Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (1888PressRelease)
April 03, 2008 - Stanly County has released a podcast on the subject of North Carolina water policy. Stanly County Commissioners and citizens statewide are actively opposing a request by Alcoa to obtain a 50-year license to govern and sustain ownership of the water flowing from the Yadkin River, one of the longest rivers in North Carolina. Alcoa first obtained a 50-year license in 1958 to oversee what is known as The Yadkin Project, comprised of four hydroelectric stations, dams and reservoirs along a 38-mile stretch of the Yadkin River in central North Carolina. The four water reservoirs are High Rick, Tuckertown, Narrows and Falls. The Yadkin-Pee Dee Watershed as a whole includes twenty-one counties and contains ninety-three state municipalities.
The 1958 license to Alcoa expires in April 2008. In less than a month, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will make its decision whether or not to relicense the water resources of the Yadkin River to Alcoa. County Commissioners, local business owners and North Carolina citizens are beginning to make their opposition heard.
In this podcast, Lindsey Dunevant, county commissioner, discusses why the Yadkin River is such an important resource for both Stanly County as well as the state of North Carolina. Dunevant calls attention to the benefits of recapturing the Yadkin River as a major water source and refers to water as “the next oil” for both North Carolina and the United States. Dunevant address four specific questions in this podcast. They are:
• Who and what does the Yadkin River supply as a major water source to our state?
• What benefits could the citizens of North Carolina receive if North Carolina was able to recapture its rights to the water?
• What could happen if North Carolina is unsuccessful in the recapturing of its water?
• What can the people of North Carolina do to help recapture their water from private corporations?
This podcast is available for download in two parts.
Part I – www.mmimarketing.com/podcast/Recapturing+The+Yadkin+River
Part II – www.mmimarketing.com/podcast/Recapturing+The+Yadkin+River+-+Part+II
News Facts:
• Stanly County has released a podcast on the subject of North Carolina water policy.
• Stanly County Commissioners and citizens statewide are actively opposing a request by Alcoa to obtain a 50-year license to govern and sustain ownership of the water flowing from the Yadkin River, one of the longest rivers in North Carolina.
• Alcoa first obtained a 50-year license in 1958 to oversee what is known as The Yadkin Project, comprised of four hydroelectric stations, dams and reservoirs along a 38-mile stretch of the Yadkin River in central North Carolina.
• The four water reservoirs are High Rick, Tuckertown, Narrows and Falls. The Yadkin-Pee Dee Watershed as a whole includes twenty-one counties and contains ninety-three state municipalities.
• The 1958 license to Alcoa expires in April 2008.
• In less than a month, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will make its decision whether or not to relicense the water resources of the Yadkin River to Alcoa.
• County Commissioners, local business owners and North Carolina citizens are beginning to make their opposition heard.
• In this podcast, Lindsey Dunevant, county commissioner, discusses why the Yadkin River is such an important resource for both Stanly County as well as the state of North Carolina.
Quotes:
“Water is becoming increasingly important to the people of North Carolina,” said Dunevant. “We are in the midst of a ten year drought cycle. Our opportunity to manage the water and make it work for our current and future populations is going to be critically important as we seek to use water as a key component for the management of our growth and our economic well being.”
About This Effort:
In 1958, Alcoa, the world’s leading producer of primary aluminum, secured a federal hydroelectric license for the Narrows Dam on the Yadkin River in Stanly County. In turn, Alcoa promised jobs for Stanly County and an environmentally-friendly product for years to come. While making profits in excess of $40 million a year on North Carolina water resources, Alcoa has essentially disappeared as a major employer, shut down plants and, for decades, discharged hazardous pollutants into North Carolina air and waterways. Alcoa wants to continue reaping the benefits of the Yadkin River after its license expires in April of this year. It has filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to obtain another 50-year license. If Alcoa is successful, one of North Carolina’s most valuable water resources will be used to maximize its profits instead of being used to benefit the people of North Carolina, who themselves are in dire need of drinking water due to the current drought and our state’s continued growth.
