NC public interest groups urge Gov. Cooper to immediately suspend evictions, utility shutoffs

Raleigh, N.C. — A coalition of racial justice, housing, low-income and conservation groups today sent a letter to Governor Roy Cooper urging him to institute an immediate emergency moratorium on housing evictions and electricity, gas and water shutoffs to prevent further infections and deaths from Covid-19. CONTACT: La’Meshia Whittington, Deputy Director, Advance Carolina, LaMeshia@AdvanceCarolina.org, (919)…

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Scorecard shows lack of transparency, high fixed charges at Tenn’s electric co-ops

Fewer than half of Tennessee’s electric cooperatives allow their member-owners to attend board meetings, and only three offer community solar programs. These are two of the findings in a new report released today by Appalachian Voices and two rural community groups evaluating the performance of Tennessee’s electric co-ops on a number of issues, from governance…

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Funding to assist NC families with rent, utilities during Covid runs out today

CONTACT: Rory McIlmoil, Appalachian Voices, rory@appvoices.org, (423) 433-9415 Jovita Lee, Center for Biological Diversity, jlee@biologicaldiversity.org, (919) 925-2486 As of 6 pm today, the roughly $175 million allocated for Governor Roy Cooper’s HOPE program — which has provided financial relief for renters unable to pay their rent or utility bills — will have run out after…

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Energy cost hike would burden N.C. families

The Covid and economic crisis has laid bare the monthly struggle too many Americans have faced for a long time — whether to pay their electric bill or buy other essentials like food, medicine or school supplies and risk having their power shut off.

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One million N.C. households at risk of losing electricity and water during pandemic

CONTACT: Rory McIlmoil, Sr. Energy Analyst, Appalachian Voices, rory@appvoices.org, (423) 433-9415 Al Ripley, Director, Consumer, Housing and Energy Project, NC Justice Center, al@ncjustice.org, (919) 274-8245 William Barber, III, Environmental Justice Committee Co-Chair, NC Poor People’s Campaign, william.barber.iii@gmail.com, (202) 567-6800 Maria Michalos, Eastern Regional Communications Manager, Natural Resources Defense Council, mmichalos@nrdc.org, (631) 848-1588 Raleigh, N.C. —…

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