Press Advisory
Media Contact: Greg Holt
Phone: 603-296-5060
Interfaith activists mass to run around PECO for solar jobs
WHAT: Intergenerational activists from children to elders will run or walk a one mile circuit around the PECO building for PECO to move quickly to local solar power.
WHO: Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT) and Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower and Rebuild (POWER)
WHEN: Saturday, October 1, 10AM
WHERE: PECO building, 23rd and Market Sts, Philadelphia.
Philadelphians are running mile-long laps around the PECO building this Saturday to promote local solar jobs and a livable climate. They say the company, which relies heavily on power produced by fossil fuels, has been giving a “runaround” to the region, delaying solar power, clean air, and jobs.
PECO has thrown up roadblocks opposing pro-solar legislation– even when cost-neutral for PECO.
CEO Craig Adams has opposed subsidies for renewables, and so has parent company Exelon.
PECO unrolled an upgrade of so-called smart meters that weren’t equipped to support solar.
PECO denies up to 30% of homeowner solar applications in some areas.
PECO’s made it so challenging for solar installers to do their jobs, workers are commuting out of the state to get jobs.
PA ranks 40th in per-capita solar jobs.
After a year of demonstrations, PECO is beginning to pay attention, floating new conceptual programs such as directing customer donations to low-income solar projects and purchasing its state-mandated 0.25% of solar locally. However, these plans are too small to reduce carbon or methane emissions. The Power Local Green Jobs campaign is calling for 20% from local solar by 2025.
“PECO needs to catch up to 2016- likely to be the hottest year on record. On October 1, we’ll be running for a moral energy economy, one which can be built right here in our neighborhoods to benefit those hit hardest by pollution, unemployment and climate change” said Greg Holt, an organizer with Earth Quaker Action Team.
###
Earth Quaker Action Team includes Quakers and people of diverse beliefs using nonviolent direct action to build a just and sustainable economy. EQAT (pronounced “equate”) won its first campaign in 2015, forcing PNC Bank to halt millions of dollars of financing to companies engaged in mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia. Following that success, EQAT’s new campaign is pressuring local utility PECO to Power Local Green Jobs through solar expansion, particularly in North Philadelphia. www.eqat.org
POWER (Philadelphians Organized to Witness Empower and Rebuild) is an interfaith organization committed to implementing systemic change for the betterment of Pennsylvania. We represent over 60 congregations from across the Greater Philadelphia area, transcending borders of race, faith, income level, and neighborhood. Learn more at www.powerinterfaith.org.
