On May 20, 2009, Senator Ellie Kinnaird was recognized by the Conservation Council of North Carolina as their Senator of the Year at the Council’s Third Annual Green Tie Awards Dinner. A Democratic Senator has won this award each year since its inception three years ago.
Senator Kinnaird’s work to bring the fight for the environment into the Senate halls on a regular basis played a large role in her nomination for this award. As Vice-Chair of the Committee on Agriculture, the Environment and Natural Resources, Senator Kinnaird ensures issues important to the environment have a voice in the Senate.
Some of Senator Kinnaird’s legislative highlights from this session include:
• Extending the Climate Change Commission
• Supporting a bill that would ban North Carolina from using coal from mountain top removal sites
• Being the primary sponsor on a bill that would require North Carolina to buy fuel-efficient cars for its motor fleet
• Serving as the only sponsor for a bill that would place a moratorium on coal fired power plants
Nina Szlosberg, board president for Conservation Council of North Carolina, remarked, “Senator Kinnaird not only wants to know where environmentalists stand on issues before the Senate, she seeks them out to make sure they are supportive on bills before her in committee. Because of her environmental advocates have a voice in the Senate at all times in the process.”