When N.C. Sen. Larry Shaw (D-21) helped lead a meeting of residents opposed to a new power line in Hoke County, Progress Energy was not invited. “Shaw apologized for the oversight, saying he did not think that was what the citizens wanted,” according to the Fayetteville Observer‘s story today.
But regardless of who included them, why were representatives of Congressman Bob Etheridge and Senator Dole there? When the disputing parties are local landowners, a North Carolina corporation, and the state utilities commission, concerning a portion of a project involving one North Carolina county, why should federal officials be involved at all?
(For that matter, why was Shaw involved, given that his district only covers Cumberland County, and none of his committees seem to touch on utilities issues — unless it falls under “Commerce, Small Business, and Entrepreneurship” ?)
