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Senate committee subpoenas UNC-TV

The Associated Press reports this morning:

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Some lawmakers have agreed to subpoena North Carolina public television workers about what's called a not-yet-aired documentary about the Yadkin River and its hydroelectric dams owned by Alcoa.

Sen. Fletcher Hartsell of Cabarrus County said Thursday the judiciary committee he leads has agreed to ask for information and send subpoenas to University of North Carolina Television and two employees. A UNC-TV spokesman said Thursday the agency had yet to receive the paperwork.

The demand for information by next week comes as Hartsell tries to resolve a legislative standoff on the future of the dams by the time lawmakers adjourn.

Legislative committees' subpoena power is rarely used except for ethics investigations.

Charlotte’s Jack Betts weighs in here.

You can click here to read the subpoenas for yourself.

This is part of a long-running fight over Alcoa’s desire to renew its license to produce energy using the waters of the Yadkin River. The fight has even drawn the attention of famed environmental crusader Erin Brockovich. (link)

The N+O recently wrote-through (link) the fight between Alcoa and the Perdue administration, which is seeking to block the company's renewal of a key license.

More background here and here.

There’s no doubt the Alcoa issue is a pressing one. But compelling journalists to testify before a legislative committee is something that raises eyebrows. Generally, journalists resist being compelled to testify before courts and committees lest they be viewed as agents of the government or have their independence compromised.

“I recognize those issues,” Hartsell said this afternoon. “We have subpoenaed not just testimony but documents, which we’re entitled to do and as far as I know there’s not privilege in North Carolina as yet…We’re simply trying to get information the public needs. Does it raise some of those issues, you can argue that it does, yes.”