So much going on with an action tonight and tomorrow connected to NC and Federal bills! The nationwide No Kings Day is Saturday. Also updates on MVP Southgate, SSEP, SB 261 (now 266!), T-15, and more.
The Big Bad Terrible Bill!
June 9, Stand Up For Climate: Say NO to Dirty Bill
8 pm, online
The budget bill recently passed by House Republicans is the worst attack on our environment and climate in US history. We’re coming together to apply massive pressure, especially under battleground states, to stop this bill or strip its worst provisions. We’ll be joined by climate movement leaders and activists from across the country. Register here.
House Bill Expands Handouts to Fossil Fuel Polluters and Eviscerates Clean Energy Transition
In N.C., all eyes on Senator Tillis as IRA tax credits hang in balance by Elizabeth Ouzts here.
Inequality Media video with Robert Reich on massive giveaways to Big Oilhere.
June 18 rally at Senators Tillis and Budd’s offices beginning at 11 am starting outside at the Federal Courthouse on New Bern Ave in Raleigh. Congress is on recess that week.
Update on SB 261, now SB 266!
In the April newsletter I mentioned we’ll be keeping our eye on SB 261 that passed quickly in the NC Senate. It then sat in the House rules committee, and was added to the Senate budget bill last month. The bill would remove the 2030 carbon reduction goals that Duke Energy is required to meet by law and it would let Duke Energy charge customers for new projects while they are under construction (CWIP). Last Thursday we learned SB 266 was gutted and language from SB 261 was added. UGH! It passed the House committee quickly and looks like they will be voting on this bill TOMORROW.
Contact your NC Representatives and ask them to vote NO on SB 266! Find your NC legislators here. If it passes in the House and Senate, contact Gov. Stein and ask him to veto here or call him at 919-814-2000.
June 10, the NC Sierra Club chapter is organizing an Advocacy Day tomorrow from 9 am – 2 pm before the vote. Join us at the NC Legislative Building (16 W Jones St) to tell our legislators to oppose SB 266! More info and register here.
Jun 10, More action needed in Raleigh — Pack the Senate Gallery to Stop SB 153
3 pm, North Carolina Legislative Building, 16 W Jones St
Last week the State House passed SB 153, a bill that would require state law enforcement officers like State Troopers and the State Bureau of Investigation to gain the powers of immigration agents through ICE’s 287(g) program. This would deputize officers to have the same powers of ICE agents. Support our immigrant neighbors and register here. You can also call your NC Senator and urge them to vote no.
June 14, No Kings Day
Hundreds of thousands of Americans from all walks of life are taking to the streets for a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to the increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption of the Trump administration. Whether you’re outraged by attacks on civil rights, skyrocketing costs, abductions and disappearances, the gutting of essential services, or the assault on our climate—this moment is for you. There are many events taking place around NC and the U.S. Find a location near you here.
Update on SSEP
Last week we had good news from the people power working on a resolution in Greensboro! Guilford County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution on SSEP stating that they have safety concerns over SSEP. They will submit the resolution to FERC and the NC General Assembly. Check out Aidan’s great blog post here. and the press release here.
June 11, Mooresville Community Meeting: Transco SSEP & Compressor Station 150
6:15 pm, Mooresville Public Library, 304 S Main St, Mooresville
Join community safety and health advocates to learn more about the threat of the proposed Transco Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (SSEP) methane gas pipeline, and specifically Compressor Station 150. Register here.
Update on MVP Southgate
June 18, MVP Southgate FERC Scoping Comment Party
6:30 pm, online
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has opened an official public scoping comment period for the Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate Project amendment request. Join a team to learn how to navigate FERC processes, draft, and submit a comment! Register here.
There will also be two in-person scoping sessions hosted by FERC in Chatham, VA on June 16 and Wentworth, NC (5 – 8 pm, Rockingham County Community College, ADT Auditorium, 560 County Home Road) on June 17.
Mountain Valley Pipeline developer submits application for Clean Water Act Section 401 Southgate pipeline to NC DEQhere.
As Juhi Modi says, “Southgate would fuel Duke Energy’s massive proposed expansion of methane gas power plants across our state, causing higher electric bills and putting us on the highway to climate destruction. We know that there are safer, more affordable renewable energy options that can serve North Carolinians.” The comment period closes July 5th. Look for more information in the next email.
Tell federal regulators: Reject MVP Southgate! Sign the petition here.
Update on T15 Pipeline
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has announced they will be holding two public comment hearings for the T15 pipeline.
June 12, 6 pm, Roxboro
June 24, 6pm, Wentworth
DEQ’s press release with more information about the hearings is here.
More information about T15 here. Read Clean Water for NC’s blog T-15 Pipeline to fuel unneeded gas power plantshere.
More events
June 10, The Health Risks of Gas Appliances and the All-Electric Solutions
7 pm, online
Hear from New York health professionals and experts on the latest data showing the risks and impacts associated with gas burning appliances in our homes and buildings. With Dr. Sandra Steingraber, Alex Beauchamp, and more. Register here.
June 23-28, WECAN Global Women’s Assembly for Climate Justice: Path to COP30 and Beyond!
A free, public forum taking place virtually. The Global Women’s Assembly for Climate Justice will bring together grassroots and frontline women leaders, global advocates, thought leaders, and policy-makers to showcase a diverse array of visions, projects, policy frameworks, campaigns, and movement strategies with which we can accelerate a bold and transformative path to a healthy and just world. Register here.
Paperhand Puppet Project’s 25th annual show The Gift will take place weekends at the Forest Theatre in Chapel Hill August 8 through September 28. More info on this and other Paperhand events here.
Articles and More Action
A Transco Pipeline Plan to Boost Gas in Five States Would Sharply Increase Air Pollution in N.C. Towns by Lisa Sorg here.
States, Environmentalists Sue Trump Over Billions in Funding Freezes for EV Charging by Lisa Sorg here.
22 Youth Sue Donald Trump Over Executive Orders That Escalate Climate Crisis. Our Children’s Trust press release here.
Tell Congress to Support the Block the Bombs Acthere. Last week members of Congress introduced the first ever bill to proactively prevent the U.S. from sending some of the worst weapons to the Israeli military. Want to learn more about why climate justice demands a ceasefire and an arms embargo? Check out this fact sheet from 350.org‘s partners at Climate and Community Initiative and Grassroots Global Justice Alliance here.
Rivera Sun, author and nonviolence organizer and activist is giving the ebook version of her TheDandelion Insurrection: love and revolution away for free for the first two weeks of June. You can download the book here.
New Data Confirms That Americans Want Health Protections Against Climate Changehere.
As Costs and Temperatures Rise, Trump Moves to Gut Low-Income Energy Assistancehere.
An alarming message from the crumbling Swiss Alps by Peter Bosshard here.
North Carolina braces for ‘another summer of record heat’here.
Fracking for Plastics: Exposing the Supply Chain Behind the Global Plastic Crisis
A new investigation by Stand.earth Research Group (SRG) and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) exposes the toxic supply chain fueling global plastic production, shedding new light on the critical players driving the plastics and climate crises here.
Hope you are taking care of yourself. Thanks for reading and for taking action!
