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FEBRUARY 18, 2021

CALL ON OFFICIALS TO INVEST IN COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS FOR SAFE & RELIABLE
ENERGY

[4]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM GGJ MEMBER THE SOUTHWEST WORKERS UNION [4]

CONTACT: SAN ANTONIO: Diana Lopez, 210.535.7060, [email protected]

HOUSTON: Juan Parras, 281.513.7799

As our neighbors burn furniture to stay warm amidst widespread power
outages in below freezing temperatures, this arctic weather event, fueled
by the climate crisis, has exposed the vulnerability of the Texas power
grid and its failure to effectively serve its people. It is clear how much
we need a just recovery: an all-encompassing, community-based, solutions
oriented approach putting community needs and equity above profit in these
times of climate chaos. We must prioritize a Just Transition to a modern,
regenerative and renewable energy system, one that is clean and safe for us
all.

The current reliance on the fossil fuel industry and the historic
stranglehold its industry holds in Texas politics underlies the lack of
comprehensive extreme weather planning, mitigation and preparedness. This
has left the region, state and especially frontline communities, in a state
of continuous crises. While the oil and gas industries have tried to blame
what is happening on alternative energy models, the reality is they did not
build resilient infrastructure that can adapt to increasingly extreme
weather.

An outdated, overly fossil fuel reliant, heavily privatized electricity
grid has failed, leaving 3 to 4 million households without power for days
not only in Texas, but throughout the region that is the cradle of this
industry. Far too many people have died and hundreds more have been
hospitalized, as Indigenous, Black, Latinx, Asian and other frontline
communities once again remain the hardest hit. Thousands more are also
facing contaminated water and massive damages from broken pipes. The
privatization of the Texas energy grid is the seed of this crisis, where
the profits of fossil fuel industries have been prioritized over the needs
of the people.

The climate crisis is risking lives and it is impacting all communities,
those at the margins are the hardest hit. Individuals with disabilities
that rely on medical respirators, families having to break quarantine to
keep eachother safe, and all the while the cost of energy increases during
a time where the economy is a long way from stabilizing.The true cost of
ignoring climate change is sadly yet to come, as those affected by this
most recent extreme weather in the region are seeing the aftermath of burst
water pipes, non weatherized homes and outdated infrastructure ill-equipped
to handle the reality of climate change.

While our communities work to recover from Covid-19, massive job loss and
the current climate crises, now is the time for investments to move toward
a Just Transition to rebuild clean water and energy infrastructure for our
future. We can put millions of people to work by creating locally
controlled clean energy jobs, building new stable systems of power without
pollution, and energy without exploitation. This is the time to BUILD BACK
FOSSIL FREE. [5]

Water and energy are not commodities -- they are basic human rights. We
need emergency response right now to distribute solar power, clean water
and basic emergency needs for vulnerable communities as well as long term
changes toward a healthy and sustainable future. We recognize that other
communities in neighboring states are also impacted by the devastating
winter vortex, power outages and water shortages. We support their efforts
to self organize and will act in coordination and solidarity with all of
those on the frontlines of climate catastrophes.

As our communities continue to care for each other through local mutual aid
networks long established to deal with crises like these, we call on local
and state officials to immediately begin a just recovery by:

ORGANIZERS & ORGANIZATIONS, FOUNDATIONS & PHILANTHROPISTS

* Moving funds directly to mutual aid and grassroots organizations working
on the frontlines to support Black, Indigenous, people of color
communities. These existing networks are the lifeline of neighborhoods and
work to rapidly support the needs of people while working to change the
policy and/or structures that fail the people.

* Including the most impacted populations and communities into municipal
and state climate action planning bodies to directly create solutions and
implementation on the ground. The largest municipalities in Texas have
passed climate actions plans which often don’t exert direct control over
their utilities, the largest climate polluters.

MUNICIPAL & STATE:

* Truthful assessment of what went wrong, who is responsible and what can
be done to fix the problem(s) so they don’t happen again.
* Creating a municipal fund using local contractors to support
weatherizing homes, fixing residential water pipes, and updating home
electrical to support extreme weather.
* Investing in decentralized, regenerative energy micro-grids for
emergencies that can be counted on providing critical needs during times of
disaster.
* Establish an ongoing emergency short term and immediate funding vehicle
for workers who have suffered loss of wages due to transportation issues,
closures, as well as for other unanticipated costs in times of disaster and
crises.
* Local and state officials support a Green New Deal to be passed and
enacted at the federal level.
* Elimination of gas and electric cutoffs as policy for nonpayment for
those in crisis through the COVID-19 crisis and permanently for those at or
below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines.

* Extension of an eviction moratorium through the current crisis and
rehousing of homeless and vulnerable populations.

FEDERAL:

* Biden should reenact the export ban on all fossil fuels.
* Acceleration of research and deployment of energy efficiency, renewable
energy, and energy storage systems.

Grassroots Global Justice Alliance [6]
PO Box 73768
Washington, DC 20056

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