Friends of Lake Tahoe:
Friends of Lake Tahoe (FLT) was created in 2010 specifically to halt the construction of an industrial scale biomass buring power plant less than a mile from the water on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. The environmentally dangerous project was sponsored jointly by Placer County and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA). Given the nature of the air inversion ecology of Tahoe's Basin, this plant would have cast a haze not only over the North Shore, but throughout the Basin degrading air and water quality everywhere.
The organization was set up by a retired political science professor, who is a long term second home owner at the lake, as a tax exempt, nonprofit, public benefit, 501 (c) 4, corporation to promote the common welfare of the Tahoe Region. Mobilizing local full-time residents and second home owners, he and his coalition supporters initiated a national and international campaign to relocate the plant outside the Basin.
After nearly a year long intense campaign which focused on lobbying and exposing the fallacious arguements that supported the plant, as well as mobilizing major political leaders in California, the TRPA withdrew its support for the project-thereby terminating it. The plant is now being constructed where FLT said it should: at Cabin Creek, near Truckee, and outside the ecologically fragile Basin. It was a tremendous victory for everyone!
The Beginnings:
Original Website that Halted the biomass plant!
Currently:
Since this victory, FLT has worked diligently and successfully to enhance the power of local residents
and particualarly non-resident property owners in the determination of governmental policies affecting
the Basin. While unable to cast ballots at the lake regarding policies and candidates, second home owners
greatly outnumber full-time residents and finance through taxes and fees much of what happens at Tahoe.
The fact that they have been left out of the governance equation is unconsionable in FLT's judgement.
FLT has taken steps, consequently, to change that.
These include:
Working with sister nonprofits at Lake Tahoe to inform the public and lobby to protect the environment and property rights by opposing negative aspects of the badly flawed Regional Plan Update proposed by the TRPA
Successfully obtaining approval by Placer County to include non-resident property owners on Planning Teams that will shape development and redevelopment of the Basin under Placer's jurisdiction. This monumental democratic policy change was negotiated exclusively by Friends of Lake Tahoe with Placer County. Never before have non-resident property owners been included as an equal partner in Basin Planning under Placer's jurisdiction. It is a great achievement for both the county and FLT. The new "Matrix" was uploaded to Placer's website on November 16, 2012, to reflect the policy.
Endeavoring to secure in the other counties and local governmental entities that have jurisdiction over the Basin, arrangements similar to the far-sighted agreement with Placer County cited above.
Monitoring relevant legislation and executive decisions impacting the Basin by all the diverse governmental agencies that oversee the region.
Monitoring the decisions made by utility districts and companies that impact the cost and quality of life at the lake.
Establishing a communication network between Friends of Lake Tahoe and non-resident property owners directly and/or via their Home Owners or Property Owners Association so that such constituents are both informed of significant issues that impact them at the lake as well as provide a voice for them to governmental agencies at all levels
For more information about the nonprofit, please review this website and the one that resulted in victory regarding the biomass plant (in order to understand the comprehensive nature of that campaign),and drop us a note at Info Request
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Friends of Lake Tahoe is a Volunteer Organiztion and
Donations
to Help Us Help You protect Lake Tahoe are Welcome.
