Charlotte Green News Digest
December 8, 2011
Alcoa and a company called Clean Tech have given Stanly County commissioners an ultimatum: Support Alcoa’s request to renew a 50-year hydropower license on the Yadkin River, or miss out on 450 jobs. The deadline is December 15. Listen to story on WFAE.
December 7, 2011
Greenpeace USA wants to know whether Duke Energy opposes proposed federal regulations to control mercury emissions, given Duke’s apparent membership in an organization that is lobbying against tough regulations. Read story in Charlotte Business Journal.
Bypass Project Gets Green Light
October 29, 2011
A U.S. District Court judge has ruled in favor of construction of the Monroe Connector/Bypass project. Environmentalists had challenged the proposed toll road, criticizing the environmental impact study. Read story in Mecklenburg Times.
Charlotte Looks Beyond Financial Sector in Effort to Become ‘Energy Capital’
September 10, 2011
While the tidy North Carolina city of 730,000 people still counts itself as the nation’s No. 2 financial center and is looking to expand in a number of arenas — including health, motor sports and defense — the area’s energy sector is showing particular promise. Read story in Washington Post.
American Farmland Trust: Five Favorite Farmers Markets in North Carolina
September 6, 2011
Did you know that the state of North Carolina has been losing about 55 acres of farmland per day? You have the power to help save our farms and farmland. You can support North Carolina farmers and farmers markets by taking these simple actions. Read listings on American Farmland Trust.
Growing Things to Honor the Earth
August 28, 2011
Urban homesteading is one name for the lifestyle that includes raising your own food in tight city spaces and on suburban lots while also cutting waste. Rising food costs amid high unemployment and heavy chemical use by corporate food systems are among the reasons Dhijana Scott-Harmony says people are drawn to the idea of becoming more self-sufficient at home. Read story in The Charlotte Observer.
Local Farmers’ Markets To Accept ‘Food Stamps’
August 23, 2011
The Mecklenburg County Health Department is pleased to announce that County residents will now be able to use their EBT cards or “food stamp” card to buy fresh fruits and vegetables from several area farmers’ markets and produce stands. Read article on Mecklenburg County website.
County Eyes New Park in Davidson
August 1, 2011
Mecklenburg County is in talks to buy nearly 243 acres of land once eyed for a high-end neighborhood in Davidson in north Mecklenburg. Read article in The Charlotte Observer.
July 8, 2011
Leaders of a new solar panel manufacturing plant that opened in Charlotte on Thursday hope their presence will bring more than jobs. They’re also pushing to create a platform for educating the public about renewable energy and developing partnerships in a city with a mission to expand its green economy. Read article in Charlotte Observer.
April 4, 2011
Developers behind the ReVenture project to make electricity from household trash are scrambling to keep their plan alive while local officials hesitate to support it. Read article on WFAE.
“Green” Jobs Growing in NC, but Not Fast Enough
February 26, 2011
Statewide, the number of green jobs increased 22 percent last year, and the Asheville area is one of three hot spots in North Carolina for green job creation. But even with the green industry’s growth, the demand for work has continued to outpace job openings. Read article in Charlotte Observer.
A Ritzy New Electric Car
Feburary 24, 2011
In Charlotte, neither electric cars nor charging stations are commonplace yet, though many are on the way. Read article in Lake Norman Magazine.
Backyard Vegetable Gardening All Year Round
February 23, 2011
On this edition of Charlotte Talks, we’ll talk about vegetable gardening in your backyard throughout the year—from preparing the bed to harvesting and storing your successfully grown vegetables. Listen to program on WFAE.
January 11, 2011
Cyclists and pedestrians: Take a few minutes to complete a survey on biking and pedestrian safety. Let’s help to get more cars off the road in NC… and hopefully more space between cyclists and distracted drivers! Take NCDoT survey.
December 1, 2010
North Carolina water quality officials have dealt a major blow to Alcoa in its effort to obtain a new hydropower license on the Yadkin River. The Division of Water Quality is revoking its endorsement of the project because it says Alcoa intentionally withheld key information. Read story from WFAE.
North Carolina Coast Suited for Wind Power
December 1, 2010
North Carolina could have the most viable offshore wind power on the East Coast, with the ability to bring power to hundreds of thousands of homes and to generate 10,000 to 20,000 new manufacturing jobs, according to the new National Wildlife Federation study, called “Offshore Winds in the Atlantic.” Read story in Charlotte Observer.
Celebrating a Local Thanksgiving
November 23, 2010
It’s that time of year again: when cravings for mom’s sweet potato casserole or homemade cranberry sauce kick in with a vengeance. But this year, the 10 Percent Campaign is helping people realize that they have a choice about which ingredients are used in their favorite recipes. Read story in Reese News.
Plan To Make Power From Trash Faces Skeptics
November 9, 2010
There’s an ambitious plan to turn hundreds of acres on the western edge of Mecklenburg County into an eco-friendly park of offices, solar power and trails. Sounds great, right? Not so fast. There are plenty of skeptics – including some local environmentalists and members of the Charlotte City Council. Read story on WFAE.
How Some Charlotte Neighborhoods Are Going Green
September 9, 2010
Seven Charlotte neighborhoods, ranging from a high-rise uptown condos to a suburban subdivision, have been selected to receive $80,000 in grants as part of the city’s Neighborhood Energy Challenge Grant program. Read story in Charlotte Observer.
City Council Weighs Changes To Tree Ordinance
June 27, 2010
Developers in Charlotte may soon have more of a reason to keep building sites green. City council is considering a rule change that would require developers to save 15 percent of trees on a property. Read story from WFAE.
Johnson and Wales Going Green in Uptown Charlotte
July 2, 2010
Every chef, to one extent or another, is on a mission – mostly to feed people tasty food, to make them happy. But in recent times a number of chefs have realized they can have a greater impact and do something fulfilling for themselves as well as for those around them, and maybe even for the planet. Read story in Uptown Magazine.
Test Drive of a Green Machine
June 28, 2010
The Tesla team was going to be in Charlotte in the next couple of days and wanted to know whether I’d be interested in driving the only all-electric (read: no gas at all) high-performance sports car on the market, the Tesla Roadster. Hell yeah. Read story in Uptown Magazine.
Whole Foods Turns 30, But Still Not Coming to Charlotte
June 7, 2010
Upmarket natural and organic grocery chain Whole Foods is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. But one way it won’t be marking the occasion: By building a store in Charlotte. At least, not yet. Read column in Charlotte Observer.
Smog
May 13, 2010
The Charlotte-Gastonia-Salisbury region was recently named the tenth smoggiest area in the nation. WFAE looks at our air quality with an eye focused on smog. Listen to story on WFAE.
May 12, 2010
In Charlotte right now, it’s all about opening more markets, adding more market days – and trying to find enough farmers and food producers to fill the demand. Read story in Charlotte Observer.