The North Carolina League of Conservation Voters Foundation (NCLCVF) is a left-leaning climate policy group. NCLCVF engages voters and advocates for environmentalist policy that backs weather-dependent solar and wind energy and opposes conventional-fuel and nuclear energy. ¹

The group is led by Carrie Clark, who has been involved with several other left-leaning groups such as the League of Conservation Voters Fund, Friends of the Earth, and Blueprint NC. ²

Background

The North Carolina League of Conservation Voters Foundation (NCLCVF) advocates for environmental issues by engaging voters, training leaders, and supporting environmentalist policy. NCLCVF declares “an intentional focus on systematically excluded communities of color.” ³ The group promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles. ⁴

The nonprofit works alongside the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund and is part of the NCLCV group that includes the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters (NCLCV) and the Conservation PAC. ^{5 6}

According to a 2018 proposal, the Nature Conservancy noted that zero-carbon nuclear plants produced 7.8 percent of total world energy output and recommended reducing carbon emissions by increasing nuclear capacity to 33 percent of total world energy output. ⁷ In 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy reported that “nuclear energy produces more electricity on less land than any other clean-air source.” ⁸ The NCLCV group claims to want to reduce carbon emissions but opposes carbon free nuclear energy ⁹ The group has advocated for weather-dependent energy instead, calling nuclear energy an “outdated, overpriced, and insecure technology” and labeling small modular nuclear reactors “unproven.” ^{10 11}

The group is also a strong opponent of conventional fuels, including natural gas. ^{12 13}

Activities

North Carolina League of Conservation Voters Foundation funds several initiatives. PowerUp NC is an initiative the group claims is “rooted in economic, environmental, and racial justice,” and is used to “fight systemic injustice.” ¹⁴ Power the Vote NC is a program that focuses on voter registration, leadership training, and policy advocacy. ¹⁵ NCLCVF also funds a fellowship program which trains allies for local seats of power, specifically, as stated on its website, “recruiting women, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, and other underrepresented groups.” ¹⁶

NCLCVF has advocated for stricter enforcement from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. ¹⁷

NCLCV has used the war in Ukraine to defend its environmentalist agenda, claiming that higher oil prices and Russian destruction of nuclear energy plants demonstrated proof that other forms of energy should be pursued. The group wrote that “solar and wind power can’t be disrupted by bloodthirsty dictators half the world away” and condemned the idea of domestic oil production, although it would also prevent reliance on Russian oil. ¹⁸

In 2022, the group promoted President Biden’s climate package, claiming that energy switches such as increased electric car reliance would remove Russian oil dependance by 2027. ¹⁹ In 2024, the group also backed new EPA pollution standards, which imposed environmental standards on specific vehicles made after 2027. ^{20 21}

NCLCVF has been a strong opponent of Duke Energy. ²² Duke Energy’s 2023 Carbon Plan reduced carbon emissions and proposed new nuclear and natural gas plants, as well as facilitating solar, wind, and hydro energy. NCLCVF has called fossil fuels “dirty” and small modular nuclear reactors “unproven.” NCLCVF has also claimed Duke Energy’s plan does not reduce carbon emissions fast or cheap enough while “ensuring equity.” ²³ The group has called for a plan that will achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, something that the 2023 Duke Energy Plan already promised. ^{24 25}

Finances

In 2022, North Carolina League of Conservation Voters Foundation brought in a total revenue of $5,417,773, receiving $5,363,095 in contributions and grants. The group had total expenses of $5,006,632 and assets at $5,391,720. ²⁶

After 2020, NCLCVF’s filings indicate that the group funds education and engagement on “environmental justice issues,” a phrase not located in earlier filings. ^{27 28 29}

Grantmaking

North Carolina League of Conservation Voters Foundation has supported other groups through grants and assistance.

In 2016, the foundation supported the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, the Hip Hop Caucus, and the A. Philip Randolph Institute. ³⁰ In 2018, NCLCV supported organizations such as Durham for All, the Rural Empowerment Association for Community Help, the North Carolina Justice Center, Durham Can, Blueprint NC, and the A. Philip Randolph Institute. ³¹

In 2015, NCLCVF donated $371,868 to its sister group, the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. ³²

Leadership

Carrie Clark is the executive director of North Carolina League of Conservation Voters Foundation and has been with the foundation since 1999. ³³ Clark previously worked with the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, the Conservation Futures Discussion Group/Environmental Federation of North Carolina, and the Friends of the Earth. She is a board member of Blueprint NC, the Federation of State Conservation Voter Leagues, and the League of Conservation Voters. ³⁴

NCLCVF has a board comprised of seven members: Wiliam Munn, Bob Kingery, John Wallace, Deborah Dicks Maxwell, Mary Beth Powell, Elizabeth Redenbaugh, and Jazmin Varela. William Munn, president of NCLCVF’s board as of July 2024, works at the North Carolina Justice Center as a policy analyst. He was also on the board of directors for Sustainable Sandhills in Fayetteville. ^{35 36}

Bob Kingery is the co-founder of Southern Energy Management (SEM) and was the CEO of SEM for 18 years. Before SEM, Kingery helped to found Burt’s Bees and worked as its director of manufacturing. Kingery originally worked in the solar energy industry at Solar Consultants and later at Astron Energy. He was also on the board of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association and helped to found the DOC Home Builders Association’s Green Building Initiative program. ^{37 38}

John Wallace, who is the legal counsel on NCLCVF’s board, works in commercial litigation and election law. Wallace previously was an antitrust coordinator at the National Association of Attorneys General. Afterwards, he worked within the Anti-Trust Division of the North Carolina Department of Justice, serving as an Assistant Attorney General. ³⁹

Deborah Dicks Maxwell is president of the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP. Previously, she was president at the New Hanover County NAACP. In addition, she was District Director at the Walter B. White District of North Carolina NAACP where, in 2015, she was named District Director of the Year. She was formerly a public health social worker and commander of the Wilmington National Association of Black Veterans. In 2009, she was recognized as Public Health Social Worker of the Year by the North Carolina Health Association. ⁴⁰

Mary Beth Powell has been retired since 2017 but works part time as a Career Services Coordinator with the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her previous positions include River Relay program manager with East Coast Greenway Alliance, both senior project officer and deputy director at Active Living by Design, associate director at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Center for Urban and Regional Studies, and Environmental Management Research Associate with UNC Institute for Environmental Studies. She also worked for the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources as the first director of Recycling, and from 2000 to 2003 she was appointed to the State of North Carolina Infrastructure Council. ⁴¹

Elizabeth Redenbaugh is a board member of the Child Development Center and was on the board of directors of the North Carolina Foundation for Public School Children. ^{42 43} She was formerly the Chair of the New Hanover County Democratic Party. In 2008, she was elected to the New Hanover Board of Education. ⁴⁴

Jazmin Varela is the director of Landowner Relations at Finite Carbon. She was previously the Assistant Director of Integrative Services at the Conservation Fund, where she designed and delivered “Green Infrastructure Plans.” ⁴⁵

1. “Fossil Fuel Dependence Bad for Our National Security and Economy.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters, March 21, 2022. https://nclcv.org/cib03212022-fossil/.
2. “Carrie Clark.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. Accessed July 9, 2024. https://nclcvf.org/staff/carrie-clark/.
3. “Learn about NC League of Conservation Voters Foundation.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. Accessed July 9, 2024. https://nclcvf.org/about-us/.
4. “Mission and Vision: NC League of Conservation Voters Foundation.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. Accessed July 11, 2024. https://nclcvf.org/mission-vision/.
5. “Learn about NC League of Conservation Voters Foundation.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. Accessed July 9, 2024. https://nclcvf.org/about-us/.
6. “Learn about NC League of Conservation Voters.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. Accessed July 18, 2024. https://nclcv.org/about-us/#mission.
7. “The Science of Sustainability.” The Nature Conservancy. October 13, 2018. Accessed August 17, 2023. https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/the-science-of-sustainability/
8. “3 Reasons Why Nuclear is Clean and Sustainable.” U.S. Department of Energy. March 31, 2021. Accessed August 18, 2023. https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/3-reasons-why-nuclear-clean-and-sustainable
9. “Small Modular Reactor Cancellation; Why It Matters to Nc.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters, November 20, 2023. https://nclcv.org/cib11202023-small-modular-reactor/.
10. “A ‘Clean’ Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters, April 24, 2023. https://nclcv.org/cib0424-2023-nuclear/.
11. “Hold Duke Energy Accountable.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. Accessed July 12, 2024. https://nclcvf.org/hold-duke-accountable/.
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19. “Fossil Fuel Dependence Bad for Our National Security and Economy.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters, March 21, 2022. https://nclcv.org/cib03212022-fossil/.
20. “New Clean Cars Rule Will Cut Vehicle Pollution and Save Lives.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters, March 25, 2024. https://nclcv.org/cib03252024-new-clean-cars-rule/.
21. “Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Strongest-Ever Pollution Standards for Cars.” EPA, March 20, 2024. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-finalizes-strongest-ever-pollution-standards-cars-position
22. “Hold Duke Energy Accountable.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. Accessed July 12, 2024. https://nclcvf.org/hold-duke-accountable/.
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33. “Carrie Clark.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. Accessed July 9, 2024. https://nclcvf.org/staff/carrie-clark/.
34. “Carrie Clark.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. Accessed July 9, 2024. https://nclcvf.org/staff/carrie-clark/.
35. “William Munn.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. Accessed July 9, 2024. https://nclcvf.org/board/william-munn/.
36. “Our Board of Directors.” Sustainable Sandhills. Accessed July 12, 2024. https://sustainablesandhills.org/board/.
37. “Bob Kingery.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. Accessed July 9, 2024.  https://nclcvf.org/board/bob-kingery/
38. “NCSEA Board: North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association.” NC Sustainable Energy Association. Accessed July 9, 2024. https://energync.org/board/.
39. “John Wallace.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. Accessed July 9, 2024.  https://nclcvf.org/board/john-wallace/
40. “Deborah Dicks Maxwell.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. Accessed July 9, 2024.  https://nclcvf.org/board/deborah-dicks-maxwell/
41. “Mary Beth Powell.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. Accessed July 9, 2024. https://nclcvf.org/board/mary-beth-powell/
42. “Board of Directors – North Carolina Foundation.” North Carolina Foundation for Public School Children. Accessed July 12, 2024. https://ncfpsc.org/_board-of-directors/.
43. Elizabeth Redenbaugh.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. Accessed July 9, 2024. https://nclcvf.org/board/elizabeth-redenbaugh/
44. Elizabeth Redenbaugh.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. Accessed July 9, 2024. https://nclcvf.org/board/elizabeth-redenbaugh/
45. “Jazmin Varela.” North Carolina League of Conservation Voters. Accessed July 9, 2024. https://nclcvf.org/board/jazmin-varela/