**Susannah Tuttle and Jennifer Copeland Available for Interviews**

RALEIGH, NC — The North Council of Churches is committed to prioritizing policies that center justice and equity, and when a bill lacks these moral imperatives, we stand in opposition to the legislation becoming law.

HB 951 “Energy Solutions for North Carolina” does not center justice and equity. The data supports our conclusion that this law will create harmful cost impacts on low income people. The loan program included in the legislation (On Tariff Financing) is not enough to adequately offset the increased costs of the legislation because these programs are often not available to low-income homeowners due to the poor condition of their homes, and renters can rarely participate.

The Council is well aware that the dynamics around environmental and renewable energy in North Carolina are urgent, especially given the reality that the detrimental effects of climate change fall disproportionately on low wealth communities. Energy solutions that also fall disproportionately on low income communities are not real solutions. Our faith shows that God has a preferential option for the poor. Scripture provides numerous examples of God’s compassion for “the least of these,” punctuated by Jesus’ own parable about the inbreaking of God’s kingdom. “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). How then shall we answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you . . .?” (v.44).  When we allow power bills to rise 50% in 3 years on those who can least afford to pay, we are failing to see Jesus.

Although an important piece of HB 951 legislation includes a carbon reduction plan, this plan is not designed to support those hurt first and worst by the ongoing climate crisis and furthermore we have significant concerns that the plan will fail due to poor design and drafted provisions that will make it easy for utilities to avoid the implementation of the plan. At best, this “Energy Solutions for North Carolina” will only benefit those who are already thriving, not those who are barely surviving.

Our faith convictions compel us to stand in solidarity with the North Carolina Justice Center’s opposition statement: “This legislation will hurt millions of people in North Carolina who are already spending a disproportionate amount of their incomes to meet basic needs.”

“When was it that we saw you . . .?”

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Founded in 1935, the North Carolina Council of Churches enables denominations, congregations, and people of faith to impact our state on issues such as racial equity, farmworker rights, environment, LGBTQ+ rights, economic justice and development, human well-being, equality, compassion and peace, following the example and mission of Jesus Christ. The Council comprises 26 distinct judicatories from 18 denominations. Across the state, our members have over 6,200 congregations with about 1.5 million congregants. For more information about the Council’s 85-year history, visit www.ncchurches.org. To stay up to date on progressive, faith-based news, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

CONTACT

Susannah Tuttle
Eco-Justice Connection Director
sussanah@ncipl.org
(919) 828-67501 Ext. 113

Jennifer Copeland
Executive Director
jennifer@ncchurches.org
(919) 828-6501 Ext. 01

Starting on October 11, thousands of people from across the nation, including NCIPL Director – Susannah Tuttle, will be in Washington, DC, for People vs. Fossil Fuels — a week-long action to demand that President Biden end the fossil fuel era, including tar sands pipeline projects like Line 3.

Join us on Tuesday, October 12, to hear from clergy and faith leaders on their experience in DC. MNIPL is hosting this inspiring, in-the-moment report back to let you know what’s happening at the heart of the movement nationwide. You will learn how you can amplify these calls to protect communities from the climate emergency and repair the harm caused by fossil fuels.

Click here to register

Because this report back will occur in the midst of the People vs. Fossil Fuels action, we may have some last minute updates depending on what’s happening on the ground. We will let everyone who is registered know if this event will change.

Right now, Congress is negotiating a once-in-a-generation infrastructure and budget reconciliation package that will determine whether our country transitions to a clean energy economy in time to avoid catastrophic climate change.

Currently, about $1 trillion of the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill addresses climate change.  It is imperative that those provisions to advance clean energy, clean transportation, environmental justice, and climate resilience remain strong.

Click here to send a letter to your Congressional rep and Senators to urge their support.

Here are some of the key climate provisions in the bill:

• A Clean Energy Payment Program that caps carbon pollution and puts us on a path to 100% Clean Electricity by 2035, and 80% by 2030. This is one of the most impactful policies for cutting carbon pollution.
• Expanded renewable energy and clean vehicle tax credits and rebates for consumers, extended for 10 years
• Invest at least 40% of spending in disadvantaged communities that have borne the brunt of fossil fuel pollution
• Support for dislocated fossil fuel workers to help them transition to clean energy jobs
• A Civilian Climate Corps to help Americans employ youth and train them for good, stable clean energy careers
• Replacement of lead pipes so all communities have safe drinking water.

While this is encouraging, the fossil fuel industry and some of the largest corporations in America have launched an expensive campaign to defeat the “Build Back Better” plan. If members of Congress don’t hear from their constituents the bill could be significantly watered down, or fail entirely. Click here to urge your representatives to support ambitious, bold investments that truly tackle the climate crisis. 

The investments being proposed have real-world impacts. They will help communities struggling with pollution to clean up their air and water and to create jobs. They will help us become more resilient and better prepared for extreme weather events. They will help make the 2020’s the decade that we transition to a clean energy economy.

We don’t get political opportunities in Washington to act on climate very often — the last time a comprehensive bill to cut climate pollution passed the House (but not the Senate) was 2009. And our country doesn’t pass major infrastructure investments very often either. This is a historic moment to build a more sustainable, more equitable future with a safe climate. It is a moral opportunity to act on our values of caring for Creation, loving our neighbors, and being good stewards of the world we will bequeath to the next generation.

Let’s not miss this moment. Please write to your representatives today.

Faith community members took to the streets of North Carolina in Raleigh and Greensboro in order to walk as an interfaith representation of people who support legislation on Congressional bold, climate justice & jobs.

We delivered the Faith Leaders National Letter to Congress endorsed along with 3600 other organizations around the country.

This NC Climate Action Campaign event was organized by NC Interfaith Power & Light (NCIPL) a campaign of the Eco-Justice Connection work of the NC Council of Churches – in partnership with the Interfaith Creation Care of the Triangle (ICCT).

Photos via @NCIPL at the Offices of Rep. Deborah Ross & Rep. Kathy Manning on 7.21.21 ~>

#ACTNOW
#Faith4Climate

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We believe we cannot address climate change without also addressing racial injustice.

To learn more about their intersection and why addressing both is needed read:

I’m a Black Climate Expert. Racism Derails Our Efforts to Save the Planet
 | Ayana Elizabeth Johnson | The Washington Post

Racism, Police Violence, and the Climate Are Not Separate Issues
| By Bill McKibben | The New Yorker

Black Environmentalists Talk About Climate and Anti-Racism
| By Somini Sengupta | The New York Times

Why Every Environmentalist Should Be Anti-Racist
| By Leah Thomas | Vogue

Why Racial Justice is Climate Justice
| By Claire Elise Thompson | Grist

Tear Gas and Coronavirus are ‘a Recipe for Disaster,’ Experts Warn
| By Shannon Osaka | Grist