Friends Go To DC Energy Siting Workshop | Eastern NC Now

News Release:

    Washington DC - April 18 - 20 - The Friends of Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge joined the National Audubon Society in an educational Energy Siting workshop held in Washington DC. The workshop consisted of Audubon representatives from California, Florida, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Montana, New York, Arkansas, Michigan and North Carolina. The topic centered around green energy and its effects on birds and bats.

    "The Friends of Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) received a $10,0000.00 grant from Audubon which helps us to actively protect the Pocosin Lakes from large wind turbine farms slated for construction near the refuge. Invenergy Energy a corporation based in Spain, has been issued permits which allows them to continue the process to move forward to locate twenty-nine wind turbines in the middle of an area, declared by Audubon, as a globally Important Bird Area, also known as an IBA" stated, representative, Doris Morris, vice president, of the Friends of Pocosin Lakes NWR.

    "The public is unaware how destructive wind turbines are to birds and bats, said Ms. Morris. Over one quarter of the species of birds in America use the Pamlico-Albemarle peninsula as habitat. Pantego Wind Energy and other wind companies are planning to put up structure over five hundred feet throughout the peninsula. If we keep chipping away at our wildlife there will be nothing left".

    Quote from New York Times, Protect Our Bats, published May 11, 2014: "One little brown bat can eat 1,000 mosquitoes in an hour. A colony of 150 big brown bats can protect crops from up to 33 million rootworms over a growing season. The value of bats as pest controllers is estimated to be at least $3.7 billion and possibly much more".

    Friends of Pocosin Lakes (NWR), selected Stevie Morris, currently in 7th grade at Creswell High School as the Political Education Student to accompany Doris Morris to Washington DC. "The Friends of Pocosin Lakes wanted to extend this opportunity to a local student to experience and expand their knowledge regarding green energy, the environment and political procedures. These procedures included lobbying and meeting with members Congress, Senate, and U.S. fish and Wildlife Service.

    The Audubon Society is one of the nation's most effective organizations dedicated to the conservation of birds and their habitat. Audubon recognizes the need for green energy and the value it will have towards the future of the planet. Audubon's concern is finding properly sited wind energy farms that ultimately will not be detrimental to birds and bats. Audubon's work is science-based and creates a consensus by engaging government, industry and the public in efforts to protect North Carolina's wildlife resources.

    The mission of the Friends is to protect, help and promote the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge by providing volunteers and funds to support projects, programs and activities of the refuge. 110, 000 acres, the refuge is one of the largest National Wildlife Refuges on the east.

    Contact:     Doris Morris
      Pocosin Lakes Fun Day Chairman

        (252) 793-9756  •  (252) 809-2724c  •  doris.friendsrefuge@gmail.com