will reconsider a government takeover of the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project that could cost North Carolina $500 million or more.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 5 at 2:00 pm in Room 1228 of the Legislative Building.

Please take a moment to call members of the committee and remind them why they should oppose this bill. Here is a list of members:

Rep. Lucy Allen: 919-733-5860, lucy.allen@ncleg.net

Rep. Hugh Blackwell: 919-733-5805, hugh.blackwell@ncleg.net

Rep. Jamie Boles: 919-733-5903, Jamie.Boles@ncleg.net

Rep. Edith Warren: 919-715-3023, edith.warren@ncleg.net

Rep. Pryor Gibson:919-715-3007, pryor.gibson@ncleg.net

Rep. Mitch Gillespie: 919-733-5862, mitchg@ncleg.net

Rep. Bruce Goforth: 919-733-5746, bruce.goforth@ncleg.net

Rep. Carolyn Justice: 919-715-9664, carolyn.justice@ncleg.net

Rep. Kelly Alexander: 919-733-5778, kelly.alexander@ncleg.net

Rep. Grey Mills: 919-733-5741, grey.mills@ncleg.net

Rep. Bill Owens: 919-733-0010, bill.owens@ncleg.net

Rep. Ray Warren: 919-715-8361, ray.warren@ncleg.net

Rep. Ruth Samuelson: 919-715-3009, ruth.samuelson@ncleg.net

Rep. Cullie Tarleton, Chair: 919-733-7727, cullie.tarleton@ncleg.net

Rep. Alice Underhill: 919-733-5853, alice.underhill@ncleg.net

N.C. House Committee votes against government takeover of Alcoa’s Yadkin Project

Here is a copy of a press release we issued this evening about today's committee vote in the N.C. House.

N.C. House Committee votes against government takeover of Alcoa’s Yadkin Project

RALEIGH (July 28, 2009) – A legislative bid to pursue a government takeover of Alcoa’s Yadkin Hydroelectric Project was thwarted by a N.C. House committee today. The Water Resources and Infrastructure Committee voted 8-6 against allowing Senate Bill 967 to move forward.

“We applaud the committee for standing up for private property rights and voting against an unprecedented government takeover that could have cost North Carolina $500 million or more,” said Gene Ellis, a spokesperson for Alcoa. “We remain eager for a new license and look forward to implementing the many positive benefits included in the Relicensing Settlement Agreement.”

Under the terms of the relicensing agreement, Alcoa will:

• Continue to improve water quality in the Yadkin River

• Allow for increased water withdrawals by local municipalities

• Better protect the water supply when drought conditions are present

• Set aside thousands of acres for long-term land protection

• Create new parks, public swim areas and other recreation opportunities

• Provide more stable lake levels and a consistent downstream flow of water

• Give homeowners more flexibility regarding shoreline development

FERC staff has already recommended issuing a new long-term license to Alcoa.

“We are gratified that the House took the time to carefully consider this legislation and weigh the pros and cons. Once they did that, they voted their conscience,” said Larry Jones, president of the High Rock Lake Association. Jones addressed the committee on behalf of more than 1,000 lakefront property owners, including approximately 50 members who attended the committee meeting.

Since planting roots in North Carolina in 1915, Alcoa has been a strong supporter of the local community. Together, Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation have donated $3 million to support non-profit organizations to improve economic development, education, recreation, public safety and more.

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Water Resource Committee votes against government takeover

Great news: The House Water Resource and Infrastructure Committee just voted 8-6 against allowing Senate Bill 967 to move forward. Thanks to everyone who helped make it happen. More to come soon...

NC Property Rights Coalition Begins Airing Radio Ads

The N.C. Property Rights Coalition is moving full speed ahead in its efforts to stop an unprecedented government takeover of the privately-owned Yadkin Project.

It released the following statement earlier today:

“Today, the Coalition will launch a radio ad criticizing the attempted government takeover of Alcoa’s dams and other privately owned assets along the Yadkin River. The ad will run in several media markets around the state. Click here to listen to the ad.”

For more information about the efforts of the N.C. Property Rights Coalition or to sign up to help, go to www.LeaveThatDamAlone.com.

Water Resources Committee Meeting Scheduled for July 28

The N.C. Water Resources & Infrastructure Committee has scheduled a meeting on Tuesday, July 28 at 2pm to discuss SB 967, the government takeover bill sponsored by Sen. Fletcher Hartsell.

Committee chairman Cullie Tarleton plans to hear from two members of the public – one in favor of the bill, one opposed – then allow members to discuss the bill and consider amendments before taking a vote.

A vote in favor of SB 967 will help clear the way for North Carolina to spend $500 million or more on an unprecedented government takeover of Alcoa’s privately-owned hydro business.

If you’d like to let the committee know why they should oppose this bill, here is a list of members:

Rep. Lucy Allen: 919-733-5860, lucy.allen@ncleg.net

Rep. Hugh Blackwell: 919-733-5805, hugh.blackwell@ncleg.net

Rep. Jamie Boles: 919-733-5903, Jamie.Boles@ncleg.net

Rep. Edith Warren: 919-715-3023, edith.warren@ncleg.net

Rep. Pryor Gibson:919-715-3007, pryor.gibson@ncleg.net

Rep. Mitch Gillespie: 919-733-5862, mitchg@ncleg.net

Rep. Bruce Goforth: 919-733-5746, bruce.goforth@ncleg.net

Rep. Carolyn Justice: 919-715-9664, carolyn.justice@ncleg.net

Rep. Kelly Alexander: 919-733-5778, kelly.alexander@ncleg.net

Rep. Grey Mills: 919-733-5741, grey.mills@ncleg.net

Rep. Bill Owens: 919-733-0010, bill.owens@ncleg.net

Rep. Ray Warren: 919-715-8361, ray.warren@ncleg.net

Rep. Ruth Samuelson: 919-715-3009, ruth.samuelson@ncleg.net

Rep. Cullie Tarleton, Chair: 919-733-7727, cullie.tarleton@ncleg.net

Rep. Alice Underhill: 919-733-5853, alice.underhill@ncleg.net

Water Resources Committee Cancels Meeting for Next Week

The N.C. House Water Resources Committee has cancelled plans to hold another committee meeting next week regarding Senate Bill 967, the government takeover bill sponsored by Sen. Fletcher Hartsell.

The meeting, originally scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, was to provide members of the public an opportunity to share their views on the proposed government takeover of Alcoa’s Yadkin Hydroelectric Project.

I will let you know when and if the meeting is rescheduled.

Report from the NC General Assembly

I was back at the N.C. General Assembly again this week for another meeting of the N.C. House Water Resources Committee on Tuesday. The meeting was designed to give committee members an opportunity to ask questions about Senate Bill 967, a bill that would authorize North Carolina to take over Alcoa’s privately-owned hydroelectric business along the Yadkin River.

A couple of highlights worth sharing:

1. Faison Hicks, a lawyer with the N.C. Attorney General’s office who has been involved in Gov. Perdue’s push for a government takeover, acknowledged that it is impossible to know what a government takeover of the Yadkin Project would cost. Alcoa believes a takeover will cost North Carolina more than $500 million.

2. When pressed about why the legislature needed to pass Senate Bill 967 this year – without knowing the potential price tag associated with it – Mr. Hicks said it wasn’t necessary to pass this legislation for the state to continue its pursuit of a takeover. He said the state can continue its efforts at the federal level regardless of whether this bill is approved or not.

3. Richard Whisnant, a professor with the UNC School of Government who has extensively studied water issues in North Carolina, acknowledged that control of the water in the Yadkin River will still be subject to federal regulation even if North Carolina succeeds in taking over the Yadkin Project.

Committee members asked a lot of thoughtful and probing questions that underscore the complexity and uncertainty of a government takeover and the associated cost for North Carolina.

One member asked whether a takeover of the Yadkin Project would be a pilot project that could ultimately lead to a state takeover of other privately-owned hydro projects, such as those operated by Duke Energy and Progress Energy. “I don’t know,” Mr. Hicks said.