The Wisconsin Public Service Commission voted today to once again extend the utility disconnection moratorium for residential customers until October 1, 2020. The commission decided 2-1 to extend the moratorium in order to safeguard the public health of Wisconsin residents during the COVID-19 health crisis. The PSC had voted on June 11 to end the moratorium on utility disconnections on July 25, but then voted on July 23 to extend the moratorium due to the risk to people’s lives from the rising COVID cases in the state.
The First 50 Coalition, a broad alliance of environmental, social justice and civic groups committed to equitable sustainability in Central Florida, released an energy study that shows transitioning away from coal and gas to renewable energy would save Orlando ratepayers $176 million over the next two decades, providing a clear path for Mayor Buddy Dyer and the City Council to make good on their 2017 promise to lead Orlando to a 100% renewable energy future.
This important settlement agreement will ensure ratepayer protection and move the Midwest one step closer to cleaner air.
Tuesday night, concerned advocates hosted a Facebook Live event to call out Commercial Liability Partners (CLP) for their lack of transparency and unwillingness to engage in meaningful public dialogue about plans to demolish and redevelop the site of the Wood River coal plant in East Alton, IL.
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, MD - Earlier this week, GenOn Holdings filed for deactivation of their two coal-fired power units at the Chalk Point Generating Station. The filing formally initiates the retirement process and establishes the retirement date for the two units on June 1, 2021. The announcement comes as GenOn’s Dickerson coal plant prepares to retire today.
The BW Research Partnership released a new analysis today that found the U.S. clean energy sector added a scant 3,195 jobs in July, after the sector lost a total of 511,075 jobs since the beginning of the pandemic.
A new report, released today by the Sierra Club, finds that MidAmerican Energy’s George Neal North and South coal plants near Sioux City have lost $27.5 million for its customers over the last five years. Low energy prices in 2020 have only worsened the performance of these plants, which are the most expensive in MidAmerican’s coal fleet in Iowa. The report, which is based on analysis of MidAmerican’s own data, shows that by committing to retire both plants by 2023, MidAmerican could save customers $92 million.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - Yesterday, Sierra Club hosted a virtual town hall to highlight and discuss a report that found that CPS Energy should propose a much stronger FlexSTEP program that helps San Antonio residents fight high bills and reduce dangerous pollution.
Today, 23 local groups delivered a letter signed by 533 Utahns to Governor Gary Herbert calling for him to issue a moratorium on utility shut-offs due to non-payment, and to require utilities to dismiss all utility bill debt incurred during the pandemic.
Sierra Club members and partners today will kick off a statewide week of action through an online screening of the documentary “We Neighbors,” this evening which focuses on the experiences of residents living near We Energies’ coal-fired power plants in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. The week of action intends to engage people across the state through a series of virtual activities as unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic have forced climate activists to rethink how the environmental movement operates. In July, activists at home from across Wisconsin advocated for an extension to the utility shut-off moratorium and won.
The Sierra Club launched a five figure digital advertising campaign today, targeting Congressional leadership to pass significant relief for clean energy workers in the next COVID-19 economic relief package.
