ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK FOR CLEAN ENERGY?
Representatives Dean Arp, John Szoka, and Sam Watford introduced House Bill 589, “Competitive Energy Solutions for North Carolina” during the 2017 session. This bill took small steps towards increasing the role solar plays in the state’s energy mix by creating a competitive bidding process and by expanding rooftop solar. Senator Harry Brown added a moratorium on wind energy projects, claiming NC’s military operations would be under threat by wind turbines. Senator Brown used the once bipartisan supported clean energy bill as an attempt to pit solar against wind. Governor Cooper refused to allow Brown to claim victory: after signing H589 into law, Cooper immediately issued an executive order to the Dept. of Environmental Quality asking for the expedition of wind project permits. No 18-month ban will stop this clean energy source from moving forward.
WATER, AIR, AND HEALTH
Legislators continued to put the water, air, and health of North Carolinians at risk throughout the 2017 legislative long session. State lawmakers approved a bill that would allow companies to spray “garbage juice” into our air; passed a policy that limits the amount of financial compensation a resident or property owner can receive for detrimental health and livelihood impacts in hog pollution or other nuisance cases; and thumbed their noses at local control over environmental safeguards by prohibiting state regulators from making stricter water quality rules than the federal standards (assuming those even exist). Overall, leaders of the General Assembly showed a lack of empathy for their constituents and clear preference for polluters with deep pockets in 2017.
Since 1999, the NC League of Conservation Voters issues an annual Legislative Scorecard showing how state legislators voted on critical environmental bills during the session. Because the NC General Assembly operates on a biennial (two-year) calendar, with a long session in the first year and a short session in 2017 the second, NCLCV is refocusing our accountability tools to reflect the ongoing nature of legislative work. PROGRESS Following each long legislative session, NCLCV will release a progress report to highlight the issues (i.e. water, clean energy, environmental justice) legislators REPORT championed based on their votes and bill sponsorships. During the even, short-session years, NCLCV will issue its traditional full Legislative Scorecard detailing the complete work of the General Assembly over the two-year cycle. We feel this will provide a more accurate reflection of how our environmental values fared on Jones Street.
PO Box 12671, Raleigh, NC 27605 • 919-839-0006 • nclcv.org 1 REPRESENTATIVES
LIFETIME REPRESENTATIVE PARTY DISTRICT COUNTY CHAMPION ISSUES SCORE %
JAY ADAMS R 96 Catawba 9
GALE ADCOCK D 41 Wake 82
JOHN AGER D 115 Buncombe 100
KELLY ALEXANDER, JR. D 107 Mecklenburg 78
DEAN ARP R 69 Union 3
JOHN AUTRY D 100 Mecklenburg N/A
CYNTHIA BALL D 49 Wake N/A
CHAZ BEASLEY D 92 Mecklenburg N/A
MARY BELK D 88 Mecklenburg N/A
JOHN BELL, IV R 10 Craven, Greene, 0 Lenoir, Wayne
LARRY BELL D 21 Duplin, Sampson, 72 Wayne
MARYANN BLACK D 29 Durham N/A
HUGH BLACKWELL R 86 Burke 20
JOHN BLUST R 62 Guilford 34
JAMES BOLES, JR. R 52 Moore 11
BEVERLY R 6 Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, N/A BOSWELL Washington JOHN BRADFORD, III R 98 Mecklenburg 9 WILLIAM BRAWLEY R 103 Mecklenburg 9
WILLIAM R 22 Bladen, Johnston, 37 BRISSON Sampson CECIL BROCKMAN D 60 Guilford 82
MARK BRODY R 55 Anson, Union 3
DANA BUMGARDNER R 109 Gaston 0
JUSTIN BURR R 67 Montgomery, Stanly 14
DEB BUTLER D 18 Brunswick, New N/A Hanover
BECKY CARNEY D 102 Mecklenburg 79
MIKE CLAMPITT R 119 Haywood, Jackson, N/A Swain GEORGE CLEVELAND R 14 Onslow 28
WATER AIR HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDING
JUSTICE GOOD GOVERNMENT TREE PROTECTIONS RENEWABLE ENERGY
2 Note: lifetime scores listed are through 2016. Lifetime scores will be updated for all elected officials after the 2018 legislative session. REPRESENTATIVES
LIFETIME REPRESENTATIVE PARTY DISTRICT COUNTY CHAMPION ISSUES SCORE %
JEFF COLLINS R 25 Franklin, Nash 4
DEBRA CONRAD R 74 Forsyth 3
KEVIN CORBIN R 120 Cherokee, Clay, N/A Graham, Macon CARLA CUNNINGHAM D 106 Mecklenburg 83
TED DAVIS, JR. R 19 New Hanover 5
JIMMY DIXON R 4 Duplin, Wayne 5
JOSH DOBSON R 85 Avery, McDowell, 13 Mitchell
NELSON DOLLAR R 36 Wake 37
ANDY DULIN R 104 Mecklenburg N/A
BEVERLY EARLE D 101 Mecklenburg 76
JEFFREY ELMORE R 94 Alleghany, Wilkes 0
JOHN FAIRCLOTH R 61 Guilford 5
JEAN FARMER- BUTTERFIELD D 24 Pitt, Wilson 86
SUSAN FISHER D 114 Buncombe 95
ELMER FLOYD D 43 Cumberland 74
CARL FORD R 76 Cabarrus, Rowan 3
JOHN FRALEY R 95 Iredell 9
TERRY GARRISON D 32 Granville, Vance, N/A Warren
ROSA GILL D 33 Wake 94
Hoke, Montgomery, KEN GOODMAN D 66 Richmond, Robeson, 51 Scotland CHARLES GRAHAM D 47 Robeson 81
GEORGE D 12 Craven, Greene, 81 GRAHAM Lenoir
HOLLY GRANGE R 20 New Hanover N/A
DESTIN HALL R 87 Caldwell N/A
DUANE HALL D 11 Wake 97
KYLE HALL R 91 Rockingham, Stokes N/A
EDWARD HANES, JR. D 72 Forsyth 79
WATER AIR HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDING
JUSTICE GOOD GOVERNMENT TREE PROTECTIONS RENEWABLE ENERGY
PO Box 12671, Raleigh, NC 27605 • 919-839-0006 • nclcv.org 3 REPRESENTATIVES LIFETIME REPRESENTATIVE PARTY DISTRICT COUNTY CHAMPION ISSUES SCORE %
JON HARDISTER R 59 Guilford 3
PRICEY HARRISON D 57 Guilford 100
KELLY HASTINGS R 110 Cleveland, Gaston 4
CODY HENSON R 113 Henderson, Polk, N/A Transylvania YVONNE LEWIS HOLLEY D 38 Wake 87
CRAIG HORN R 68 Union 11
JULIA HOWARD R 79 Davie, Forsyth 41
HOWARD D 5 Bertie, Gates, 60 HUNTER, III Hertford, Pasquotank
PAT HURLEY R 70 Randolph 27
FRANK ILER R 17 Brunswick 13
VERLA INSKO D 56 Orange 98
DARREN JACKSON D 39 Wake 81
JOE JOHN D 40 Wake N/A
LINDA JOHNSON R 83 Cabarrus 38
BERT JONES R 65 Caswell, Rockingham 6
BRENDEN JONES R 46 Bladen, Columbus, N/A Robeson JONATHAN JORDAN R 93 Ashe, Watauga 13
DONNY LAMBETH R 75 Forsyth 0
DAVID LEWIS R 53 Harnett 32
MARVIN LUCAS D 42 Cumberland 75
CHRIS MALONE R 35 Wake 13
GRIER MARTIN D 34 Wake 97
SUSAN MARTIN R 8 Pitt, Wilson 3
PAT MCELRAFT R 13 Carteret, Jones 20
CHUCK MCGRADY R 117 Henderson 60
ALLEN MCNEILL R 78 Moore, Randolph 3
GRAIG MEYER D 50 Durham, Orange 91
WATER AIR HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDING
JUSTICE GOOD GOVERNMENT TREE PROTECTIONS RENEWABLE ENERGY
4 Note: lifetime scores listed are through 2016. Lifetime scores will be updated for all elected officials after the 2018 legislative session. REPRESENTATIVES LIFETIME REPRESENTATIVE PARTY DISTRICT COUNTY CHAMPION ISSUES SCORE % MICKEY MICHAUX, JR. D 31 Durham 81
CHRIS MILLIS R 16 Onslow, Pender 0
RODNEY MOORE D 99 Mecklenburg 57
TIM MOORE R 111 Cleveland 27
MARCIA MOREY D 30 Durham N/A
GREGORY MURPHY R 9 Pitt N/A
GARLAND PIERCE D 48 Hoke, Richmond, 80 Robeson, Scotland
LARRY PITTMAN R 82 Cabarrus 9
LARRY POTTS R 81 Davidson N/A
MICHELE R 118 Haywood, Madison, 0 PRESNELL Yancey
AMOS QUICK, III D 58 Guilford N/A
ROBERT REIVES, II D 54 Chatham, Lee 87 BOBBIE RICHARDSON D 7 Franklin, Nash 93 WILLIAM RICHARDSON D 44 Cumberland N/A
DENNIS RIDDELL R 64 Alamance 0
DAVID ROGERS R 112 Burke, Rutherford N/A
STEPHEN ROSS R 63 Alamance 4
JASON SAINE R 97 Lincoln 5
JOHN SAULS R 51 Harnett, Lee N/A
MITCHELL SETZER R 89 Catawba 35
PHIL SHEPARD R 15 Onslow 6
MICHAEL R 3 Beaufort, Craven, 13 SPECIALE Pamlico
Camden, Chowan, BOB STEINBURG R 1 Currituck, Pasquotank, 10 Perquimans, Tyrrell
SARAH STEVENS R 90 Surry, Wilkes 17
SCOTT STONE R 105 Mecklenburg N/A
LARRY STRICKLAND R 28 Johnston N/A
JOHN SZOKA R 45 Cumberland 6
WATER AIR HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDING
JUSTICE GOOD GOVERNMENT TREE PROTECTIONS RENEWABLE ENERGY
PO Box 12671, Raleigh, NC 27605 • 919-839-0006 • nclcv.org 5 REPRESENTATIVES LIFETIME REPRESENTATIVE PARTY DISTRICT COUNTY CHAMPION ISSUES SCORE %
EVELYN TERRY D 71 Forsyth 97
JOHN TORBETT R 108 Gaston 7
BRIAN TURNER D 116 Buncombe 100
RENA TURNER R 84 Iredell 3
HARRY WARREN R 77 Rowan 4
SAM WATFORD R 80 Davidson 9
DONNA MCDOWELL WHITE R 26 Johnston N/A LINDA HUNT WILLIAMS R 37 Wake N/A SHELLY WILLINGHAM D 23 Edgecombe, Martin 94
MICHAEL WRAY D 27 Halifax, Northampton 70
LARRY YARBOROUGH R 2 Granville, Person 9
LEE ZACHARY R 73 Alexander, Wilkes, 10 Yadkin
WATER AIR HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDING
JUSTICE GOOD GOVERNMENT TREE PROTECTIONS RENEWABLE ENERGY
6 Note: lifetime scores listed are through 2016. Lifetime scores will be updated for all elected officials after the 2018 legislative session. SENATORS LIFETIME SENATOR PARTY DISTRICT COUNTY CHAMPION ISSUES SCORE % JOHN ALEXANDER, JR. R 15 Wake 20
DEANNA R 45 Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, 0 BALLARD Caldwell, Watauga
CHAD BAREFOOT R 18 Franklin, Wake 5
TAMARA BARRINGER R 17 Wake 18
PHIL BERGER R 26 Guilford, Rockingham 29
DAN BISHOP R 39 Mecklenburg N/A
DAN BLUE D 14 Wake 85
DANNY BRITT, JR. R 13 Columbus, Robeson N/A
ANDREW BROCK R 34 Davie, Iredell, Rowan 25
HARRY BROWN R 6 Jones, Onslow 22
ANGELA BRYANT D 4 Halifax, Nash, Vance, 88 Warren, Wilson
JAY CHAUDHURI D 16 Wake 100
BEN CLARK D 21 Cumberland, Hoke 54
Beaufort, Camden, Currituck, Dare, Gates, BILL COOK R 1 Hyde, Pasquotank, 5 Perquimans
DAVID CURTIS R 44 Gaston, Iredell, 0 Lincoln
WARREN DANIEL R 46 Burke, Cleveland 5
DON DAVIS D 5 Greene, Lenoir, Pitt, 80 Wayne
Cherokee, Clay, Graham, JIM DAVIS R 50 Haywood, Jackson, 6 Macon, Swain
CATHY DUNN R 33 Davidson, N/A Montgomery
CHUCK Buncombe, Henderson, N/A EDWARDS R 48 Transylvania
JOEL FORD D 38 Mecklenburg 62
VALERIE FOUSHEE D 23 Chatham, Orange 94
RICK GUNN R 24 Alamance, Randolph 2
KATHY HARRINGTON R 43 Gaston 3
Madison, McDowell, RALPH HISE R 47 Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, 3 Yancey
RICK HORNER R 11 Johnston, Nash, N/A Wilson
WATER AIR HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDING
JUSTICE GOOD GOVERNMENT RENEWABLE ENERGY
PO Box 12671, Raleigh, NC 27605 • 919-839-0006 • nclcv.org 7 SENATORS
LIFETIME SENATOR PARTY DISTRICT COUNTY CHAMPION ISSUES SCORE %
BRENT JACKSON R 10 Duplin, Johnston, 5 Sampson
JEFF JACKSON D 37 Mecklenburg 88
JOYCE KRAWIEC R 31 Forsyth, Yadkin 0
MICHAEL LEE R 9 New Hanover 0
PAUL LOWE, JR. D 32 Forsyth 73
Anson, Richmond, TOM MCINNIS R 25 Rowan, Scotland, Stanly 0 FLOYD MCKISSICK, JR. D 20 Durham, Granville 78 WESLEY MEREDITH R 19 Cumberland 17
PAUL NEWTON R 36 Cabarrus, Union N/A
LOUIS PATE R 7 Lenoir, Pitt, Wayne 27
RONALD RABIN R 12 Harnett, Johnston, 3 Lee
BILL RABON R 8 Bladen, Brunswick, 2 New Hanover, Pender SHIRLEY RANDLEMAN R 30 Stokes, Surry, Wilkes 15 GLADYS ROBINSON D 28 Guilford 74
NORMAN R 2 Carteret, Craven, 3 SANDERSON Pamlico
Bertie, Chowan, ERICA SMITH- Edgecombe, Hertford, INGRAM D 3 Martin, Northampton, 73 Tyrell, Washington
JEFF TARTE R 41 Mecklenburg 0
JERRY TILLMAN R 29 Moore, Randolph 30
TOMMY TUCKER R 35 Union 4
TERRY VAN DUYN D 49 Buncombe 93
JOYCE WADDELL D 40 Mecklenburg 81
TRUDY WADE R 27 Guilford 0
ANDY WELLS R 42 Alexander, Catawba 3
MIKE WOODARD D 22 Caswell, Durham, 88 Person
NCLCV’s Progress Report highlights the environmental issues members’ championed through their votes and sponsorships during the 2017 legislative session. While it is not a comprehensive list of all session votes, the Progress Report provides an overview of some of the most significant environmental issues championed. Additionally, NCLCV’s Progress Reports and Scorecards are two tools to evaluate our legislators, but neither can represent the full complexity of what it takes to be an environmental champion. Note: due to the multiple special session convened this year, information in this Progress Report reflects legislation proposed and/or passed through September 2017. Past scorecards can be found at nclcv.org.
WATER AIR HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDING
JUSTICE GOOD GOVERNMENT RENEWABLE ENERGY
8 Note: lifetime scores listed are through 2016. Lifetime scores will be updated for all elected officials after the 2018 legislative session. GOVERNOR COOPER’S PROGRESS REPORT
In spite of the fact that Governor Cooper faces roadblocks from an anti-environmental super- majority at the General Assembly, he has leveraged the power of his office to protect North Carolina’s communities and natural resources. During his first nine months in office, he exercised his veto authority over bills that threatened our air and water quality and stood in solidarity with NC’s coastal community by opposing offshore drilling and seismic blasting.
“NOT OFF ACCOMPLISHMENTS OUR COAST” Gov. Cooper made it clear to the Trump Administration that NC’s the number of vetoes Governor Cooper coastal communities, economies, and exercised during the 2017 legislative session ecosystems would not be put at risk by 4 on egregious anti-environmental bills offshore drilling and seismic blasting PRIORITIZING SCIENCE HOLDING POLLUTERS Cooper appointed leaders to the NC ACCOUNTABLE Department of Environmental Quality, Dept. of Cultural and Natural Resources, and Cooper’s administration acted quickly Environmental Management Commission who to stop Chemours from discharging are experts in their fields in order to make GenX, a known-contaminant policies based on scientific knowledge discovered in the Cape Fear River OPPORTUNITIES EXPEDITE TRANSITION OFF FOSSIL FUEL
Developing a state energy plan that commits to no new fossil fuel projects and powering the state with 100% clean, renewable energy by 2050.
NCLCV works to protect your values at the General Assembly and in our communities. We want to make sure you stay informed and engaged on NOW WHAT? policies that will impact your quality of life. Here are five ways you can In this progress report, you can see whether your elevate environmental issues in our state: elected officials have been champions for clean air, 1. Contact your legislator by phone, email, or best yet, in person! Find all of their contact information at ncleg.net water, and energy...or not. With this knowledge, you 2. Sign-up for our Conservation Insider Bulletin, a weekly e-blast that can speak out to hold your legislators accountable provides top stories where environmental policy intersects with for their votes on key environmental issues. In order politics: nclcv.org to ensure all North Carolinians have access to the 3. Follow NCLCV on social media to stay up-to-date on the latest, breaking news best quality of life possible, we need to make our facebook.com/NCLCV movement bigger and our voices louder! twitter.com/NCLCV instagram.com/NCLCV 4. Make sure your voter registration form is correct. If you aren’t yet registered or need to make changes to your contact information, visit the NC State Board of Elections website: ncsbe.gov 5. Support NCLCV’s ongoing environmental advocacy and legislative accountability work with a gift today: nclcv.org/give
PO Box 12671, Raleigh, NC 27605 • 919-839-0006 • nclcv.org 9 ALLIES & ADVERSARIES
ALLIES
CLEAN ENERGY DEFENDERS IN NC SENATE
After a state Senator added a multi-year moratorium for wind energy projects into House Bill 589 (the bipartisan policy designed to grow NC’s solar energy), pro-conservation Senators fought back. Many cited job creation and necessary financial investment in rural counties as reasons to support and expand wind projects, not shut them down. Other members refuted the concerns that wind farms interfere with military activities. As Senator Paul Lowe, whose wife retired from the U.S. Air Force, noted, “I don’t need anybody to tell me how important the military is in North Carolina, but I’m hearing that wind and the military can coexist just fine.” Eleven Senators opposed the ban on wind farms during H589’s second vote, and we commend them for voting in favor of a robust clean energy future for North Carolina.
NEW LEGISLATIVE CLASS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPIONS
It’s easy to make campaign promises. It can be much harder to keep those promises once elected. But staying true to their environmental values was not difficult for the ten new Representatives in 2017. Each of these elected officials put their promises of prioritizing the environment into action, whether by advocating for 100% clean, renewable energy by 2050 or defending the ability for citizens to seek justice against polluters. NCLCV wants to thank Reps. John Autry; Cynthia Ball; Chaz Beasley; Mary Belk; Mary Ann Black; Deb Butler; Terry Garrison; Joe John; Marcia Morey; and Amos Quick for demonstrating their commitment to protecting the quality of life for North Carolina’s from day one on the job.
10 ALLIES & ADVERSARIES
ADVERSARIES
THE SANDERSON-COOK COMBO
As co-chairs of the Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Senators Bill Cook and Norman Sanderson influence the fate of bills that pass through their committee. During the 2017 legislative session, the Cook-Sanderson combo pushed through numerous pieces of legislation that put North Carolina’s environment and people in jeopardy. The two co- sponsored Senate Bill 131 (“Regulatory Reform Act of 2016- 2017”) and Senate Bill 434 (“Amend Environmental Laws 2”), which contained language repealing the Outer Banks plastic bag ban, providing exemptions for riparian buffers, and eliminating safeguards to keep pollution out of our air and water. It is shameful that the Senate leaders on environmental, agricultural, and natural resource issues refuse to defend the very resources they have been appointed to protect.
REPRESENTATIVE JIMMY DIXON
During the 2017 session, Rep. Jimmy Dixon made it clear that he is not concerned with our state’s air quality. In fact, Rep. Dixon sponsored some of the worst and most unjust legislation of the session. House Bill 467 (more aptly called the “Hog Pollution Protection Act”) limited the amount of money a person could receive from a nuisance lawsuit, regardless of the judge or jury’s decision, for harms caused by hog waste or other agricultural nuisances on their health, livelihoods, and properties. H467 was written to protect one of the largest hog farming companies (and one of the largest polluters) in the world. Rep. Dixon also sponsored the awful House Bill 567 (the “Garbage Juice Bill”). H567 would allow companies to use a process called aerosolization to turn leachate (the liquid run-off from garbage) into a spray as a way to control landfill waste. However, neither Rep. Dixon nor the inventor could provide any peer-reviewed scientific evidence proving this technology is safe. The aerosolization process could release dangerous toxins into the air and into surrounding communities. Despite his title of “representative,” Rep. Dixon’s actions during the 2017 session seemed to be representing only what’s best for polluters, not people.
PO Box 12671, Raleigh, NC 27605 • 919-839-0006 • nclcv.org 11 NC League of Conservation Voters PO Box 12671, Raleigh, NC 27605 919-839-0006 • [email protected] nclcv.org