Rebecca Kling, rebecca.kling@sierraclub.org
Kansas City, MO -- The spread of COVID-19 is raging, but utility disconnect moratoria in Kansas and Missouri have expired. While the near-term distribution of vaccines means the end of the pandemic may be in sight, in the meantime elected and utility leaders need to do everything possible to ensure the very real suffering of people is eased until the pandemic is under control.
Build Power MoKan, a coalition of organizations from Kansas and Missouri, will hold a press conference calling on monopoly electric utilities to reinstate disconnection moratoria, and if they refuse, Governor Kelly and Governor Parson should come to the aid of their struggling citizens. Build Power MoKan is a people led, bi-state energy justice organizing network working to dismantle the systems of oppression created by the utility industry.
What: Virtual press conference to discuss utility disconnections with tenants facing disconnection and advocates supporting a moratorium
When: Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 1:00PM CT
Where: The press conference will be held on Zoom. Please click here or copy the link to register: https://sierraclub.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEode6prTorGtYP8qgQxv5N1M5KoMiuAMX5
Who:
- Ty Gorman, Campaign Representative with the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign in Kansas
- Brandy Granados, a leader with KC Tenants
- Beto Lugo Martinez, Executive Director of CleanAirNow
- Dustin Hare from Rent Zero Kansas
- Sheila Thomas, a Missouri resident who is behind on her electric and gas and facing eviction
- Ivonne Gutierrez, a Kansas resident and community member
About Build Power MoKan
Build Power MoKan is an energy justice coalition working collaboratively to hold electric utilities in Kansas and Western Missouri accountable to the needs of their customers experiencing the worst impacts of COVID-19. The following organizations are members of Build Power MoKan:
CleanAirNow
Climate + Energy Project
Community Health Council of Wyandotte County
Earthjustice
Groundwork NRG
KC Tenants
Kansas Appleseed
Kansas Interfaith Action
Kansas Poor People's Campaign
Missouri Coalition for the Environment
Missouri Interfaith Power & Light
Mothers Out Front
Renew Missouri
Rent Zero Kansas
The Sierra Club
Sunrise Movement KC
WyCo Mutual Aid
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.