Legislature may send energy money earmarked for WNC elsewhere

ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES: Much of a pot of money intended to increase energy efficiency and reduce pollution in Western North Carolina could go to farms in the eastern part of the state. The 2012-13 budget bill passed by the state House on Wednesday would give the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services control of the first installment of $11.2 million North Carolina is due to receive as part of last year’s settlement of a lawsuit over pollution produced by Tennessee Valley Authority power plants. … A spokesman for the agriculture department said the agency did not ask for the responsibility and has little in-house expertise to direct use of the money. “This is not something that we sought,” said spokesman Brian Long.

http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20120603/NEWS/306030080/TVA-la...