ACTION NEEDED: NC Green Act

This is from an e-mail sent out by the Bull City Biodiesel Co-op:

Supporters of alternative fuels,

The NC Green Act will be heard in the House Energy committee on Thursday (tomorrow) at 1pm in Legislative Office Building 415. You can support this bill by coming to the hearing, or contacting the House Energy Committee. A list of committee members is at http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/Committees/Committees.asp?sAction=ViewCommittee&sActionDetails=House%20Standing_91

About the Bill:

Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue is working with Senator Charlie Albertson (SB 634) and Rep. Joe Tolson (HB 557) to introduce the NC GREEN ACT: Growing a Renewable and Energy Efficient Economy in NC:

1. The centerpiece of this legislation would allocate up to an initial $15 million dollars to establish a Green Business Fund to jumpstart green energy projects and help grow a green economy in NC. These projects are both good for the environment and good for the economy. The Green Business Fund would have three priority grant areas:

• Biofuels production and distribution - Up to 40%
• Green Building - Up to 40%
• Green Entrepreneurship - Remaining

The Green Business Fund would also support workforce development efforts focused on growing NC’s green economy.

2. Call on the state to report all investments with green managers, companies, and funds that support sustainable practices.

Here's the text of my letter to Durham Rep. Paul Luebke:

Representative Luebke,

I'm writing today to ask you to support the NC Green Act in Thursday's committee meeting. The targets of the money -- namely, energy efficiency in buildings and building a biofuels economic sector in North Carolina -- are exactly the things in which we should be investing public dollars. Given the large sums given out in economic incentive packages, the $15 million seems quite the bargain.

Please support the bill, and consider cosponsoring it.

Thanks,
Michael Bacon