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I support and am actively promoting a moratorium on all new coal and nuclear power
plants in North Carolina, including Duke Energy's planned Cliffside
expansion in Rutherford County.
The
giant 800 megawatt Cliffside coal-burning power plant would be the largest and
most prolific emitter of greenhouse gases in North Carolina's history. Future
energy demand in North Carolina can easily be met through improvements in
energy efficiency, peak-power shifting, co-generation and the development of
our plentiful renewable energy resources. These options will provide
many more jobs and a healthier environment than more coal or nuclear power. We
don't need to sacrifice our children's lungs or their future for the sake of
increased utility industry profits.
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My
opponent, Representative Phil Haire, supports the construction of the
new Cliffside Coal-Burning Power Plant. He agrees with Duke Energy
spokespeople who assert this is the only way we can meet future energy
demand in North Carolina.
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I will continue to work to reverse the corporate welfare of the CWIP provisions in Senate Bill 3
In
2007, the NC General Assembly, in passing Senate Bill 3, voted to end a
25-year ban on the utility industry's practice of charging electric
ratepayers for Construction-Work-in-Progress (CWIP) on new coal and
nuclear power plants. This provision unfairly removes the risk
from corporate shareholders and places it on the shoulders of ratepayers
when a power company decides to "invest" billions of dollars
in a new power plant to increase the volume of their energy sales.
In
1982, the NC General Assembly voted to ban CWIP charges on ratepayers
when Progress Energy failed to complete construction on five of six
planned nuclear power plants at their Shearon Harris site in Wake
County. Progress Energy charged ratepayers hundreds of millions of
dollars for planning and construction costs for the uncompleted
plants. The plants were abandoned because Progress Energy had
vastly under-estimated the cost of construction, and because the power
company had grossly over-stated future energy demand in its
projections. Many believe history is currently repeating itself in this
way.
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In
2007, my opponent, Representative Phil Haire, voted to pass Senate Bill
3, ending the 25-year ban on charging ratepayers for
construction-work-in-progress (CWIP) on new coal and nuclear power
plants in North Carolina. |
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I support and will sponsor legislation
to create an "inverted" utility rate structure to provide an economic incentive for ratepayer investment in efficiency and independent renewable energy systems, and
to provide an economic dis-incentive for peak power usage. As an
individual, I have petitioned to intervene in hearings to be held on
this issue by the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
Efficiency
efforts and investments by ratepayers should be rewarded. Wasteful
energy habits should be penalized. Lower income ratepayers should be
helped in their efforts to achieve greater energy efficiency for the
benefit of public health and the environment. Peak power shifting alone
will eliminate the need for the construction of new power plants.
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My
opponent, Representative Phil Haire, has been informed thoroughly and
repeatedly, but has been silent and inactive on the issue of utility
rate-restructuring as a method of achieving meaningful energy
consumption reductions.
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I support and will sponsor legislation to create an independent agency
to manage efficiency and conservation programs in North Carolina.
As
a result of Senate Bill 3, passed in the 2007 North Carolina legislative
session, the utility companies themselves are in charge of administering
efficiency and conservation programs. But, these industries are in
the business of selling energy. They have an inherent conflict of
interest in promoting programs that would result in reduced energy
consumption, because their shareholders make more money by selling more
energy. Efficiency and conservation programs developed in other
states employing independent agencies for administration have been far
more successful than those administered by the industry itself.
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My
opponent, Representative Phil Haire,
in
2007, voted for Senate Bill 3, giving the responsibility of
administering efficiency and conservation programs to the utility
industry. |
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I will support and sponsor legislation to create guidelines for siting large-scale wind energy projects and
to remove legal obstacles to wind development in appropriate locations.
Large-scale
wind projects offer dynamic economic opportunities for rural land-owners
in leasing fees, for local governments in providing revenues and
in creating a substantial number of permanent, high-paying jobs in rural
communities near their location.
Wind
energy is the fastest growing energy source in the world and
economically competitive with all other methods of producing
electricity. Wind is clean, safe and renewable, offering no air
pollution, no greenhouse gases, and no toxic wastes. North
Carolina has abundant wind resources in the western mountains and on the
coast. Wind development is an essential component of any future
energy plan that offers energy independence, cleaner air and water,
while enabling us to avoid the worse consequences of climate change.
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My
opponent, Representative Phil Haire, has been inactive and has shown
little interest in making progress toward large-scale wind development
in North Carolina. |
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I support Governor Easley's introduction of incentive programs to promote water conservation.
We also need to re-prioritize fresh water usage in North
Carolina.
Currently
80% of all fresh water withdrawals from our rivers and streams are
attributable to the process of cooling power plants. This is
another important reason to begin the process of decentralizing our
power production system and transforming to renewable energy sources as
we phase out large polluting coal and nuclear power plants.
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My
opponent, Representative Phil Haire, seems unconscious of the fresh
water crisis we face, as he is promoting the construction of new power
plants that will put a further strain on fresh water supplies in North
Carolina. |
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TRANSPORTATION |
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Click on the links
below to view my positions on these issues |
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Southern-Loop
By-Pass |
State-wide
Light Rail |
Car
standards |
Plug-in
hybrid initiative |
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Public
transportation over new roads |
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I am opposed to the DOT's plan to build a Southern-Loop By-Pass around
Sylva and Dillsboro.
We need to nurture historic downtown Sylva and
Dillsboro; not by-pass it.
Squandering limited transportation funds on new road
construction at this late date is foolishness. Looking toward the future
and limited global petroleum reserves, we need to focus on developing
comprehensive public transportation options, designing walkable
communities, bicycle lanes, sidewalks and greenways. Existing roads
should be improved. But, new roads invite more sprawl, more cars, more
health and environmental degradation.
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My
opponent, Representative Phil Haire, supports the DOT in its effort to
build the Southern Loop By-Pass, despite overwhelming opposition
by public testimony of record in Jackson County.
He
says, in general, we need to begin looking toward public transportation
state-wide and nationwide, while moving away from new road construction.
But,
he says that we need this new road. |
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As your representative, I will introduce legislation directing the
Department of Transportation to develop plans for a state-wide light-rail system that connects the university system
with all the rural and urban communities in-between, in NC.
This rail system will serve as the spine of a more
comprehensive statewide public transit system that can be "plugged
into" by local communities.
The economic advantage of building a statewide public
transit system is the economy of scale created by hundreds of miles of
track. This model of a system also allows multiple funding sources to
ease the burden on local communities. Funds will be derived from
the combined resources of the University system, local business
communities, local, state and federal governments.
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My
opponent, Representative Phil Haire, voted in favor of a study
commission to determine the feasibility of expanding rail service in
North Carolina. But he has expressed that he believes public
transportation in rural areas is impractical and not worth pursuing. |
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I will support legislation to maximize efficiency and emission control standards for all
new automobiles sold and operated in NC.
Historically car manufacturing companies
have not made dramatic improvement in efficiency and emission control
technology until faced with a mandate by state or federal law. This is
long past due in North Carolina |
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I support Governor Easley's proposal to develop technology for plug-in
hybrid vehicles. |
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I will work toward re-prioritizing DOT activities toward public transportation options and existing road improvement and maintenance,
and away from new road construction.
Worldwide petroleum reserves are diminishing as Asian,
African and South American nations are rapidly industrializing,
competing for those reserves. It doesn't make sense to squander billions
of dollars building more roads, preparing for more automobile use, when
we probably won't have the fuel to continue using cars the way we do
today. We need to prepare for a more probable future in which
public transportation will play a much larger role. |
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EDUCATION |
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Click on the links
below to view my positions on these issues |
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quality of education will define the quality of life in North
Carolina. There is nothing more important than ensuring a basic
education of the highest quality in our state's public schools.
All young adults should have the opportunity to complete a college
education. |
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- Teachers must be paid competitive salaries to bring NC public schools up to par with schools in other states. |
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We need more teachers and classrooms to lower the number of students per
class |
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All children should be thoroughly schooled in civics to learn and
understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens of a free and
democratic nation. |
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CIVIL RIGHTS and ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE |
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support the NAACP's 14 point program and will co-sponsor legislation
based on these principles.
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GOVERNMENT |
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Click on the links
below to view my positions on these issues |
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Citizen
Initiatives |
Full-time
State Legislature |
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I will introduce legislation to create a legal petitioning process that
will allow citizens to initiate binding referendums or advisory votes in North Carolina.
Twenty-three
other states have some form of citizen initiative processes in place
allowing citizens to propose laws or make direct decisions on important
social, economic or environmental policies. The people of North
Carolina deserve that right as well. |
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I will promote a shift to a full-time state legislature to eliminate the aristocratic, "wealthy can only afford to serve" style government in NC.
Legislators
should receive full-time salaries and be expected to serve full-time
during their terms in office so they can focus on the business of
running the government without the distraction and conflict of interest
of other jobs or businesses of which to attend. North Carolina has
become a large, industrialized, modern state with large problems,
institutions, government policies and agencies to maintain and oversee.
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HEALTH CARE |
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Click on the links
below to view my positions on these issues |
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Universal
Health Care |
Prevention |
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I will promote a " single payer" universal health care system in NC.
Every
industrialized nation in the world, except ours, provides universal
health care for its people. Given the wealth and power of our
nation, there is no excuse for having a large, uninsured population. |
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A focus on prevention is the most important policy change needed to
reduce health care costs and alleviate the health care crisis.
The basics involved in a healthy diet
and adequate exercise needs to be taught to all children in the public
schools. But, also, school lunchrooms need to provide healthier
food choices for students.
Schools need to once again teach the
basics of growing vegetables in home gardens to provide a fresh,
wholesome and nutritive component to all home meals. |
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Election
Reform |
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Click on the links
below to view my positions on these issues |
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Electronic
Voting Machines |
Political
Action Committees (PACS) |
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Electronic voting machines should be banned.
Computers
are wonderful tools for business and personal use because they provide
efficiency in whatever task in which we employ them. But,
efficiency is not the most important quality in determining the results
of an election. Verifiability and accuracy are the only important
qualities needed in voting processes.
Computers
can be manipulated in too many ways to be viewed as a safe, accurate
method of vote recording and tabulation. Proprietary software that
can only be read and understood by corporate manufacturers should not be
at the core of a process that once only involved citizen voters and
election officials. There is evidence that national elections in
2000 and 2004, especially in Florida and Ohio, may have been manipulated
to change the results of the elections. But, due to the inherent
nature of electronic voting and tabulation machines, there is no way to
prove or disprove this concern.
Mechanical
voting machines or hand-counted ballots need to once again be the
predominant method of determining the results of elections. |
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Corporate-based political action committees should be limited or
eliminated from the electoral process.
Profit-motivated
special interests should not have a major role in determining public
policy, especially on issues that affect public health and the
environment. Political candidacies need to become completely separated
from financial ties to corporate interests. |
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Economy |
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In
general I support promoting an economy based on small, home-grown
businesses, rather than large international or national corporations.
Corporate
welfare is a drain on the economy and an unfair burden on the middle
class and working families. I would work to end tax incentives
that subsidize corporations to attract them to set up shop in North
Carolina. If they want to come here, they should pay their fair
share of taxes like everyone else.
I
would expand programs that help small businesses get started, like
incubators and micro-enterprise partnerships.
I
would work to remove the legal obstacles to wind development, to unleash
that prolific, job creating industry that has found success in so many
other parts of the world.
I
would promote industries that advance energy efficiency in homes, office
buildings and factories. This is another booming economic sector waiting
for us to tap into.
A
decentralization of the energy industry will promote a healthier, more
de-centralized economy and political environment. I will work
toward this end. |
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