A People’s Hearing
Immediately after Floyd McKissick, a utilities commission member, opened the Duke Energy Carbon Plan Public hearing, BWFJ member Bobby Jones interrupted by denouncing it as a farce, being in partnership with Duke Energy, and their continual betrayal of the people. “I’m walking out, and we’ll be holding a real hearing outside for anyone that wants to join us,” he said. Joined by several others who did something similar, they proceeded outside and joined by others for a people’s hearing in the “Good Fire” context.
People’s Campaign Against Massive Electric 39-73% Hikes
Before the hearing, the people held the “Rally Against the Duke Energy Carbon Plan”, a plan that few people like, except for Duke Energy. The projected construction costs for these projects would result in a staggering 39% and 73% increase in average monthly energy bills for Duke Energy Progress residential customers and Duke Energy Carolinas customers, respectively. This will continue to be a heavy burden for all ratepayers, especially those who labor for minimum wage, underscoring the urgent need to oppose this plan.
The April 30 rally was MC-ed by Karen Bearden from 350 Triangle and featured speeches from Dr. Crystal Cavalier-Keck from 7 Directions of Service, Caroline Armijo of The Lilies Project, Rania Masri from NC Environmental Justice Network, and Bobby Jones. The group, the Raging Grannies, performed, inspiring the audience with their powerful messages and underscoring the importance of community mobilization in our fight against Duke Energy’s carbon plan.
Duke Tries to Buy Off the Black Church
“Duke Energy’s carbon plan “community outreach” efforts have aimed the long barrels of their heavy artillery war chest directly toward the bedrock of our community, “the Black Church”. In Goldsboro, NC, they targeted the First African Baptist Church, a historic and prestigious “Branch of Zion” by sponsoring an event that included a “barbeque plate and a light bulb” give-away. Then they went down the street targeting Rebuilding Broken Places, the Community Development Corp. for Greenleaf Christian Church, another historic and prestigious “Branch of Zion.” They were awarded a $25,000 grant at a media event on ‘Earth Day, ‘ said Bobby at the People’s Rally.
Are these efforts to help our community, or are they efforts to erode the moral fabric that undergirds the foundation of our church and our community, as [it has] so successfully done to our legislators? We say no, not on our watch! Get out of our community with your extractive mindset! If you desire to come back, bring a different mindset, and yes, PLEASE BRING AN UNSELFISH HEART!
