Press Advisory

What: Earth Quaker Action Team activists will present PECO’s CEO with freshly baked pies representing the choice of serving Philadelphia an energy economy that benefits everyone - both workers and energy consumers. The choice is PECO’s.

When: Tuesday, November 24, 2 PM

Where: PECO’s Market Street headquarters in Philadelphia.

Who: We predict a headcount similar to the nearly 50 participants at the November 10th “PECO get moving!” action.

On Tuesday, November 24, Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT) will ask PECO CEO Craig Adams which CHOICE is more to the company’s liking:

1. PECO serves as a locomotive of investment in green local jobs and Philadelphia renewable energy – by investing in solar panels on North Philadelphia rooftops

2. PECO throws away its opportunity to help lead Philadelphia toward a more just and sustainable future – by relying on out-of-state solar energy farms to meet its renewable energy mandates

At 2:00 EQAT activists will present PECO’s CEO with freshly baked pies representing these two choices, along with this message: “If you toss away Pie #1 and renounce a leadership role for PECO, EQAT will be back in December!”

We are in the run-up to the Paris climate talks, where leaders will be asked to make hard choices to address human caused global warming. PECO and other major corporations have been making choices too. Unfortunately, business as usual is the wrong choice. Climate change and also the staggering unemployment in inner city neighborhoods like North Philadelphia are too urgent for foot-dragging from corporations like PECO that have the resources to do better.

EQAT is campaigning to prevail upon PECO’s management to take up the issues local renewable energy and local green jobs with the same seriousness as the world’s leaders on their way to Paris – and to take initiative toward installing solar panels in North Philadelphia and hiring community residents for the installation. Each year PECO is required to increase the amount of solar energy they purchase and provide to Philadelphians.

PECO could source its solar energy from Philadelphia, putting job-hungry residents to work while reducing greenhouse gas emissions in its service area. After decades of racial discrimination and economic disinvestment people are eager and willing to get to work in a green economy and can’t wait for a fair shake from businesses that got their start in Philadelphia

Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT) is a nonviolent direct action group dedicated to building a just and sustainable economy. After winning a successful campaign to have PNC Bank stop financing mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia, EQAT has launched a new campaign pressuring PECO to Power Local Green Jobs. More information is available at www.eqat.org.