Howdy!
Wanted to send another reminder about the June 24th NC Data Center Grassroots Lobby Day taking place a week from today, share info about a training tonight to help you with the lobby day, plus, more!
June 17, NC Grassroots Lobby Day Training
7 pm, online
Hosted by Dream.org’s Stop Toxic Tech: Green the Grid Campaign. This training will prepare advocates with the tools, messaging, and confidence needed to engage elected officials and effectively advocate for policies that protect communities from the growing impacts of AI data centers. Register here.
June 24, NC Data Center Grassroots Lobby Day
9 am- 3 pm, NC General Assembly, 16 W Jones St. Raleigh
Join together with communities from across North Carolina to lobby your state senator and state representative to protect our communities from the impact of data centers! 11:30 am press conference (in press room) with community leaders from areas fighting data centers. Register today for more info here.
June 18, Haw River Assembly’s Chatham Pipeline Community Meeting
6:15-7:45 pm, Holmes Family Meeting Room at the Chatham Community Library, Pittsboro
Learn the latest on what is happening with the Enbridge pipeline proposal and what you can do right now to protect your community. Sign up for email updates here. Enbridge history in NC and community impacts here.
ACTIONS
The war in the Middle East is taking thousands of lives while also causing oil and gas prices to surge – and fossil fuel companies are cashing in, while people struggle with rising bills. Tell the richest governments to help people not polluters! Tell the G7: Tax polluters’ profits now here.
Urge Congress to REJECT Big Oil’s call for immunity and PROTECT our right to hold fossil fuel companies accountable! Sign the petition here.
We’re watching SB 730 that has passed the NC House and moved to the Senate. Call your NC Senators and tell them to vote no on SB730.
A press release and couple articles with more information about this bill:
Press Release: Under The Pretense of Protection, Senate Bill 730 Shifts Financial Risks to North Carolinians here.
NC data center bill misses the mark on regulation, opponents say by Zamone Perez here. Sophie Loeb and Kevin Wilson are interviewed.
North Carolina bill would prop up coal until new nuclear is approved by Elizabeth Ouzts here.
There were around 250 people in attendance at the awesome Drag Down Our Electric Bills rally in Durham last week before the last public hearing on rate hikes in Durham! The courtroom filled up quickly with people wanting to speak. Two articles from the rally and hearing below:
‘No rate hikes.’ Protestors rally against proposed Duke Energy rate increases by Celeste Guajardo here.
In Durham, Protesting Rising Duke Energy Rates Through Drag by Justin Laidlaw
here.
If you missed attending one of the public hearings, there is still time to share comments on how you feel about the proposed rate hikes with the NC Utility Commission by submitting a public comment to the NC Utility Commission at https://ncuc.gov/contactus.html. Be sure to include Docket E-2 Sub 1380 for Duke Progress or Docket E-7 Sub 1329 for Duke Carolinas.
El Futuro organizers say these items are especially helpful for farmworkers facing extreme heat:
*Hydration packets: Single‑serve packets workers can mix with water to help prevent dehydration during long, hot days in the fields.
*Electrolytes: Powder or tablets that replace salts and minerals lost through heavy sweating.
*Bandanas: Lightweight cloths that can be soaked and worn around the neck or head to provide cooling and some sun and dust protection.
*Ibuprofen: Over‑the‑counter pain reliever farmworkers can use for headaches and muscle pain.
*Hydrocortisone cream: Topical cream that helps relieve itching and irritation from rashes, insect bites and other skin problems.
To coordinate donations or find a drop‑off site, call or text 919‑429‑1806.
ARTICLES and RECORDINGS
Recording of the excellent When AI Comes to Town: Decoding the Real Life Impact of Data Centers in Our Communities with Dr Rania Masri in Greensboro last week here.
“As Krystal Two Bulls argues:
“Generative AI is being used to surveil citizens, violating our right to privacy, and then that is being turned around and used for military purposes. We can see the connection directly to violence. As Native peoples we honor the Earth, which is why it is so important to resist the construction of these data centers and the entirety of the AI infrastructure.”
“The public outcry has had a serious impact: Across America, at least 25 different data center projects were canceled last year, and half of all data centers expected to open in 2026 will be delayed or simply canceled.”
Stop Data Centers Coalition launched last week. Recording of the call that included Rania Masri talking about our NC work and June 24th lobby day here. Over 500 organizations (including 350 Triangle and many others in NC) are calling for a national moratorium on data centers!
The 17th Banking On Climate Chaos report reveals that fossil fuel financing from the world’s top 65 banks has reached $8.7 TRILLION over the last decade. Instead of investing in a livable future, big banks are driving pollution and climate devastation. Learn more about the report at bankingonclimatechaos.org.
Amid financial conflicts and recusal concerns, NC Supreme Court upholds Duke Energy rate hike by Sue Sturgis here.
Trump Administration Doubles Down on Coal Power in North Carolina
Duke Energy could receive $28.4 million in federal grants for upgrades, matched by $44 million in ratepayer funds. By Lisa Sorg here.
Navigating North Carolina’s home insurance affordability crisis by Dr Hope Thompson here.
“Climate-related risk is now the primary cause of increasing insurance premiums. Insurance markets are responding to the increased cost of providing insurance for homes not built to withstand the current and future risks of wind, wildfire and other hazards, and the rising cost of repairs.”
Thanks for reading and for taking action! Maybe I’ll see some of you on the 24th!
Peace and love for our beautiful Earth, Karen