EJC Voices

In Fall 2021, North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light (NCIPL), a program of the NC Council of Churches launched a webinar series to begin to educate faith communities about the problem of hog waste biogas and to amplify local community voices on the issue. 

The series kicked off on October 12th at 6 p.m. with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) hearing from citizens who would be affected by hog waste biogas technology and permitting.

The first webinar held on October 19th at 7 p.m. offered introductory education about the process and the problems of biogas and the impacts on communities in eastern NC. Watch via YouTube

SPEAKERS:

• Sherri White-Williamson – Environmental Justice Community Action Network  (EJCAN)
• Will Hendrick – North Carolina Conservation Network, Environmental Justice Advocate
• Devon Hall – Rural Empowerment Association for Community Help (REACH)

The second webinar held on November 2nd at 7 p.m. provided activists and community leaders the opportunity to share how communities of faith can collaborate with and support them in the effort to protect their health and well-being. Watch via YouTube

SPEAKERS:

• Blakely Hildebrand – Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), Staff Attorney
• Donna Chavis – RedTailed Hawk Collective, Founder
• Daisha Williams – Clean AIRE NC, Environmental Justice Manager
• Rev. Mac Ledgerton – United Church of Christ – Ordained Minister
• Larry Baldwin – Crystal Coast Waterkeeper

Please help us spread the word about this important issue that deserves our moral attention!

For more information contact NCIPL Eco-Justice Education & Advocacy Fellow
Susan Brooks: sebrks@bellsouth.net

WATCH 2min Video

Last week NC Interfaith Power & Light Director, Susannah Tuttle participated in the multi-faith delegation as part of the People Vs. Fossil Fuels civil disobedience actions at the White House demanding that President Biden choose a side: People vs. Fossil Fuels.

#StopLine3 #BuildBackFossilFree #JusticeFirst #Power2ThePeople #LoveWins

**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 . . .?”

###

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.