When N.C. Rep. Brenden Jones, R-Robeson, Columbus, met with staff at the Division of Air Quality to try and resolve a permitting issue involving Active Energy, he quickly realized the project to manufacture wood pellets in Lumberton was in peril.
“You could tell the Department of Environmental Quality had no interest in this project and was trying to hold it up,” said Jones.
“It is clear the governor did not want the most impoverished county in the state to have these jobs,” he added. “Our so-called ‘jobs governor’ just proved he can create jobs for another state.”
Now, Active Energy has announced it will open a new plant in Ashland, Maine, intended to replace production from the stymied Lumberton plant. While Active Energy has tried to receive an Air Quality permit from the Cooper administration for more than 14 months, the company obtained needed permits in Maine in just five days.