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Reports that Senator Manchin is opposed to all climate legislation must now be set aside. It seems Manchin and Majority Leader Schumer have introduced a version of the RECONCILIATION BILL, now called the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.This is less sweeping than the Build Back Better version – it has less family support. But it cues up $370 billion to improve energy and transportation efficiency. It creates taxes that impact only those with incomes over $400K. It sets up a minimum corporate tax (15%) for large businesses. It enables Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices.

This is a promising bill. Let’s call or write our Representative and Senators to support it, because –uh, what else are they doing to combat inflation pressure? Or to get to a less-carbon-happy civilization? They go on break AUGUST 5TH, So let OUR SENATORS KNOW ASAP!

 

 

 

Hendersonville is growing so quickly that it’s hard to imagine that there are many natives left.  Fred Nace is one of those rare occurrences. He was born in Hendersonville and raised in Arden, Long John Mountain and Mills River and attended West Hendersonville High School. Fred planned to major in electrical and mechanical engineering but detoured to an unexpected career in the Armed Services.

Fred entered the army in 1985 as an enlisted Signals Intelligence Analyst with a year of Russian training and served in the 1st Infantry Division before becoming a Russian interpreter and arms control inspector. He also took part in the Army Green to Gold ROTC Program. He is a Distinguished Military Graduate and Phi Beta Kappa student and was commissioned in the Military Intelligence Corps serving in various capacities in operations and Intelligence. He participated in the initial invasion and first large-scale combat operation (Operation ANACONDA) in Afghanistan. Upon returning, Fred took command of a Special Forces Military Intelligence Detachment and prepared for combat operations in Iraq, supporting both special and conventional operations.

After relinquishing this command, he attended the Czech Language Course at the US State Department Foreign Service Institute and was assigned as a Foreign Area Officer in Prague. Following this, Fred was assigned as the Intelligence Officer for the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in 2005, completing two rotations to Operation IRAQUI FREEDOM as the J-2 Intelligence Director. His service in the military provided Fred the opportunity to live and travel to 68 countries and 48 states.

After a long and distinguished career in the Service, Fred was employed by BAE Systems as a Project Manager supporting the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command’s Battle Lab. His projects included space-based sensors, Electronic Testbeds and US Cyber Command Operations Centers. He returned to service as the civilian Senior Plans Officer for International Military Activities for the US Army Central, dealing with the security cooperation plans and assessments of 20 countries.  His last government assignment was as a senior Foreign Affairs Specialist in the Security Cooperation Division of the US Army-Europe, specializing in plans, policy and arms control. 

It is our good fortune that Fred returned to the Hendersonville area and became involved with PAHC through personal interactions with our members. He thinks that PAHC could benefit by bringing idealistic goals to realistic implementations. Fred states, “achieving 80% success is better than failing 100%”. He believes that PACH should strive for these goals, bringing others along to this way of thinking. With Fred’s leadership experience, this author believes it is attainable. If you should meet Fred riding his Harley, let him know you agree. 
 

 

 

The PAHC core leadership group (currently Chris Berg, Nancy & Neil Brown, Lucy Butler, Sheila Clendenning, Laura Miklowitz, Sara Smith, and Paul Weichselbaum) working together diligently to strengthen our impact, has created mission and vision statements for the group.

Please speak to any of us if you can offer your ideas and time about the future of Henderson County.