Carolina Journal: Governor's adviser intervened in pipeline permit approval

It's been a while since there's been any new developments in the examination of North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper's apparent attempt to create a slush fund - using approval of a pipeline permit to squeeze energy companies for millions of dollars.

But Dan Way at the Carolina Journal has new information:

On Jan. 26, 2018, DEQ issued the water quality permit. That day, Cooper’s office announced the ACP partners would provide Cooper a $57.8 million discretionary fund to be used for mitigation, economic development, and renewable energy projects. Three days later, solar developers announced they reached an agreement with Duke Energy on how to handle new projects.
Reporting by Carolina Journal and others suggests the ACP water quality permit was contingent on two concessions — Cooper getting $57.8 million and Duke Energy caving to the demands of solar-energy developers on an issue unrelated to the pipeline.
Eudy’s recall of the PA looks to be connected to the Cooper administration’s plans to sell the ACP to the public — including environmentalists who oppose the pipeline.
On Thursday Jan. 18, four days after Cherry recalled the PA and the day after Cooper and Duke CEO Lynn Good had the ACP phone conversation, Eudy released an internal plan to sell the public on the approval of the ACP, the $57.8 million discretionary fund, and a separate agreement Cooper had brokered between Duke Energy and solar energy companies. The first item: Resend Cherry’s signature page to FERC officials. Cherry did so that day, completing the PA.

Also, according to the report, N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Deputy Secretary Kevin Cherry gave different accounts when asked about his role in the pipeline approval process.

Pete's Prep: Monday, July 22, 2019

  • From Real Clear Investigations: "Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz will soon file a report with evidence indicating that Comey was misleading the president. Even as he repeatedly assured Trump that he was not a target, the former director was secretly trying to build a conspiracy case against the president, while at times acting as an investigative agent."
  • The Daily Wire has a rundown of all the Presidential candidates who are jumping on the story of a black Georgia State Representative who accused a Cuban Democrat of telling her to "go back to where you came from" at a grocery store.
  • Allahpundit at HotAir details the rich irony of Bernie Sanders' campaign staffers' pay scale.
  • Median home prices in Buncombe County set a new record, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times.
  • Buncombe County will be getting its first state park... which seems odd that we don't already have one.
  • Mountain Xpress takes a look at "Swedish death cleaning."
  • Jim Geraghty at National Review: "Hey, can I interrupt the “That Guy Tweeted Something and Now We Have to Be Outraged” news cycle to discuss the fact that we’re sending Patriot missile air-defense batteries, fighter jets, and eventually, more than 500 personnel to Saudi Arabia?"


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