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NCCC & NCIPL opposes SB266 “The Power Bill Reduction Act”

By Susannah Tuttle, Eco-Justice Connection Director

To: House Rules Members and Leadership, The NC Council of Churches and our specific energy program, NC Interfaith Power & Light are opposed to Senate Bill 266 because of the […]

NCCC & NCIPL opposes SB266 “The Power Bill Reduction Act”

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To: House Rules Members and Leadership,

The NC Council of Churches and our specific energy program, NC Interfaith Power & Light are opposed to Senate Bill 266 because of the moral impacts on decision making concerning the bill shifting costs from industrial customers to other customers. Residential customers, especially low-income North Carolinians, cannot take these increases and were not included in bill negotiations. 

Proponents say SB266 will improve electricity affordability, but it does the exact opposite. SB266 allows for electricity rate increases outside of the normal ratemaking process and goes back on the deal agreed to in House Bill 951 (HB951), which was passed with bipartisan support in 2021, by ratepayers, stakeholders, and the utility.

HB951 has resulted in significant economic benefits for North Carolinians, including cost savings for ratepayers, additional reliable energy sources with stable prices, business investment in the state, and new market opportunities. Maintaining the bipartisan law set by the NC General Assembly is imperative to keeping monthly electricity bills affordable for North Carolina’s residents and businesses.  

House members should examine the impacts of the changes proposed in SB266 on residential customers before voting on this bill. We would like to see improved protections for low-income ratepayers. North Carolinians experienced some of the biggest rate increases in the US over the last year due primarily to increased fuel costs. Creating new ways for the utility to raise rates on residential ratepayers would make these rate increases worse. 

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.

In Peace & Prayer,

Susannah Tuttle, M.Div.
susannah@ncchurches.org
North Carolina Council of Churches 
ncchurches.org  (919) 828-6501 office

90 Years Rooted in Faith: Journey through Time

By Susannah Tuttle, Eco-Justice Connection Director

As we celebrate 90 years of faithful work for justice and equity this year, we’re sharing stories of 90 Years Rooted in Faith that reflect the heart of the North Carolina Council […]

90 Years Rooted in Faith: Journey through Time

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As we celebrate 90 years of faithful work for justice and equity this year, we’re sharing stories of 90 Years Rooted in Faith that reflect the heart of the North Carolina Council of Churches. Each month, you’ll hear from staff and long-time friends of the Council as they highlight the transformative impacts we’ve had on our community and our vision for the future. Stay tuned for these inspiring reflections throughout the year!

I’ve been part of the North Carolina Council of Churches staff since 2011, where I design programming and advocacy efforts centered around our ‘Call to Care for God’s Creation.’ This work is guided by the principle that addressing the causes and consequences of global climate change is a moral imperative. The Council’s Eco-Justice Connection framework is ‘rooted in faith,’ seeking to connect people of faith and conscience with both the natural ecological world and the human-constructed, financially driven economic system—two realms that currently seem disconnected from the responsibilities God calls us to uphold.

As humans among millions of species, our lives are part of an interdependent web, intricately woven with existence and the experience of the Divine. My faith rests in the belief that all of God’s creation is a dynamic, spiraling force of communication that extends throughout the Universe and beyond. I hold that time is both a profound illusion and, and simultaneously, one of the deepest truths.

Could the people living at the time of Jesus’ birth have ever imagined that Earth and all its species—including humanity—would evolve into the world we know today? The Magi, the wise men who followed celestial signs, may have had some insight into what the future held, even centuries ahead. As scholars deeply versed in astronomy and perhaps early mysticism, they were trained to interpret the stars, believing that celestial events could foreshadow earthly transformations—such as the rise of great figures or the dawn of new eras.

Thoughts and questions like these inspired me to enter seminary in the 20th century and still occupy my mind today, 25 years into the 21st century, marking the first quarter of the third millennium since Anno Domini—”in the year of the Lord.” The socio-political struggles during Jesus’ lifetime resonate with the challenges we face today, highlighting the profound question of where each of us are standing in the wilderness at this moment as we face tyranny and the collapse of democracy across the United States. This question takes on many layers in the context of the global climate emergency, which affects all peoples and transcends any single religion or group.

As the North Carolina Council of Churches reflects on the past 90 years, we are also called to creatively envision what the world will look like 90 years from now, in 2115. While it’s difficult to imagine that far ahead, there are babies being born today who may still be alive then—if we faithfully answer the call to protect the people and places we love. 

This is our mandate—spanning from the past to the present and into the future: to love God and ourselves enough to heal what has been harmed, and to follow the teachings of Jesus, as well as those of the great Magi who came before, who walk among us now, and those yet to be born.

To be a part of the North Carolina Council of Churches is a tremendous blessing. The work we do to educate, inspire, and mobilize our congregational network—and all those they reach—is the vital work of our time. May we honor it and continue to nurture and grow it so that it may endure, in the name of peace, love, and justice for all.

Join us in continuing this legacy of justice and courage.
Click here to donate directly to Susannah Tuttle’s fundraising page!
Your gift supports the Council’s equity and compassion work across North Carolina.

Finding Hope in a Time of Planetary Crisis and Political Decline

By Ren Martin, Eco-Justice Connection Program Coordinator

On a beautiful Saturday morning during Earth Month, dozens of advocates convened at Binkley Memorial Baptist Church for a Forum on Religion, Ethics, and Ecology. Eco-Justice Connection staff, Susannah Tuttle […]

Finding Hope in a Time of Planetary Crisis and Political Decline

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On a beautiful Saturday morning during Earth Month, dozens of advocates convened at Binkley Memorial Baptist Church for a Forum on Religion, Ethics, and Ecology. Eco-Justice Connection staff, Susannah Tuttle and Ren Martin, facilitated a discussion on some of the most pressing issues of our time: environmental justice and democracy. Among the panelists of the event were environmental justice leaders Karenna Gore, William Barber III, and Herman Greene. As the day went on, several themes emerged: human isolation, apathy toward environmental destruction, and the importance of connecting to nature. At the end of the event, I shared a poem created from the themes and my reflections of the day:

We are a part, not apart from the earth. This beautiful world that gave birth to us all. We are not alone… Nor can we be, when you address the reality that the few who are in power refuse to see: We are working in silos, being raised like cattle to the slaughter. Corporations see how unlikely it is for us to succeed in stopping their own greed in time for our children to have a life. A life worth living. For the earth to keep breathing. What is this sinking feeling? As the ocean rises, island nations disappear. As our lakes and rivers deplete, Indigenous communities, Black and brown communities scream, “We are here!” How do we stop this feeling from consuming us? As the air chokes our lungs, how can we afford to take a breather from the climate crisis? Black and brown communities are stuck living this reality every day. There must be some other way to make this whole broken system okay. 

In my heart, and possibly, my childish nativity, I deeply believe love and faith will lead the way!

Not geoengineering, but human ingenuity. Not isolation, but beloved community. We must look at the past, not to recreate disparity, but to provide context, respect, and familiarity to what our ancestors fought for… Not the colonization that continues to this day, but the ways in which we’ll return to the earth. An eco-conscious rebirth of indigenous practices, African ancestral masses, and the magic we have left behind in our roots in fear of being killed. Framed in this witch hunt of which hurt will prove to be the most effective in controlling the masses.

The world is turned upside down, and we are lost at sea. Adrift, fighting against the currents of colonial powers erasing our identities. This is our passage. The time is now. Let us part the seas, break free from materialistic debt and wage slavery. We must reclaim our beloved community. Let us love one another. Not “other” your sisters, siblings, and brothers. Create grassroots powers founded on spirituality and the oneness of earth. This place of rebirth… We are a part, not apart of the movement to create our heaven, right here on earth. Let us honor our one existence for all it’s worth.

The conversations at this convening of advocates, community members, and faith leaders will forever stay in my heart and mind. Going to events like this–embodying a beloved community with people who care enough to wake up at 8 AM on a Saturday morning–that’s what gives me hope during a time of planetary crisis and political decline.

“Breathe Again: Health Air is Health Care” Trainings

By chris

Did you know that more than 40% of the U.S. is breathing dirty air and that in 46 states, communities of color are exposed to higher levels of dangerous air […]

“Breathe Again: Health Air is Health Care” Trainings

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Did you know that more than 40% of the U.S. is breathing dirty air and that in 46 states, communities of color are exposed to higher levels of dangerous air pollution than white communities? We have the power to take action!

Register now and join us for a two day training event, in conjunction with our US Climate Action Network grant partners.

2-day Session: Thursday & Friday, Feb 17 & 18, 12:00 (Noon) – 1:30 PM (ET)

We will begin with a “Train the Trainer” session to learn more about the issues surrounding air pollution, the climate crisis, and the public health impact. Connect with other people working on air pollution in your state and learn how to train others on these issues. Friday’s Day of Action will provide an opportunity to join together in collective action as we call our elected officials and ask them to make healthier air a reality!

ZOOM REGISTRATION: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwscOyprzkuHdSIhIHT_uzt71doTV1x7kTJ

 

Launching a year of climate justice and resilience.

By chris

Register Here We need a climate revival! After another year of record-breaking climate disasters, environmental injustices are degrading our communities, God’s Creation, and democracy. This year, we’re changing the script. […]

Launching a year of climate justice and resilience.

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Register Here

We need a climate revival!

After another year of record-breaking climate disasters, environmental injustices are degrading our communities, God’s Creation, and democracy. This year, we’re changing the script. Let’s move from degradation to resilience, from brokenness to restoration, from death to revival!

Join us virtually on January 20, 2022 to launch a year of “Resilient Creation & Restored Communities: Voting for Climate Justice in 2022”!

Featured Speakers Include:

  • Karenna Gore, founder and executive director of the Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary in New York
  • Dr. Randy Woodley, Distinguished Professor of Faith & Culture, Portland Seminary. Cherokee descendant. Public theologian and co-sustainer at Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice and Eloheh Farm
  • Rev. Emmanuel Duncan, Senior Pastor of Gethsemane Baptist Church in Greenville and the Co-Chair of the Greenville Interfaith Justice Ministry
  • Rev. Lennox Yearwood, President & CEO of Hip Hop Caucus, minister, and community activist
  • Rev. Adam Taylor, president of Sojourners and author of A More Perfect Union: A New Vision for Building the Beloved Community

At this event, we will LEARN what’s at stake for our communities and climate in 2022, COMMIT to a year of engagement for resilience and restoration, and PRAY for a revival of climate justice.

Register Here!

Event hosted by the Southeast Faith Leaders Network (SFLN) with the support of the U.S. Climate Action Network.

SFLN Anchor Organizations include:

Creation Justice Ministries
Georgia Interfaith Power & Light
South Carolina Interfaith Power & Light
Alabama Interfaith Power & Light / The People’s Justice Council
North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light / North Carolina Council of Churches

NCIPL Director’s Testimony on EPA Methane Rules

By Susannah Tuttle, Eco-Justice Connection Director

2021 EPA Oil and Natural Gas Listening Sessions EPA-HQ-OAR-2021-0295 Hello, my name is Susannah Tuttle. I am Director of the NC Interfaith Power & Light and serve as the Director […]

NCIPL Director’s Testimony on EPA Methane Rules

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2021 EPA Oil and Natural Gas Listening Sessions
EPA-HQ-OAR-2021-0295

Hello, my name is Susannah Tuttle. I am Director of the NC Interfaith Power & Light and serve as the Director of the Eco-Justice Connection at the NC Council of Churches. 

I am grateful for the opportunity to share my strong support for EPA’s proposed methane rules and urge EPA to strengthen the rules to maximize the benefits for public health and the environment. 

In 2004 I received my Masters in Divinity after studying at the Graduate Theological Union with a focus on ecological ethics. As a faith leader I have spent my entire career working to address the causes and consequences of global warming as a moral imperative. 

There is no doubt that Methane pollution is a profound threat to our health and our climate. The oil and gas industry is the largest source of methane pollution in the United States. Addressing this pollution, in the form of leaks from new and existing operations, is the low hanging fruit of climate solutions. 

People of faith see climate change as the greatest ethical and moral concern of our time. Not only do frontline communities, communities of color, the young and old suffer the most from climate change, they are affected most from methane pollution which is linked to our warming climate. We must work for strong methane rules. We must act now for life.

As people of faith and conscience, with a shared commitment for stewardship of our common home, Interfaith Power & Light’s congregational network supports strong and effective methane pollution safeguards. Using currently available technology, the U.S. can do its part to meet a global imperative, achieving a 65% reduction of methane from oil and gas by 2025 and more by the end of the decade.  As the largest historic emitter of climate warming pollution, the U.S. must do its fair share and dramatically reduce its methane pollution.

As you have already heard from so many experts across this country, EPA must strengthen the monitoring requirement. EPA should  require regular monitoring at smaller, high polluting wells. Hundreds of thousands of wells across the country generate just a trickle of usable product but are large and disproportionate emitters of methane. EPA has recognized in the proposal that a “low production” exemption is not appropriate. However, under EPA’s current proposal operators that calculate lower potential emissions could still escape regular leak monitoring. This is a big problem since operators wouldn’t be required to factor in super-emitters or equipment failures.

I echo all those who have already stated how flaring is another wasteful and avoidable practice that is rampant in the oil and gas production sector. When companies rush to extract oil, some forgo investments necessary to capture and sell gas and instead burn it as a waste product, emitting a host of climate and health-harming pollutants. Flares also commonly malfunction and spew methane directly into the atmosphere. Therefore EPA must move to end routine flaring.

All of these additions must be included before the proposal is finalized to ensure EPA is fully protecting our health and addressing the climate crisis.

We are pointed in the right direction, but we are running out of time to tackle the climate crisis, and we cannot miss out on this opportunity to protect public health and the environment. These proposed safeguards must be strengthened before they are finalized to ensure EPA is using the full force of the Clean Air Act to and truly meet this moment.

Finally I urge EPA to finalize this rulemaking as quickly as possible, climate change is an emergency and our planet cannot afford further delay. 

On behalf of my family, our communities, and the congregational networks I serve… I thank you for this opportunity to provide comments and I send prayers of peace & blessings to you all.

Susannah Tuttle, M.Div
NC Interfaith Power & Light
NC Council of Churches
November 30, 2021

Link to EPA process: https://www.epa.gov/controlling-air-pollution-oil-and-natural-gas-industry/epa-proposes-new-source-performance