NCLCV Justly Concerned About New Leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 24, 2011

CONTACT: Debra Davis Rezeli, Director of Marketing & Development, debra@nclcv.org or 919-839-0978

RALEIGH, N.C., January 24 - With the much anticipated change in leadership, the environmental community is justly concerned about the upcoming Legislative Session according to Dan Crawford with North Carolina League of Conservation Voters (formerly known as Conservation Council of North Carolina).

During the 2009-10 Session, the Senate leadership averaged a 75% score on the Conservation Legislative Scorecard, while the incoming leadership averaged just 51%. Of even more concern are the House scores, with the former leadership at 87% under Speaker Joe Hackney and the new leadership at only 45%.

Dan Crawford, director of governmental relations for NCLCV, said, "In these tough times, it would be penny wise and pound foolish to destroy our natural capital for the sake of economic gain. One does not have to happen at the cost of the other. We need the new leadership to understand that a strong economy and a sound environment go hand in hand - North Carolina can only rebuild our economy and bring in new businesses when we have clean air and water, a high quality of life, and open spaces to attract these folks."

As part of the normal preparation process, several of the State's leading environmental organizations met at the close of 2010 to create the 2011 NC Common Agenda. At stake, the group agrees, are the following conservation issues:

• Energy Opportunities: renewables, efficiency, and preventing nuclear bailouts;
• Water Efficiency and Conservation: ensuring adequate water resources for future needs; and
• Hardened Structures: continuing to keep our beaches public and natural.

North Carolina League of Conservation Voters will also work to protect the wise environmental decisions made previously by the General Assembly. These decisions have ensured North Carolina's natural capital - our land, air, and water - was being invested in wisely for the benefit of both our economy and quality of life.

Crawford also congratulated several of NCLCV's previously endorsed candidates who are likely to assume leadership positions: Senators Neal Hunt and Richard Stevens as Senate Appropriations Committee Chairs; Representative Ruth Samuelson as Majority Whip. "I look forward to working with these leaders in their new roles," said Crawford.

For real-time information on upcoming environmental legislation and previous Legislative Scorecards, please visit NCLCV's new website at www.nclcv.org.

North Carolina's oldest independent state-level citizen conservation group has changed its name to better reflect its current work on behalf of our state's environment. The citizen group known since 1968 as the Conservation Council of North Carolina is now the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters (NCLCV). NCLCV works to hold our decision-makers accountable for their environmental decisions and helps to elect pro-conservation candidates.