Greenpeace Protesters Hang Banner On Smokestack; Names Of Those Arrested Released

Updated: February 14, 2012 at 12:53 p.m.

The names of the Greenpeace protesters involved in Monday's demonstration at a Western North Carolina power plant have been released.  They include:

Carling Nasy Sothoron, 25, of Atlanta, GA
Victoria Lynn Scrimer, 28, of Washington, DC
Samantha Marie Rodgers, 32, of Washington, DC
Rena Hope Ostry, 21, of Ithica, NY
Mary Michelle Nicol, 28, of Chicago, IL
Elise Anderson Neighbors, 28, of Burlington, NC
Heyden Clark Llewellyn, 32, of Portland, OR
Christina Alexa Liakos, 24, of Litchfield, NH
Khafre Nmn James, 29, of San Francisco, CA
Connor Lawrence Gibson, 23, of Washington, DC
Robert Harris Gardner, 32, of Tacoma Park, MD
Kellen James Dunlap, 30, of Alexandria, VA
Ramon Luis Diaz, 23, of San Clemente, CA
Jarred Tyler Cobb, 28, or Burlington, VT
Rae Louise Breaux, 24, of Sherman Oaks, CA

All 16 received a $1,000 bond.  All are charged with trespassing.  Some are also charged with misdemeanor breaking and entering.

Updated: February 13, 2012 at 9:34 p.m.

A spokesperson for Progress Energy says the company is launching an internal investigation into the security on site, after 16 protesters were able to break in Monday morning.

Scott Sutton tells 7 On Your Side, the investigation will look into if the structure itself needs added security measures, as well as additional guards on site.

"We always have to treat all of these incidents very seriously to make sure that the next time, it doesn't happen, because it could be, not just someone trying to make a point, it could be someone actually intent on damaging equipment," said Sutton of the security breach at the plant.

Updated: February 13, 2012 at 7:11 p.m.

Investigators say the 16 people who broke into the Progress Energy power plant near Asheville used ladders to climb over a security fence in the rear of the property around 6 a.m. Monday morning.

Plant officials say what they did was not only dangerous, but could have directly impacted you.

"We have 160,000 customers in this region who depend on that plant being available 24/7," Mike Hughes of Progress Energy explains.

Despite 16 arrests, Greenpeace leaders are calling the demonstration a success.

Updated: February 13, 2012 at 6:01 p.m.

Officials say most of the protesters arrested earlier Monday have been released.

However, a few are still waiting to be let out.

All 16 received a $1,000 bond.  All are charged with trespassing.  Some are also charged with misdemeanor breaking and entering.

We'll continue to keep you updated.

Updated: February 13, 2012 at 5:37 p.m.

Officials at Progress Energy are thanking local authorites for their fast response to the protest situation at the western North Carolina power plant.

“We thank the Buncombe County Sheriff’s office for coordinating with multiple local, state and federal response and law enforcement agencies to quickly and peaceably remove all the trespassers from the Asheville Plant site,” said Garry Whisnant, Asheville plant manager. “The plant was able to continue operations and provide reliable electricity to our customers. I’m especially pleased that this event concluded without any injuries. The Asheville Plant remains an important part of providing reliable and affordable electricity to our customers.”

Updated: February 13, 2012 at 3:47 p.m.

Officials say all 16 protesters involved in Monday's demonstration have been arrested.

The banner the group of five Greenpeace protesters hoisted at the top of a smokestack remains visible for miles around the Asheville Power Station in Arden, N.C.

7 On Your Side's Emily Pace will be live from Buncombe County during Monday evening's newscasts.  We'll keep you updated.  Keep checking back for the latest.

Updated: February 13, 2012 at 3:05 p.m.

Protesters have hoisted a banner from the top of the smokestack at the Asheville Power Station in Arden, N.C.

The banner hanging 400 feet above the ground displays the text, "Duke Energy: The Climate Needs Real Progress."

The activists say they are working to bring attention to the "disastrous impact of coal."

“It’s past time to send a message to Duke and Progress that they can’t continue to pollute the air, poison the water, destroy mountains and cause climate change just to make a profit,” said Climate Campaigner and Activist Robert Gardner.

Duke Energy and Progress Energy are in the process of merging energy providers to create the country's largest utility.

“Duke Energy has an amazing opportunity to create real change in the way America creates its energy by switching to a clean energy future," Gardner says.

Read the full press release from Greenpeace here.

Progress Energy officials say this facility was the first in the state to install a scrubber to reduce emissions. 

"The processes that we use from the mining of coal through the generation of electricity, the storage or reuse of ash by-products, all of those are done in compliance with state and federal agencies and regulations," responds Mike Hughes of Progress Energy.

"It's very difficult to negotiate with people who break in and trespass on property and put 160,000 customers at risk," he adds.

Updated: February 13, 2012 at 2:06 p.m.

There has been a change of plans.  Greenpeace leaders tell 7 On Your Side protesters will likely stay lower than what was originally planned.

They are planning to display a banner in protest of coal use, which they say damages the environment.

Keep checking back for updates.

Updated: February 13, 2012 at 1:57 p.m.

Greenpeace organizers say the group of five protesters climbing the smokestack at the Asheville Power Station in Arden, N.C. have about two hours to climb until they reach the top.

As for the four recent arrests, Greenpeace believes the protesters were removed from the conveyor belt, which means two still remain.

Updated: February 13, 2012 at 12:53 p.m.

An additional four protesters have been removed from the power plant property now, according to 7 On Your Side reporter Emily Pace.

A total of nine arrests have been made.

They are charged with misdemeanor trespassing.  More charges could follow.

Updated: February 13, 2012 at 10:34 a.m.

A Greenpeace spokesman says five of their protesters are still climbing the smokestack Monday morning at the power plant in Arden, North Carolina. 

They plan to fly a banner once they reach the top. 

A total of 16 protesters are there. We’re told the other group is secured to a coal conveyor belt. 

Greenpeace says there have been five arrests so far. 

Posted: February 13, 2012 at 8:23 a.m.

Nine trespassers have entered the Asheville Power Station in Arden, N.C., according to Progress Energy spokesman Scott Sutton.  Law enforcement is on the scene.  

Sutton says the highest priority is to remove the protestors safely from the location and to protect the safety of the plant.  This power station provides the majority of power for Western North Carolina region and Asheville.  

Representatives from the environmental group Greenpeace tell 7 On Your Side that the protestors belong to their effort. 

Keiller MacDuff, spokesperson for the group, says they are protesting the destruction and pollution caused by coal at the Progress Energy plant. 

Read the press release from Greenpeace here.

MacDuff says activists have secured themselves to the coal loader and conveyers, which prevent coal from entering the facility and activists, have scaled the 400 foot smoke stack.  

The group believes plants like the one in Asheville that use coal damage the environment.

7 On Your Side has a crew on the way to the plant and will be updating this story.