Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:53:32 -0400
From: Richard D. Allen, Esq.
Subject: Are these groups concerned?
“Does anyone think that these groups: Chatham Citizens for Effective
Communities, the Deep River Clean Water Society, the Haw River Assembly, the
Friends of the Rocky River and the Sierra Club Orange-Chatham Group, as
outlined by Mr. Starkweather, are concerned about “the ability of the County
to attract high paying industries.” ????
Dan Marley”
Why wouldn’t they be? Aren’t there plenty of high-paying industries out there that don’t require you to dump a bunch of crap in the river?
This touches on a concern I have about discussing economic development. Green energy is often brought up as a potential high-growth area for NC and its rural areas in particular. And yet I think a lot of people think it is some sort of pie-in-the-sky idea and/or a smokescreen for environmentalists.
Nothing could be further from the truth right now… As petroleum prices go up and up and up, most alternative sources of energy are going to be huge money-makers. China is investing in green energy like crazy. Chinese industrialists are not known for being tree-huggers.
I worry that some people in this area may choose to oppose what could be valuable economic opportunities only because they’re popular with liberals and environmentalists.
Richard D. Allen
Durham, NC