Dear community,

Thank you. It was your time, phone calls, letters, donations, marching, and words of encouragement that moved us, albeit slowly, albeit incrementally, closer down the path toward a livable climate for all people. This is what we (and that means YOU!) accomplished in 2019:

Advocating for renewable energy and a just transition away from fossil fuels:

• With Energy Future New Orleans (EFNO) and other coalition partners, drafted the first Resilient Renewable Portfolio Standard in the country, and the first 100% by 2040 Renewable Portfolio Standard in the Gulf South
• Attended hearings on, Intervened in and submitted official comments for City Council dockets related to utility rate setting, community solar, utility solar, Integrated Resource Planning, and a Renewable Portfolio Standard
• With partners, organized the Renewable Portfolio Standard Symposium and other community opportunities to learn about renewable energy opportunities in New Orleans

 

Supporting fenceline communities fighting for environmental and climate justice:

• Helped plan the historic “March Against Death Alley” in both May and October, drawing national attention to injustices faced by communities along the petrochemical corridor
• Submitted formal comments on CDC’s Federal Register notice of plans to revise the protocol and methodology for investigating cancer clusters
• Accepted an invitation to send representatives to the Permian Gulf Coast Convening to build the national movement of folks fighting against the proliferation of plastics
• Attended numerous public meetings and hearings as a member of the Coalition Against Death Alley and submitted official comments on upcoming petrochemical development projects (and our opposition helped stop Wanhua!)

 

Challenging institutions and speaking truth to power:

• Joined with other plaintiffs to challenge a Louisiana law that makes peaceful protest along pipeline routes a felony
• With other partners, successfully sued City Council for violating open meetings law during the Entergy gas plant proceedings, vacating Council’s approval for the plant
• With other partners, continued a legal challenge to hold Bayou Bridge, LLC subject to public records law
• Helped plan and participate in nonviolent direct actions targeting oil industry executive meetings (and all charges dropped! Yay!)

 

Forging connections and building the global climate movement:

• Mobilized with partners to plan New Orleans climate strikes in September and December, in solidarity with youth organizers throughout the world
• Facilitated numerous trainings in Nonviolent Direct Action for partner organizations, students, and other New Orleans-based justice groups
• Sponsored and presented at RootsCampLA and offered scholarships for community organizers to attend other conferences
• Continued in our role as a pillar organization of Justice and Beyond
• Held monthly public meetings with amazing guest speakers

 

If our mission continues to speak to you, please consider a donation to set our volunteers up for success in 2020. Because we can never say it enough, we will say it again: we could never do it without you.

Ready to work,
In love and solidarity as always,
The volunteers, organizers, Board, and community of 350 New Orleans