Advocacy
Central to our mission
The Lilies Project’s primary objective was to advocate for the clean up of the 12 million ton coal ash basin at Belews Creek.
It took a tremendous amount of effort to pressure the NC Department of Environmental Quality to require Duke Energy to excavate the low-priority coal ash pits at its remaining six locations: Allen, Belews Creek, Marshall, Mayo, and Roxboro. Our success was remaining united with all impacted communities and elevating frontline members stories.
Belews Creek is the birthplace of the first meeting of the statewide coalition known as Alliance of Carolinians Together (ACT) Against Coal Ash.
Ultimately, we WON!!! Thank you, Secretary Michael Regan and Governor Roy Cooper!
Five Main Advocacy Events Hosted by The Lilies Project
* Celebrating Courage Weekend - August 2018
* DEQ Epiphany Press Conference - January 10, 2019
* Five Year Anniversary of Dan River Spill - February 2, 2019
* NC DEQ Statewide Excavation Decision - April 1, 2019
* Shine The Light: Celebrating the Life of Danielle Bailey-Lash - January 18th, 2020
A Recap of Additional Advocacy Efforts On The Blog
We thank our organizing sponsors for their tremendous support.
* Appalachian Voices
* Clean Water for North Carolina
* Blue Ridge Environmental Defense Fund
* NC Warn
* Sierra Club
A huge thank you to the attorneys with Southern Environmental Law Center.
Special thank you to
* Poor People’s Campaign
* NAACP
* Lisa Evans with Earthjustice
* Professors at our local universities, whose research guided our way.