Remember when we had time off during the summer when we were kids? Not anymore, with so much going on! Hope you are safe and taking care of yourselves.
Still thinking of friends, organizations, and businesses impacted by the devastating flooding from Tropical Storm Chantel. Some ways you can help:
It’s time to call your NC Senators and Representativesagain asking them to uphold the veto! You can find their information here. As a reminder, 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). Electricity and gas rates will go up. Duke Energy will build more gas projects instead of transitioning to renewable energy that we desperately need to be doing! You can also use the Appalachian Voices action to write your legislators here.
Lisa Sorg makes the connections between Chantal and SB266 with her article Chantal Wreaks Havoc in North Carolina as State Lawmakers Try to Repeal an Ambitious Climate Change Goalhere.
July 16, After Chantal: Taking Action in North Durham and Person Counties
6:00-6:50 pm, online
In North Durham and Person Counties, our rivers and electric bills just got higher than ever.
Join us for a virtual meeting on what we can do to protect ourselves from climate disasters and higher electric bills. Register here.
July 16, One Million Rising: Strategic Non-Cooperation to Fight Authoritarianism
Following the No Kings actions, One Million Rising is a national effort to train one million people in the strategic logic and practice of non-cooperation, as well as the basics of community organizing and campaign design. Sign up for the three sessions here.
Session 1: The Moment & Your Mission – July 16
Session 2: How to Make it Happen – July 30
Session 3: What Now? – August 13
July 17, Climate Inaction: How Utility Monopoly Power Crushes Climate Progress
12 pm, online
Hosted by Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR), the webinar will begin with an overview of ILSR’s recent report on the true costs of giving private companies exclusive power over electricity, followed by a discussion moderated by ILSR Co-Director John Farrell with Bill McKibben, Mark Ellis, and Shelley Welton about how to fight back. Register here.
July 17, Good Trouble Lives On
Good Trouble Lives On is a national day of nonviolent action to respond to the attacks posed on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration and to remind them that in America, the power lies with the people. On the 5th anniversary of the passing of Civil Rights icon John Lewis, we’re taking action across the country to defend our democracy and carry forward his legacy of Good Trouble. Along with the action at the State Capitol in Raleigh, there are MANY actions taking place in NC and across the country. Look for and register for an action near you here.
July 17, Raleigh Rights of Nature Info Session
7-8 pm, in person and virtual
Hosted by 7 Directions of Service, join us to learn more about these laws/policies, hear updates on our campaign, and find ways to plug in. Register to join in person at RUMAH (415 Hillsborough St. Unit 101, Raleigh) here, or register to tune in virtually here.
July 21, Solidarity Against Tyranny: Frontline Resistance Insights from the Philippines and Appalachian South
9 pm, online
How can our movements survive the rise of authoritarian regimes? How shall we respond when our people are jailed, our organizations banned, our speech penalized, and our activist spaces burned to the ground? Hosted by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) in partnership with Highlander Research and Education Center and Blue Earth Defense. Register here.
July 22, AI Data Centers in Your Backyard: Who Is at Risk?
1 pm, online
Artificial intelligence (AI) requires the use of energy-intensive data centers. These facilities are forecasted to significantly increase global electricity demand. Some utilities (like Duke Energy!) in states across the country are building more fossil fuel infrastructure to account for this growing electricity demand. Register here.
July 22, T-15 Pipeline Virtual Comment Party
6:30 pm, online
Join coalition organizations fighting the T-15 pipeline to learn how to write an impactful comment opposing the T-15 pipeline. Register here. Check out Clean Water for NC’s excellent blog “Stop the T-15 Pipeline!” for more information and talking points here.
July 29, HB958 The Rigged Race
11 am, 300 N Salisbury St, Raleigh (In the grassy area in front of the Legislative Office Building, Halifax Mall)
Join Democracy Out Loud (we have been meeting for 441 consecuative Tuesdays!) for a “race” like no other – because the rules are rigged. HB958 and extreme partisan gerrymandering are giving NC Republican lawmakers an unfair advantage, silencing vote, and rigging our democracy. This media-friendly event will make the injustice visible, simple, and undeniable. See Rep Phil Rubin’s video for more information on this terrible bill. The bill will be discussed in the Judiciary Committee later on the 29th. Register here.
Paperhand Puppet Project’s 25th annual show The Gift will take place weekends at the Forest Theatre in Chapel Hill August 15 through September 28. From Paperhand “Despite water being what caused us to move out of our studio space, we know that water is truly vital to our existence and to our planet and that’s why it – and the women who protect our water – are a gift.” More information and tickets here.
TAKE ACTION!
For folks in north Durham and Person Counties!
Vote NO on SB266: An Open Letter from Residents & Businesses of North Durham & Person Counties to our Representative Ray Jeffers
If high energy bills and worsening climate disasters (like Tropical Storm Chantal) don’t represent your values, sign an open letter asking him to uphold Gov. Stein’s veto by voting NO on S266 here.
Submit your comment to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asking them to DENY the Clean Water Act Section 404 permit application for Transco’s SSEP! Check out this toolkit for more information with talking points and how to submit your comment by July 28 here.
While the Brazilian government is selling off the Amazon rainforest to fossil fuel companies, U.S. banks like Citibank are bankrolling them to further destroy the Amazon. Tell Citibank: Stop destroying the Amazonhere.
Support Youth v Gov’s Lighthiser v. Trump plaintiffs and urge Congress to cosponsor the Children’s Fundamental Rights to Life and a Stable Climate System resolution opposing Trump’s anti-clean energy and anti-climate science directives. Contact your legislators and urge them to cosponsor the resolution here.
Contact your members of Congress and ask them to Fund US Weather Prediction and Climate Sciencehere.
Say No to Climate Denier Laura Swett for FERC Commissioner
The US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR) will hold a hearing on this nomination possibly this week. Call Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer at 202-224-6542
to oppose Laura Swett for FERC Commissioner. Swett will support the Trump Administration efforts to drastically weaken solar, wind, and clean energy and strengthen the fossil fuel industry. She should not be confirmed!
Tell the Senate to Protect and Reinstate the Environmental Justice staffhere.
ARTICLES AND VIDEOS
Recording of the recent excellent webinar, Understanding Data Centers and Their Environmental Impactshere.
Recording of Union of Concerned Scientists Danger Season 2025 Mapping Tool Webinarhere. Link to the mapping tool here.
Green America has updated their Green Business Network website. Check it out here.
New Report from Southern Environmental Law Center, “Uncertainty and upward bias are inherent in data center electricity demand projections”here.
“Burning Questions:” A conversation with Bill McKibben about his new book on solar powerhere.
The Escalation of Extreme Weather: How Climate Change is Fueling Unprecedented Disasters with Porter Fox and Jeff Goodell here.
Thanks for reading and taking action! Spread the word!
