FERC Protest in D.C.
STOP TRUMP’S DIRTY ENERGY AGENDA
THE CHANGE STARTS HERE
A quorum has been restored at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) with the confirmation of Trump’s two nominees, Robert Powelson and Neil Chatterjee. By adding these pro-fossil fuel commissioners to FERC, the abuses of power will only continue and get worse as they carry out Trump’s dirty energy agenda.
All of this is happening as the Senate and House are moving bills that would expand FERC’s authority. One of the House bills actually strips the president of the border crossing authority used to stop Keystone XL and gives it to FERC. But the worst of the bills is the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Act of 2017, S. 1460. It expands FERC’s authority by requiring other permitting agencies to “give deference” to FERC and it limits FERC’s review of LNG facilities to 45 days.
FERC will be back to holding monthly meetings, starting with the meeting they've scheduled for Wednesday, September 20th. We need to be there in big numbers that day to let FERC and Congress know that the direction they plan to take the country is unacceptable and that we won’t tolerate it.
Rushed approvals, refusal to consider climate impacts, approvals with insufficient information. And Congress wants to expand FERC’s authority? No way! Unacceptable!
We’ve been FERCed long enough! Join us in D.C. to send that message on September 20th!
JOIN FOR A RALLY & DAY OF ACTION
September 20, 2017
Beginning 8:30 AM
At the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First St, NE, Washington, DC 20426
Afternoon lobbying on the hill to begin around 11:30, starting with a lunch time gathering in the Lower Senate park next to the Russell Senate Office Building, the corner of D St. and Delaware Ave NE.
Day’s agenda:
08:30: Gather and Rally from 8:30 until 9:30 am
10:00: Attendees encouraged to attend FERC’s open public meeting which begins at 10 am
11:00 (or thereabouts): At 11 am folks will be invited to grab a bag lunch and join together to drop in on Congressional offices to deliver the Stop Trump’s Dirty Energy Agenda sign on letters.
11:30: Over lunch at the park outside the Senate office buildings we will talk about the message and how to effectively drop in and drop off materials.
12:30: Head into congressional buildings to drop materials and ask for drop in meetings
02:45: Reconvene in the park outside Senate building to share your experience of the day
03:30: Head home feeling good that you have been part of delivering a powerful message of opposition to FERC, Trump’s Dirty Energy Agenda, and advocating for reform and change.
Those who cannot rally or go into the FERC meeting but just want to lobby in the afternoon are welcome to simply meet us at the park at 11:30
People are also encouraged to set up meetings with their own House members and/or Senators. Contact Bridget at bridget@delawareriverkeeper.org for materials that can be left with those you meet with.
Speakers for the protest include:
- Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., President and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus;
- Maya van Rossum – the Delaware Riverkeeper, leader of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network;
- Anneke Walsh – a frontline activist fighting the Millennium Pipeline;
- Alice Orrichio and Susan Meecham – frontline activists fighting the Penneast Pipeline;
- Karen Feridun -- Berks Gas Truth, a grassroots citizens' group fighting to bring an end to unconventional natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania and fighting the DTE pipeline;
- Normandy Blackman – a landowner opposing the Atlantic Coast Pipeline in North Carolina;
- Malinda Clatterbuck – from Lancaster Against Pipelines, a group fighting the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline in Pennsylvania;
- Deborah Kushner – a fontline activist opposing the Atlantic Coast Pipeline in Virginia;
- Maggie Henry – from Beyond Extreme Energy, an activist network of organizations and individuals fighting dirty energy extraction;
- Todd Larsen – from Green America, a national organization that promotes a green economy.
Organizations can endorse our action,
and can sign on to the letter to be delivered to Congress.
Individuals can sign up to attend the rally, other actions, and housing,
and can sign on to the letter to be delivered to Congress.
Keep up to date at the Facebook event page
Housing: There is low-cost housing in a church about a 10 minute walk from FERC the night of September 19th. You will be asked to pay $27 for this, the cost to us, though no one will be turned away who needs housing. Mattresses on the floor are available, there are showers and there will be food for dinner on the 19th and for breakfast on the 20th. Be sure to fill out this form to reserve a spot.
Food will be available the early evening of September 19th at the church and the early morning of the 20th. There will be bag lunches distributed to people in front of FERC before we walk over the Capitol Hill.
Beyond Extreme Energy: BXE is organizing a strategy meeting the evening of the 20th from 7-9 pm and the morning of the 21st from 9 am -1 pm. If you are interested contact Ted Glick at indpol@igc.org for more information.
