HAMPTON DELLINGER OPPOSES STATE PERMIT FOR ANY ADDITIONAL
COAL FIRED UNITS AT CLIFFSIDE
Candidate for Lt. Gov. Urges Division of Air Quality to Deny Duke Request
Dellinger's Stance In Stark Contrast to Dalton's Push for TWO New Coal Units

(Jan. 1, 2008) Hampton Dellinger, Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, today urged the Division of Air Quality within the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources to reject Duke Energy's request for an air quality permit for a new coal-fired power plant at Cliffside, near Charlotte.

Dellinger's objections to the permit request include an ongoing EPA enforcement action against the currently operating Cliffside units, and the National Park Service's finding that a new plant could have a "severe" impact upon air quality in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

"There is no overriding reason to grant a state permit now, and plenty of good reasons not to," Dellinger said. "The site is embroiled in serious ongoing litigation about its current emissions, the damage to the Smoky Mountains caused by new coal-fired plants has been decried by the National Park Service, and the public case for North Carolina to accept the ‘last resort' of a new coal plant does not appear to have been made yet, particularly when the plant is not slated to utilize IGCC or similar advanced technologies to combat air pollution."

One of Dellinger's opponents in the Democratic primary, state senator Walter Dalton, led the effort to gain state approval for two new coal-fired plants at Cliffside. (Associated Press, 8/31/06). "Mr. Dalton and I stand on opposite sides of several major policy matters, and Cliffside is one of them," Dellinger said. "Mr. Dalton wants two new coal-fired power plants at Cliffside. I want none. It is as simple as that."

Dellinger also called upon all 2008 statewide candidates to make their position on the permitting issue publicly known. "New coal plants will have an impact on North Carolina for years to come. Voters should know where the candidates stand on Cliffside so they can cast their ballots accordingly," Dellinger said.

Hampton Dellinger is former Chief Legal Counsel to Gov. Mike Easley and served as a Deputy Attorney General in the North Carolina Department of Justice.

Contacts:
Hampton Dellinger
Hamp@HD08.com
919-306-3065

Susan Lagana
susanlagana@yahoo.com
919-673-0210