The Canary Coalition met with commissioners in Swain and Macon counties earlier this month to introduce a resolution urging state legislators to support a bill modeled after the Clean Smokestacks Plan of the North Carolina Clean Air Coalition.

Both counties will revisit the issue in April after commissioners get a chance to study the plan. In addition, the coalition has put the issue on the agenda for the Haywood County commissioners meeting on April 2 and is negotiating with the Transylvania County manager to get on that county’s agenda for April 9.

On March 1, the Jackson County commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the resolution which would curb nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and mercury emissions from the 14 coal-fired power plants in North Carolina by about 80 percent by the year 2007. The organization, based in Jackson County, further expanded its activities when the Madison County Chamber of Commerce contacted the Canary Coalition and asked if representatives would meet with their board of directors in April. Last November the Jackson County Chamber formally endorsed the efforts of the Canary Coalition.

The Canary Coalition is a tax exempt, non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.
In related news, the Jackson County School superintendant approved the Clean Air Poetry Contest being conducted by the Canary Coalition in the public schools. There will be three winners on the high school level and three on the elementary school level. The winners will read their literary works on stage during the Clean Air Rally at 1 p.m. on April 28 at the Greening Up the Mountains festival in Sylva. Last year over 5,000 people attended this festival and a larger crowd is expected this year.

Anyone interested in joining the organization is encouraged to contact Avram Friedman, Canary Coalition coordinator, at 586.4620, or email canarycoalition@earthlink.net.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News