was created by the North Carolina General Assembly through Senate Bill 968
(S.L. 2009-485) and passed overwhelmingly in the final days of the 2009 long
session. Its purpose is ?to
encourage quality growth and development while preserving the natural
resources, open spaces, and farmland of the mountain region of Western North
Carolina.?
They also will be identifying and
evaluating issues affecting the mountains, coordinating area council of
government efforts, provide a forum for discussion of these issues, collect
research within NC and from other states and regions, and make recommendations
it deems necessary to protect mountain resources in NC.
?to seek, apply for, accept, and expend gifts, grants, donations, services, and
other aid from public or private sources.?
over again, it could be.
Another legislative commission, (authorized by S.L. 2005-442)
the Climate Change Commission met 21 times over three years, cost the taxpayer
$80,000 and relied largely on national environmental advocacy groups whose
advice and counsel has been questionable, at best.
The Center for Climate Strategies,
a subsidiary of a global warming advocacy group based in Pennsylvania, advocates for environmental regulations on global warming.
It also controls the Center for Climate Strategies, or North Carolina Climate Action Plan Advisory Group
(NC-CAPAG). NC-CAPAG provided
information, guidance and reports to the Climate Change Commission that
was largely debunked in a peer review by Suffolk University. The Climate
Registry, the state?s air quality officials have also relied upon a California
nonprofit with potential financial conflicts of interest.
The Climate Change Commission?s term has expired and many argue it has failed in it’s mission. Despite criticism, efforts
are underway to make it a permanent legislative committee to ?consider other long-term proposals the current panel will
suggest and help lawmakers respond to future federal emissions restrictions.? (Read:
Cap and Trade)
The mountains of North Carolina, with their beauty and
abundant natural resources are a treasure worth preserving. But we need to make
sure all efforts are reasonable, based on sound research, cost efficient and
not high-jacked by national environmental extremists.
The Mountain Resources Commission
held it’s first meeting Friday, March 19 at the Blue
Ridge Parkway Destination Center, milepost 384 of the Blue Ride Parkway,
Asheville at 1:00. Contact: Jamie Kritzer, 715-7357.
