In the US, we have been calling for a fairer energy system. In April 2024, we launched the Utility Justice campaign to show how climate change and economic inequality are connected. As temperatures and energy bills go up, millions of families struggle to afford electricity – while many utility companies in the country charge high energy bills, despite cleaner and cheaper renewable energy being a better option for consumers and for the planet.
A recent study shows that 27% of Americans couldn’t pay their energy bills in 2020. This means some people have to live in dangerous temperatures to save money. At the same time, utility companies make big profits by using expensive and dirty fossil fuels: about 80% of electricity utilities in the US run on coal, oil or gas. As the climate crisis gets worse, it’s more important than ever that these companies switch to clean, affordable energy.
To help make this happen, we started our campaign with a series of educational webinars from May to July 2024. Hundreds of people joined us to learn how to push for better and fairer energy systems. Utility companies are regulated differently in every state, making it hard to address the issue as one – so training and alignment building are essential to strengthen our collective efforts.
In August, we worked with the 350 Network Council and partnered with economic justice experts at People’s Action to organize a national week of action. The mobilization created a wave of protests, reaching 25 locations across 17 states. Our message made the news with dozens of articles published. Over 25 campaign organizations supported our campaign, including the Green Workers Alliance, the Labor Network for Sustainability, and the Center for Popular Democracy.
We’ll keep growing this movement by training more local leaders and helping communities across the country to get access to the tools and knowledge they need to fight for clean and affordable energy for all.
What is the 350 Network Council?
The 350 Network Council is a group made up of the 16 largest independent affiliates of 350.org in the US. It shows how 350.org works closely with communities and local groups to build power and help them come together to strategically fight for common goals. In 2024, this group united their strength to support the national campaign against big utility companies which are charging high energy prices and slowing down the move to a cleaner energy system. By working together, the 350 Network Council helps to make the transition to renewable energy happen faster and more fairly in the US.
In the US Gulf region, 350.org has been working with local groups for years to raise awareness about how LNG harms people’s health and the planet. We have partnered with Gulf communities to support local actions and campaigns, and to tell their stories to a bigger national audience. In January 2024, we celebrated the US government pausing all new LNG projects approvals!
This pause was taken to allow time for additional studies about how bad LNG exploration is for the climate and nearby communities. It was a big win and the result of years of hard work by a coalition of local partners including the Vessel Project, Better Bayou, Descendants Project, Sunrise NOLA, Rise St. James, the Bucket Brigade and 350.org.
At the beginning of 2024, while many people were focused on the federal elections, gas and oil executives met at the American Energy Summit in New Orleans, to plan new LNG projects. But we showed up and exposed their dirty plans! We disrupted the event and stayed strong in our protests, even when we were told to leave. At the end, our coalition held a big march and a puppet show, joined by hundreds of supporters – including the actress and activist Jane Fonda.
It’s clear that the US government at the time listened to our movement: the pause on LNG permits was the result of the pressure from local groups and communities, supported by a strong wider coalition. Even though the pause was later lifted, it was a powerful reminder that when people come together and speak out, we can make change.
The pause was a historic step forward, especially because it recognized the harm these projects cause to frontline communities. We’re still fighting for a permanent ban on all LNG projects in the US.
In Canada, our vision for a cleaner and fairer energy system is getting strong political support. In May 2024, as the country prepared for another summer of record-breaking heat, we launched the Heat Pumps for All campaign. Heat pumps are highly efficient electric machines that can both heat and cool homes. They are better for our climate as they reduce dependence on polluting oil and gas furnaces.
With this campaign, we are calling for a “Universal Heat Pump Program”, to give everyone access to energy-efficient cooling and heating. This program would be run by public agencies, provide protections for renters, help lower bills and protect our planet and people’s health – especially during extreme weather events, like the 2021 deadly heatwave, known as “Heat Dome”.
To build strong public support, we launched a fellowship program, recruited and trained volunteers and hosted community meetings. We also made two short documentaries, ran online and offline campaigns, and gathered thousands of signatures to support the program.
By September 2024, we had met with government officials to share our ideas and policy recommendations, and our campaign was supported by 21 Members of Parliament from three different political parties – a recognition of the timeliness and importance of, and strong public support for our work. We continue to push for climate action, and for policies that make life safer and fairer for everyone.