Editing Asheville, North Carolina (section)

===Sustainability and environmental initiatives===
The city of Asheville is home to a Duke Energy Progress coal power plant near Lake Julian. This power plant is designated as having Coal Combustion Residue Surface Impoundments with a High Hazard Potential by the EPA.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/industrial/special/fossil/ccrs-fs/ |title=Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) - Surface Impoundments with High Hazard Potential Ratings |access-date=November 29, 2013 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203002740/http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/industrial/special/fossil/ccrs-fs/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012 a [[Duke University]] study found high levels of arsenic and other toxins in North Carolina lakes and rivers downstream from the Asheville power plants coal ash ponds. Samples collected from coal ash waste flowing from the ponds at the Duke Energy Progress plant to the French Broad River in Buncombe County contained arsenic levels more than four times higher than the EPA drinking water standard, and levels of selenium 17 times higher than the agency's standard for aquatic life.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs2.citizen-times.com/outdoors/2012/10/15/duke-university-progess-energy-plant-polluting-french-broad-river/ |title=Duke University: Progress Energy plant polluting French Broad River, October 15, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131129213747/http://blogs2.citizen-times.com/outdoors/2012/10/15/duke-university-progess-energy-plant-polluting-french-broad-river/ |archive-date=November 29, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> In March 2013 the State of North Carolina sued Duke Energy Progress in order to address similar environmental compliance issues. In July 2013 Duke Energy Corp. and North Carolina environmental regulators proposed a settlement in the lawsuit that stated coal ash threatened Asheville's water supply. The settlement called for Duke to assess the sources and extent of contamination at the Riverbend power plant in Asheville. Duke was to be fined $99,100.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs2.citizen-times.com/outdoors/2013/08/16/nc-files-new-lawsuits-against-duke-energy-today/ |title=NC files new lawsuits against Duke Energy today, August 16, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131129213815/http://blogs2.citizen-times.com/outdoors/2013/08/16/nc-files-new-lawsuits-against-duke-energy-today/ |archive-date=November 29, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> However, following the [[2014 Dan River coal ash spill|coal ash spill in Eden, North Carolina]], the North Carolina DENR cancelled all previous settlements with Duke Energy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20140211/NEWS01/302110043?odyssey=mod%7cmostcom |title=Local News - The Asheville Citizen-Times - citizen-times.com |work=The Asheville Citizen-Times}}</ref>

The city of Asheville claims a clear focus on sustainability and the development of a [[green economy]]. For Asheville, this goal is defined in their Sustainability Management Plan as: "Making decisions that balance the values of environmental stewardship, social responsibility and economic vitality to meet our present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs."<ref name="ashevillenc.gov">{{cite web |url=http://www.ashevillenc.gov/Portals/0/city-documents/sustainability/susthreedocs/AVLSustMGMTPlan.pdf |title=Sustainability Management Plan |date=August 2009 |website=Ashevillenc.gov |access-date=May 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035158/http://www.ashevillenc.gov/Portals/0/city-documents/sustainability/susthreedocs/AVLSustMGMTPlan.pdf |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref> As part of the Zero Waste AVL initiative, which began in 2012, each resident receives "Big Blue", a rolling cart in which they can put all of their materials unsorted. Residents can recycle a great variety of materials and "in this first year of the program 6.30% of waste was diverted from the landfill for recycling."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ashevillenc.gov/Departments/Sustainability.aspx |title=Sustainability |website=Ashevillenc.gov |access-date=May 22, 2016 |archive-date=May 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520191656/http://www.ashevillenc.gov/Departments/Sustainability.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Asheville City Council's goal is to reduce the overall carbon footprint 80% by 2030. This means 4% or more reduction per year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ashevillenc.gov/Portals/0/city-documents/sustainability/susthreedocs/2012%20Carbon%20Footprint%20Report%20Final%20(2).pdf |title=City of Asheville Carbon Footprint Annual Report : 2011-2012 |website=Ashevillenc.gov |access-date=May 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054203/http://www.ashevillenc.gov/Portals/0/city-documents/sustainability/susthreedocs/2012%20Carbon%20Footprint%20Report%20Final%20(2).pdf |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 2009 the reduction was made when the "City installed over 3,000 LED street lights, managed its water system under ISO 14001 standards for environmental management, improved the infrastructure and management of many of its buildings, and switched many employees to a 4-day work week (which saves emissions from commuting)."<ref name="ashevillenc.gov"/> Asheville is recognized by the Green Restaurant Association as the first city in the U.S. to be a Green Dining Destination (significant density of green restaurants).<ref name="Archived copy">{{cite web |url=http://www.blueridgesustainability.org/green-restaurant-initiative/ |title=Green Restaurant Initiative |publisher=Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute |access-date=August 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131201165925/http://www.blueridgesustainability.org/green-restaurant-initiative/ |archive-date=December 1, 2013}}</ref>