By David Boraks
A Duke University climate scientist and 27 former federal environmental officials are calling on Gov. Roy Cooper to order a halt on building new gas pipelines and power plants in North Carolina.
In a letter to the governor Thursday, Duke earth sciences professor Drew Shindell and the former officials said carbon from burned natural gas and leaking methane from wells and pipelines contributes to climate change and endangers public health and the economy.
Shindell spoke about the letter during a conference call with reporters Thursday morning organized by the environmental group NC WARN.
“The time is now to stop building more fossil fuel infrastructure across the country,” Shindell said. “We’re urging Gov. Cooper to take the lead and halt new pipelines and power plants in North Carolina, providing an example for the rest of the country, and even for the rest of the world.”