The head of the N.C. Water Rights Committee, Raleigh City Council member Nancy McFarlane, has resigned. It apparently was related to the committee head's reluctance to answer questions recently when Carolina Journal inquired about the group, which opposes a new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license for Alcoa Power Generating Inc. on the Yadkin River. It's a hot topic because a bipartisan group of legislators proposes a Yadkin River Trust to eventually buy and take over operation of Alcoa's hydroelectic plants on the river.
David Bracken of the N&O has the story.
Bracken reported, "In an interview conducted before McFarlane's announcement, Roger Dick, one of the founders of the N.C. Water Rights Committee, said her lack of openness is not helping the organization.
"We don't need people being suspicious about the N.C. Water Rights group," said Dick, who lives in Stanly County and is the CEO of Uwharrie Capital, a holding company for several banks. "We didn't maybe make the best choice right now with having Nancy as the president of the water rights because her political platform, I guess, is getting in the way of this."
