Community pressure to increase at May 10 demonstration

PECO has failed to commit to purchase solar power from North Philadelphia roofs. Today marks the end of a May 2nd deadline set by community groups asking PECO to purchase 14.3 megawatts of solar from North Philadelphia.

The Power Local Green Jobs Campaign staged multiple demonstrations over the course of eight months to promote its deadline. The campaign goal: stimulate the Philadelphia economy with local revenue and green jobs by purchasing solar from North Philly rooftops. Given PECO’s foot-dragging and delays, it is unlikely to purchase any of its 2016 legally-required solar from North Philadelphia rooftops.

Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT) and Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower and Rebuild (POWER) are interfaith groups behind the Power Local Green Jobs Campaign.

Buckling under community pressure, the utility did take a small step 10 days before the deadline and committed to a “solar stakeholder collaborative,” telling press it would include EQAT. PECO has not yet publicly committed to inviting POWER, a partner in the Power Local Green Jobs Campaign.

On May 10, community groups will return to PECO headquarters for a demonstration of hundreds — including song and creative visuals — to announce new plans following PECO’s failure to support local jobs.

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Earth Quaker Action Team includes Quakers and people of diverse beliefs using nonviolent direct action to build a just and sustainable economy. EQAT (pronounced “equate”) won its first campaign in 2015, forcing PNC Bank to halt millions of dollars of financing to companies engaged in mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia. Following that success, EQAT’s new campaign is pressuring local utility PECO to Power Local Green Jobs through solar expansion, particularly in North Philadelphia. www.eqat.org