The head of the N.C. Water Rights Committee, Raleigh City Council member Nancy McFarlane, has resigned. It apparently was related to the committee head's reluctance to answer questions recently when Carolina Journal inquired about the group, which opposes a new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license for Alcoa Power Generating Inc. on the Yadkin River. It's a hot topic because a bipartisan group of legislators proposes a Yadkin River Trust to eventually buy and take over operation of Alcoa's hydroelectic plants on the river.
David Bracken of the N&O has the story.
Bracken reported, "In an interview conducted before McFarlane's announcement, Roger Dick, one of the founders of the N.C. Water Rights Committee, said her lack of openness is not helping the organization.
"We don't need people being suspicious about the N.C. Water Rights group," said Dick, who lives in Stanly County and is the CEO of Uwharrie Capital, a holding company for several banks. "We didn't maybe make the best choice right now with having Nancy as the president of the water rights because her political platform, I guess, is getting in the way of this."
Thursday, July 02, 2009
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3 comments:
As a person interviewed for this story, I must say that I am deeply disappointed by its negative slant. The N&O reporter did not include in the article all the positive things I had to say about Nancy and her excellent leadership of the N.C. Water Rights Coalition.
In order to give everyone the whole story, let me state the following on the record about Nancy’s departure:
1)Nancy understands the issue of water rights and has done a tremendous job moving our efforts forward to educate the public on their water rights and our laws.
2)As a person who lives outside the basin, Nancy has been instrumental in communicating that this is not just a local issue for Stanly County and the other counties along the river. The Yadkin provides water that creates cheap energy that can be used to bring back manufacturing jobs for North Carolinians, water for a growing population to drink, water that is the basis for bringing prosperity back to this region of our state and positively impact the entire state’s economy. Currently the control and benefits of the Yadkin River are held by a global corporate interest through the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project. Nancy has clearly and forcefully articulated all these issues.
3)Nancy’s leadership has put us on the road to future success. The N.C. Senate passed SB 967 – Creation of the Yadkin River Trust on May 6 to develop, sell and distribute hydroelectric power generated by the Project for the benefit of the people of North Carolina. The N.C. House Water Resources and Infrastructure Committee has announced it will hold a hearing to discuss the Yadkin River Trust on July 7.
I want to thank Nancy for her courage and leadership in the effort to recapture our water rights of the Yadkin River Basin, and I wish her much success in her future endeavors. She has indicated she will continue to fight for our mission in whatever capacity she can in the future, and I appreciate her doing so. We, at the N.C. Water Rights Coalition hope we can find another president for the group who shares her same deep commitment and passion to see that our water rights are returned to the rightful and lawful owners – all of the people of North Carolina. Nancy, along with other members, will begin to look for another NCWR president who can help get the message out that the water is our water -- it belongs to all the citizens of North Carolina, from Murphy to Manteo and to all generations that follow.
Roger Dick
Yoooooooooooooooo Roger!!!!!!!!!!!
How you going to pay off the revenue bonds after you steal ALCOA shareholders assets?
Show us your numbers and assumptions.
IMPEACH BEV PERDUE!
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